Introduction
Jack Rieger (born May 3, 1897 Gorlice; died March 1, 1971, New York City) was a low budget producer and inventor.
Early years
Jack Rieger immigrated to the US, and arrived at Ellis Island August 4, 1903, aboard the SS Statendam. He was the son of Leib Rieger, a tailor, and Chane Rieger. Jack Rieger worked in a New York motion picture film laboratory. On August 5, 1936, Rieger filed a voluntary petition in bankruptcy in federal court listing liabilities of $136,795 with no assets.
Motion Pictures
Rieger produced the 1934 film The Yiddish King Lear and became known as an active film maker for hire for heavyweight fights. Rieger offered a six figure sum for the rights to film the 1945 Joe Louis - Billy Conn fight, a record at the time. In 1947 Rieger acquired some footage from an uncompleted and untitled 1940 film starring Cornel Wilde and placed Wilde's scenes with several musical numbers as a 1947 film called Stairway for a Star.
He was associate producer of Captain Scarface, producer of the documentary Savage Africa where he reused the African footage in a feature film called African Manhunt and the 3D film Stereo Laffs (originally shot in 1941 but re-issued in 1953 as A Day in the Country).
Inventor
Jack Rieger held one US patent for a portable collapsible crib and play pen.