The Rupert Hughes Prose Writing Award is granted to the
Maui Writers Conference by his descendents
Ms. Barbara Cameron and her daughter Kimberley Cameron.
Kimberley has been an active literary agent at the
MWC for many years. She and her mother wanted to revive
Rupert's tradition of awarding excellence in writing
to new authors. They have done so by sponsoring the Rupert
Hughes Prose Writing Competition awards in Rupert's name
and spirit.
Rupert Hughes developed a famous "salon" for
artists where many rising talents first became discovered.
James O. Kemm's biography, "Rupert Hughes, A Hollywood
Legend", explores the life of the film pioneer, author,
screenwriter, film director, composer, soldier, network
radio commentator, wit and self-described "poor uncle
of
a rich nephew," as uncle and mentor to the enigmatic
Howard Hughes. A charming and witty man who didn't quite fulfill his
ambition to "live a thousand years and a thousand
lives," Rupert Hughes nevertheless packed an amazing number of
accomplishments into his 84 years. A strong opponent
of censorship and a pioneer advocate of women's rights,
Hughes urged reforms in working conditions and divorce
laws. One of his more than 50 books helped bring about
the observance of Mother's Day.
His closest friends included humorist Will Rogers, movie
producer Sam Goldwyn and actors Charles Chaplin and Douglas
Fairbanks. Hughes played an important role as a screenwriter
in the silent pictures. In his glory days
from the 'teens through the 1920s, 30s and into the 40s,
Rupert Hughes was a name to conjure with: a
prodigiously prolific writer of fiction, and later a producer-director.
If you would like to read more about the life of Rupert Hughes, copies of the book "Rupert Hughes, A Hollywood Legend," by James
O. Kemm |
Pomegranate Press, Ltd. | P.O. Box 17217 | Beverly Hills,
CA 90209-3217 are available in the MWC bookstore.
