The American Film Manufacturing Company, also known as Flying “A” Studios,
[
] was an American
motion picture production company
A production company, production house, production studio, or a production team is a studio that creates works in the fields of performing arts, new media art, film, television, radio, comics, interactive arts, video games, websites, music, and v ...
. In 1915, the formal name was changed to the American Film Company.
History
The American Film Manufacturing Company was founded in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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in the fall of 1910
by Samuel S. Hutchinson, John Freuler,
Charles J. Hite
Charles Jackson Hite (June 7, 1876 – August 21, 1914) was an American businessman and film producer of the early 20th century, most importantly the president and chief executive officer of the Thanhouser Film Corporation from 1912 to 1914.
...
and Harry Aitken, four Midwestern businessmen who joined forces and capital to create the company.
Flying "A" Studios was located in
La Mesa, California, from August 12, 1911, to July 6, 1912, using filming locations in La Mesa and other East County areas such as Lakeside, in addition to sites around San Diego.
Under the leadership of
Allan Dwan, Flying "A" made over 150 films in San Diego County. The films were usually western adventures, comedies or an occasional local documentary. The Flying A westerns were popular with the public and kept Dwan and his crew extremely busy. The Dwan westerns gave the Flying A the ability to mount large advertising campaigns, create additional films, and become a player in the motion picture industry. While mostly filming in the backcountry near La Mesa, some sets were built behind the Flying A Studios. Dwan would occasionally film a cowboy chase scene and then build a plot around that chase. Dwan's troupe of actors became very popular with the public.
In August 1912, Flying "A" Studios established its western branch in
Santa Barbara. Prior to this, three shooting companies were created. Two would work at the studio or surrounding locales of
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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, while it was the third unit that was sent out to concentrate on westerns. This western unit would move through the southwest with stops in
New Mexico
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, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...
,
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
and finally California.
The third unit would eventually settle in the town of
La Mesa before moving Northwest to
Santa Barbara. California was chosen for its sunny weather, and to avoid the constraints of the "Edison Trust" (i.e., The
Motion Picture Patents Company or MPPC) operating in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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and
New York.
The main reason for choosing
Santa Barbara before La Mesa was that the American Film Company wanted to have urban backdrops in some of its movies. During its operation between 1912 and 1917, Flying "A" Studios was one of the largest motion picture studios in the United States. At the time, this made Santa Barbara a filmmaking center rivaled only by
Hollywood.
Contract players and directors
When the American Film Company was formed in 1910, it culled many performers, directors, scenario writers and crew members from
Essanay Studios the Motion Picture Patents Company. Among the directors and writers that worked for American were
Frank Beal
Frank Beal (September 11, 1862 – December 20, 1934) was an American actor and film director of the silent film era.
Biography
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1862, Beal began acting in 1880 and gained fame as a director and an actor. In 1908, ...
,
Allan Dwan,
J. Warren Kerrigan, and
Tom Ricketts
Thomas B. Ricketts (15 January 1853 – 19 January 1939) was an English-born American stage actor, stage and motion picture, film actor and film director, director who was a pioneer in the film industry. He portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge in the fi ...
. In 1913,
Wallace Reid directed several society dramas for the company.
The company's roster of actors included
Dot Farley
Dorothea "Dot" Farley (February 6, 1881 – May 2, 1971) was an American film actress who appeared in 280 motion pictures between 1910 and 1950. She was also known as Dorothy Farley.
Biography
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Dorothea Farley was t ...
,
Margarita Fischer
Margarita Fisher (née Fischer, February 12, 1886 – March 11, 1975) was an American actress in silent motion pictures and stage productions. Newspapers sometimes referred to her as "Babe" Fischer.
Early life
Margarita Fischer was born on Fe ...
,
Mary Miles Minter
Mary Miles Minter (born Juliet Reilly; April 25, 1902Louisiana Birth Certificate, Caddo Parish, No. 119, Book A, Page 97, Birth Date: April 25, 1902, Name: Mary M. Reilly ic – Original Caddo birth record was recorded as "J.H. Riley's Child" ...
and
William Russell.
Demise
In mid-1918, American Film Company lost its primary distributor when
Mutual Film
Mutual Film Corporation was an early American film conglomerate that produced some of Charlie Chaplin's greatest comedies. Founded in 1912, it was absorbed by Film Booking Offices of America, which evolved into RKO Pictures.
Founding
Mutua ...
folded. The company signed with a new distributor,
Pathé, and continued to produce features. Over the next three years, the company's output decreased significantly. In 1921, one of American's most prominent contract players, Margarita Fischer, left the company. American Film Company was dissolved shortly thereafter.
Gallery
The Sheriff of Plumas.jpg,
The Reclamation.jpg,
American Film Company 4.jpg,
American Film Company 3.jpg,
American Film Company 2.jpg,
American Film Company.jpg,
Bibliography
*Birchard, Robert S. ''Silent-era filmmaking in Santa Barbara'', Charleston, SC: Arcadia, c2007. .
*
*Lyons, Timothy J. ''The silent partner: the history of the American Film Manufacturing Company, 1910-1921'', New York: Arno Press, 1974
1972
Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using mean solar tim ...
.
*Slide, Anthony. ''The American Film Industry: A Historical Dictionary''. New York: Limelight Editions, 1990. p. 17. .
*Tompkins, Walker A. ''Santa Barbara History Makers''. McNally & Loftin, Santa Barbara. 1983. .
References
External links
*
*
*
The Flying A: Silent Film In Santa Barbara
{{Authority control
Mass media companies established in 1910
Mass media companies disestablished in 1921
American film studios
Companies based in Chicago
Defunct American film studios
Film production companies of the United States
Film studios in Southern California
American companies established in 1910
1910 establishments in Illinois
1921 disestablishments in Illinois