James R. Quirk

James R. Quirk (September 4, 1884 – August 1, 1932) was an American magazine editor of Irish descent.

James R. Quirk
From a 1920 magazine
Born(1884-09-04)4 September 1884
Boston, Massachusetts
Died1 August 1932(1932-08-01) (aged 47)
Resting placeKensico Cemetery, Valhalla, New York(Westchester County)
Other names"Father of the Fans"
Occupationeditor, publisher
Years active1911-1932
Spouse(s)Elizabeth North
May Allison
ChildrenFrances
Jean
James (died as infant)

Career

Quirk was the vice president and editor of Photoplay magazine, one of the earliest film or fan glamour magazines and particularly popular in the silent film era. Quirk had been with the magazine since its founding in 1911. Quirk's magazine had many popular rivals such as Motion Picture Magazine, Modern Screen, Classic Screen, Screenland, Movie Story, Screen Book, Silver Screen, Moving Picture Stories, Theatre Magazine, Screen Play, Screen Guide etc.

Quirk had also been editor of the first Washington Times prior to his involvement with Photoplay and editor of the periodical Popular Mechanics during his involvement with Photoplay. For two years (1928–30) he was publisher of The Smart Set magazine.

He was the uncle of Lawrence J. Quirk who gave out an annual award in James's memory that covered many aspects of the film business.[1]

Personal

He was married to Elizabeth North with whom he had 3 children, Frances, Jean, and James (died as infant). Quirk was the second husband of film star May Allison from 1926 until his death in 1932.[2][3]

Death

Quirk died August 1, 1932 of bronchial pneumonia and heart disease. He was memorialized in the October 1932 Photoplay.[4] He had also been a hard drinker. He is buried at Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla Westchester County New York. The cemetery is last resting place to many famous Broadway and film celebrities.

gollark: Well, if you took the result as a float then it having nothing after the decimal point means there's no reminder.
gollark: x%y is the difference between x and (x/y)*y.
gollark: So (x/y)*y will be either equal to x or somewhat below it.
gollark: Consider what division is doing (on integers like this). x / y is telling you what you can multiply y by to get as close to x as possible (while still being less than or equal to it), right?
gollark: The modulo operator is exactly one (1) thing.

References
  1. Online: Classic Films and Hollywood Stars The James R. Quirk Awards
  2. James R. Quirk, findagrave.com database and memorial
  3. Looking for Mabel page and bio on Quirk's second wife May Allison, with photo of Quirk
  4. Kathryn Dougherty, "As I Knew Him," Photoplay, October 1932, p. 27.
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