1900 – 1979

Dorothy Arzner

American film director and film editor (1897–1979)

advertising persondirectorfilm editorradio producerfilm director

Born

1900-01-03, San Francisco

Died

1979-10-01

Birthplace state

California

Biography

Dorothy Emma Arzner was born in San Francisco in 1900 and worked in Hollywood as a film director, screenwriter, editor, and producer across multiple media. Her directing career in feature films ran from 1927 to 1943, during which she made twenty films and was the only female director working in Hollywood from 1927 until her retirement, aside from Lois Weber. Arzner was the first woman to join the Directors Guild of America and the first woman to direct a sound film. She died in 1979.

Occupation

Dorothy Arzner is recorded as a advertising person, a director, a film editor, a radio producer, a film director, a theatrical producer and a screenwriter, born in California (1900–1979).

Connections to California

Dorothy Arzner was born in San Francisco, California in 1900. Explore other notable figures from California, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from California›Californiahistory ›Historic sites in California›

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about San Francisco

Dorothy Arzner came from San Francisco. A full Aubrey report on San Francisco pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your San Francisco report

Or see a real report first

More notable figures from California

Other historical figures born in California, ranked by historical prominence.

Kamala Harris

Vice President of the United States from 2021 to 2025

Bruce Lee

Hong Kong–American martial artist and actor (1940–1973)

John Steinbeck

American writer (1902–1968)

Jack London

American author, journalist and social activist (1876–1916)

Robert Frost

American poet (1874–1963)

Isadora Duncan

American dancer and choreographer (1877–1927)

Diane Keaton

American actress and film director (1946–2025)

Frequently asked about Dorothy Arzner

Who was Dorothy Arzner?

Dorothy Arzner was American film director and film editor (1897–1979), born in California (1900 – 1979).

When and where was Dorothy Arzner born?

Dorothy Arzner was born on 1900-01-03 in San Francisco.

When did Dorothy Arzner die?

Dorothy died on 1979-10-01.

What was Dorothy Arzner known for?

Dorothy Arzner is recorded as a advertising person, a director, a film editor, a radio producer, a film director, a theatrical producer and a screenwriter.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your location View a free sample report