Biography

Director S. Sylvan Simon worked as a drama coach, radio executive and stage director before joining Warner Brothers in 1935. He then moved to MGM as director and assistant director in 1937. His sudden death at the age of 41 shocked all who knew him and he was mourned throughout the film industry.
- IMDb mini biography by: L.D.C.

Longtime MGM director S(amuel) Sylvan Simon was born in Chicago on March 9, 1910. His father was David Simon, the manager of the Universal Film Exchange office in New York, and the brother of Jennie Mac and uncle of Aline MacMahon.

After finishing Schenley High School, Simon went to the University of Michigan in 1927, graduating in 1931. Following graduation he taught speech and play production for one year. He also served as assistant director of broadcasting, where he instituted the first radio course in the playing of musical instruments. He attended Columbia Law School in New York City, graduated in 1935 and (the story goes) spent the total sum of one day practicing law. That year, he married Harriet Berk, with whom he would have two children.

He took a job as the director of the Summer Theatre in Schroon Lake, New York, and was signed by Warner Brothers as a talent scout. He worked in the studio's New York office for a year while also directing plays on Broadway, among them the successes "Lysistrata" and "Girls in Uniform". He was then signed as Test Director for Universal Pictures and transferred to their West Coast headquarters. He directed a special Universal short entitled Hollywood Screen Test (1937). On the merits of that short, was promoted to feature director. He directed four Universal films in one year before directing The Road to Reno (1938). On the final day of "The Road to Reno", he was signed to a long-term contract by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).
- IMDb mini biography by: Les Adams (qv's & corrections by A. Nonymous)