Adam Kessel, Jr. (1866–1946) was a film company executive. He partnered with

Charles Baumann Charles O. Baumann (January 20, 1874 – July 18, 1931) was an American film producer, film studio executive, and pioneer in the motion picture industry. Biography Career He was a partner in the Crescent Film Company formed in 1908 and in ...

in a series of film distribution and production companies. Kessel was one of the founders of the New York Motion Picture Company in 1909. The

Kay-Bee Kay-Bee Pictures was a film company. Its executives included Thomas Ince. The company's mottos included "Every picture a headliner" and "Kay-Bee stands for Kessel and Baumann and Kessel and Baumann stands for quality", referring to Adam Kessel a ...

brand was based on Kessel and Baumann's last names. Bauman and Kessel partnered with

Mack Sennett Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American film actor, director, and producer, and studio head, known as the 'King of Comedy'. Born in Danville, Quebec, in 1880, he started in films in the ...

and Thomas Ince, as well as Adam's brother Charles Kessel, sharing ownership of the newly established

Keystone Film Company Keystone Studios was an early film studio founded in Edendale, California (which is now a part of Echo Park) on July 4, 1912 as the Keystone Pictures Studio by Mack Sennett with backing from actor-writer Adam Kessel (1866–1946) and Charles ...

in 1912. The four major players also partnered on

Alco Film Corporation Alco Films, established as Alco Film Corporation, was a short-lived American film distributor established in New York City during the silent film era in 1914. It was co-founded by Al Lichtman. The company worked to establish exclusive distribution d ...

and the group joined with

Harry Aitken Harry E. Aitken (1877August 1, 1956) was a film studio Executive producer, executive. Life He was born on 4 October 1877. He grew up on a family farm near Goerke's Corners, Wisconsin. The brothers operated Keystone Studios and eventually Harry ...

to form

Triangle Film Corporation Triangle Film Corporation (also known as Triangle Motion Picture Company) was a major American motion-picture studio, founded in July 1915 in Culver City, California and terminated 7 years later in 1922. History The studio was founded in July 1 ...

. He died in

Keeseville, New York Keeseville is a hamlet (and census-designated place) in Clinton and Essex counties, New York, United States. The population was 1,815 at the 2010 census. The hamlet was named after the Keese family, early settlers from Vermont. It developed alon ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kessel, Adam 1866 births 1946 deaths American film production company founders American film studio executives