Branch, Houston, 1905-1968

Houston Branch, writer, editor, publicist, and organization executive, was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on March 5. His birth year is uncertain, appearing as 1899, 1903, or 1905. Branch began his career as a reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 1920. He began writing plays in the early 1920s, and by 1926 was living in and writing for Hollywood. He is the author of more than 200 works, ranging from screen plays and teleplays, to novels, short stories, and theatrical plays. Branch was a pioneer in the field of public relations, and is credited with organizing the first "Neiman Marcus-style" runway fashion show. He initiated the now-widespread practice of "exploitation campaigns," using product placement in feature films and television programs. Branch's career was not limited to writing and public relations. He served as expert consultant on U.S. Army training films, was technical publications editor for the Marguardt Corporation, and served as executive director of the Academy of Applied Science. In 1938, Branch founded the American Library Foundation and served as the director. Branch married Mildred E. Clark on January 13, 1942, and they had one daughter, Victoria Elaine. Mildred died in 1957. Branch, who had spent most of his adult life in California, moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1963 to serve as Academy of Applied Science director, and lived there until his death on January 27, 1968.

Houston Branch, writer, editor, publicist, and organization executive, was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on March 5. The year of Branch's birth has been listed as 1899, 1903, or 1905; the correct date cannot be verified, but it is most likely 1899 since that is the year Branch himself used on copyright documents found in the collection. Branch began his career as a reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 1920, became associate editor of Western Magazine in 1922, and then worked as a feature writer for the San Antonio Express and Dallas News from 1922 to 1924. Branch began writing plays in the early 1920s, and by 1926 was living in and writing for Hollywood. He is the author of more than 200 works, ranging from screenplays and teleplays to novels, short stories and theatrical plays. Branch pioneered the use of the achievements of industry as background and themes for theatrical films such as Tiger Shark (tuna fishing), Wild Harvest (harvesting), and Silk Express (railroading). Branch was also a pioneer in the field of public relations, and is credited with organizing the first "Neiman Marcus style" runway fashion show. In many ways he was ahead of his time, writing a self-help book in 1950, Duality, The Science of Dynamic Living, and initiating the now widespread public relations practice of "exploitation campaigns," using product placement in feature films and television programs. In this way Branch often combined his skills as a writer and publicist.

Branch's career was not limited to writing and public relations; however, he served as an expert consultant on training films for the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1942 - 1943, as editor of technical publications for the Marguardt Corp from 1959 - 1963, and as the executive director of the Academy of Applied Science from 1963 - 1968. In 1938, Branch founded the American Library Foundation, organized to secure books and libraries for rural school children, and served as the foundation's director.

Branch married Mildred E. Clark on January 13, 1942, and they had one daughter, Victoria Elaine. Mildred died in July 1957. Branch, who had spent most of his adult life in California, moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts to serve as director of the Academy of Applied Science in 1963 and he lived there until his death on January 27, 1968.

Source: Who Was Who in America with World Notables, Vol. V, 1969 - 1973. Chicago, IL : Marquis Who's Who, 1973, p. 82