Motion Picture Director. He is best known for his "Our Gang" comedies of the 1930's. Meins was born Gustav Ludwig Peter Luley in Frankfurt, Germany, and immigrated to the US with his mother in the early 1900s. Starting out as a cartoonist for the Los Angeles Evening Herald, he entered films in 1919 as a gag writer at Fox and worked his way up to directing for Mack Sennett. His "Buster Brown" shorts of the 1920's revealed his knack for directing child performers. In 1932 Meins joined Hal Roach Studios, where he would do his best work. He co-directed the classic Laurel & Hardy feature "Babes in Toyland" (reissued as "March of the Wooden Soldiers", 1934) and piloted two-reelers starring Thelma Todd, ZaSu Pitts, Patsy Kelly, and Charley Chase. From 1934 to 1936 Meins was principal director of Roach's "Our Gang" (aka "The Little Rascals") comedies; his 14 entries include the gems "Mama's Little Pirate," "Hi'-Neighbor!," "The Little Sinner," "The Lucky Corner," and "Second Childhood." Though somewhat lacking the heart appeal of earlier films in the series, Meins' contributions to "Our Gang" were slick, stylish, sometimes ingenious ("Mama's Little Pirate"), and always entertaining. After leaving Roach in 1937 he directed B programmers at Republic. On August 1, 1940, Meins was arrested on charges that he had molested three boys, ages 10 to 15, in the basement of his home in Los Feliz, California. Released on bail, he swore his innocence but told his wife and son that the case would ruin him, regardless of the outcome. That night he drove into the hills above La Crescenta, attached a rubber hose to the exhaust pipe of his car, and asphyxiated himself. The news shocked Hollywood, where Meins was known as one of the kindest men in the movie business. Asked for his opinion about Meins, Hal Roach later said, "He was a very good director for the Gang, and he always did a very good job."
Motion Picture Director. He is best known for his "Our Gang" comedies of the 1930's. Meins was born Gustav Ludwig Peter Luley in Frankfurt, Germany, and immigrated to the US with his mother in the early 1900s. Starting out as a cartoonist for the Los Angeles Evening Herald, he entered films in 1919 as a gag writer at Fox and worked his way up to directing for Mack Sennett. His "Buster Brown" shorts of the 1920's revealed his knack for directing child performers. In 1932 Meins joined Hal Roach Studios, where he would do his best work. He co-directed the classic Laurel & Hardy feature "Babes in Toyland" (reissued as "March of the Wooden Soldiers", 1934) and piloted two-reelers starring Thelma Todd, ZaSu Pitts, Patsy Kelly, and Charley Chase. From 1934 to 1936 Meins was principal director of Roach's "Our Gang" (aka "The Little Rascals") comedies; his 14 entries include the gems "Mama's Little Pirate," "Hi'-Neighbor!," "The Little Sinner," "The Lucky Corner," and "Second Childhood." Though somewhat lacking the heart appeal of earlier films in the series, Meins' contributions to "Our Gang" were slick, stylish, sometimes ingenious ("Mama's Little Pirate"), and always entertaining. After leaving Roach in 1937 he directed B programmers at Republic. On August 1, 1940, Meins was arrested on charges that he had molested three boys, ages 10 to 15, in the basement of his home in Los Feliz, California. Released on bail, he swore his innocence but told his wife and son that the case would ruin him, regardless of the outcome. That night he drove into the hills above La Crescenta, attached a rubber hose to the exhaust pipe of his car, and asphyxiated himself. The news shocked Hollywood, where Meins was known as one of the kindest men in the movie business. Asked for his opinion about Meins, Hal Roach later said, "He was a very good director for the Gang, and he always did a very good job."
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
Family Members
Advertisement
