- Cowan went to work in 1928 for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where he wrote a book on the advent of sound films and was involved in the start of the Academy Awards. He served as executive secretary of the academy from 1931 to 1933.
- Cowan was able to purchase the scenario "Cosmopolitan," a screen adaptation of his popular short story "Babylon Revisited," from writer F. Scott Fitzgerald at a bargain. He hired Fitzgerald to do the screenplay but was frustrated in his efforts to get it into production. A frustrated Cowan sold the property to MGM, who updated it as "The Last Time I Saw Paris" as an Elizabeth Taylor vehicle.
- Contemplated, but never completed, film biographies of Simon Bolivar and Sun Yat-sen.
- Studied at Stanford University.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
