Marquardt, Paul, 1889-1960

Paul Marquardt was a German composer, arranger, and orchestrator, known for writing film scores between the late 1920s and 1950s including The Wizard of Oz (1939) and It's a Wonderful Life (1946). He also wrote compositions for Howard Hughes-produced Jet Pilot (1957).

Born on January 13, 1889 in Rudolstadt, Germany, Marquardt immigrated to the United States in 1925 and naturalized in 1931, working as a conductor in the Roof Theatre in New York during this time. He also provided music scores for United Artists films, and in 1929, moved to Los Angeles, California to work for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), remaining until 1954 when he began freelance work.

Marquardt died on October 30, 1960.

Sources:

Paul A. Marquardt Music for Silent Films (Collection PASC-M 4). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.

Rodriguez, José. Music an Dance in California. Hollywood: Bureau of Musical Research, 1940.