Charles Pathé

French film pioneer who founded Pathé Freres Co with his three brothers in 1896 and began making short films by 1902. They soon became the largest movie producers in the business.

The son of a pork butcher and a cook, Pathe worked from age 12 as well as serving five years in the army. In 1894 he bought an Edison phonograph and became a dealer, exhibiting and selling the novelty items. By 1896 he included the sale of movie projectors, and directed a couple simple films himself.

When he and his brothers went into business they began practicing their craft, making one or two short films a day by 1902-03. The company expanded into foreign markets. Always a forerunner, Pathe developed color processing and went into the manufacturing of raw film and movie equipment. They became world known for their weekly newsreels.

He emigrated to the U.S. in 1914 and in 1918 they began selling off and closed out by 1929, when Pathe retired to the Riviera.

He died on 25 December 1957, Monte Carlo, Monaco.