In 1913, while living in San Francisco, Sol Lesser learned that the authorities were about to clean out the Barbary Coast district, a raucous area of gambling houses, saloons and brothels.

Sol Lesser signed Jackie Coogan to a movie contract in 1922, establishing both as major Hollywood names.

Lesser made a successful transition to sound films, with his own Principal Pictures company; he would either distribute his productions himself under the Principal name, or arrange for a major studio to release them under their own trademarks.

In 1933 Lesser succeeded in buying screen rights to Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan character.

Later films include Our Town (1940) and the all-star wartime revue Stage Door Canteen (1943) that featured a cameo by Johnny Weissmuller.