| Once quoted as saying, "everyman has a price, or a guy like me couldn't exist." He was a billionaire, aviator, and among the greatest producers & directors the world has ever known. Gem's to his credit include, "Hell's Angels," in 1930, "Scarface," in 1932, and "The Outlaw," in 1943. He was born Howard Robard Hughes, Jr., December 24, 1905, in Humble, Texas. His childhood days were spent in this house in Humble. The son of inventor and oil tycoon, Howard Hughes, Sr., who, four years after the birth of young Howard, invented a rotary drill with 166 cutting edges that penetrated thick rock, revolutionizing oil drilling worldwide. Hughes Sr., formed his own company, the Hughes Tool Company and began leasing the rotary bits to drillers for as much as $30,000 per well. Young Howard was a bright kid, taking a liking to school, flying, and building things from spare parts. His father died in the summer of 1924, when Hughes was 18. He was said to have inherited an estimated $900,000 dollars, although the official count was never released. He also would inherit 75% of Hughes Tool Company, whose control he assumed a year later. In his later years, he lived in this house when in Las Vegas, and this house when in California. After the death of his father in 1924, Hughes set his eyes on Hollywood. He was facinated by the motion picture industry. In 1925, he moved to Los Angeles. There he produced and financed his first three films. His first in 1926, Swell Hogan - which produced little success for him. His second in 1927, Two Arabian Knights which proved more successful and even garnered an Acadamy Award. 1928's The Mating Call which shall we say, wasn't as sucessfull as he'd hoped. He wanted to break out and make a name for himself in the movie industry like his father had in the oil industry. His first directorial debut, came in the form of an epic movie about Royal Air Force fighter pilots in World War I. The film was "Hell�s Angels," which Hughes came to direct as well as produce. It was during the filming of this that Hughes obtained another dream....getting his pilots license. The film Hell's Angels was epic, to the point of over the top. he acquired the largest private air force in the world � 87 vintage Spads, Fokkers and Sopwith Camels -� for $560,000, then spent another $400,000 to house and maintain them. He even bought a dirigible to be burned in the film. Hughes personally directed the aerial combat scenes over Mines Field (what is now LAX). Three stunt pilots died in crashes during the filming. Hughes also crashed in his scout plane and was pulled unconscious from the wreckage, his cheekbone crushed. With expenses already exceeding $2 million, Hughes was forced to re-shoot large segments of the film with dialogue to accommodate the advent of talking pictures. And because the female star, Greta Nissen, spoke with a thick and inappropriate Norwegian accent, Hughes cast about for a replacement, finally deciding on a bit actress with platinum blonde hair named Harlean Carpenter, also known as Jean Harlow. The film cost Hughes 3.8 million dollars to make, and was a huge success at the box office. 3.8 million to make a film at that time was unheard of. He lost $1.5 million at the box office but it allowed Hughes to indulge his interest in flying, and it made his mark known in Hollywood. In 1932, Hughes wanted to test limits and break records with the release of Scarface in 1932. It was censored and Hughes sued for it's release. It was released and became an instant classic. In 1941, Hughes tested the controversial waters again with The Outlaw. It was met with controversialness due to sexual content in the film. This inspired Hughes to invent the half cup bra. Throughout Hughes film carrer - he only made films about flying, beautiful women, savage conquests, and glitz - much of what his life was centored around. In his later years, he started to become more recluse. In 1966, Hughes moved into the Desert Inn Hotel in Las Vegas, which he proceeded to buy (rather than be evicted), along with four other Las Vegas casinos (only one of which still standing), a television station (so that he could watch movies into the night. If he fell asleep during a film, he would call up the station and order that the scene he missed be replayed), a radio station, and other Nevada properties. He hired an ex-FBI agent, Robert Maheu, to protect his privacy and keep him out of court, even when his own legal interests were at stake. He had become "the hermit gambling entrepreneur of Las Vegas." He reportedly indulged more in women, drugs, and the good life. Almost 20 years after leaving the limelight, In 1976, Hughes died on an airplane en route from his penthouse in Mexico to the Methodist Hospital in Houston on April 5th, 1976 at the age of 70. He was unrecognizable, and the FBI insisted on fingerprints to identify Hughes' remains. REST IN PEACE AVIATOR! Visit his grave here! TRIVIA He once had an air purifier installed into a car with sealed windows. The purifier cost more than the car, and took up most of the trunk. |
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| Howard Hughes aviator, billionaire, legendary director/producer |