Charles Pathé

Charles Pathé and Ruth Roland at the signing of her contract in 1919

Charles Pathé (French: [pate]; 26 December 1863 – 25 December 1957)^[1][2] was a major French pioneer of the film and recording industries.

Biography

The son of a butcher shop owner, Charles Pathé was born at Chevry-Cossigny, in the Seine-et-Marne département of France. In 1894, together with his brother Émile, he formed Pathé Records. Two years later they created the Société Pathé Frères to enter the motion picture production and distribution business. Both companies would become a dominant international force in their respective industries.

In 1929, Charles Pathé sold out his interest in the businesses and retired to Monaco where he died in 1957.

References

1. Authority sheet on the French National Library
2. Death certificate on Les gens du cinéma