The Champion Film Company was an independent production company founded in 1909 by Mark M. Dintenfass. The studio was one of the film companies that merged to form
Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...
.
Champion was the first film production company to establish itself in the area around
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee is a borough at the eastern border of Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, situated along the Hudson River atop the Palisades.
As of the 2020 U.S. census, the borough's population was 40,191. As of the 2010 U.S. census, th ...
, when the town was the home of
America's first motion picture industry
Fort Lee is a borough at the eastern border of Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, situated along the Hudson River atop the Palisades.
As of the 2020 U.S. census, the borough's population was 40,191. As of the 2010 U.S. census, th ...
It built its studio in the vicinity of Fort Lee, at the town line with
Thomas Alva Edison
Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures. These invention ...
, always looking for the "pirates" who escaped the rigid conditions posed by the
Motion Picture Patents Company
The Motion Picture Patents Company (MPPC, also known as the Edison Trust), founded in December 1908 and terminated seven years later in 1915 after conflicts within the industry, was a trust of all the major US film companies and local foreign-bran ...
(MPPC), the monopoly of the sector that it imposed, between the other, to use only the technical material (film cameras, film, etc.) that was to be provided exclusively by the trust. To circumvent the MPPC, the independents - including Dintenfass - distributed their films through the Motion Picture Distributing and Sales Company of
Carl Laemmle
Carl Laemmle (; born Karl Lämmle; January 17, 1867 – September 24, 1939) was a film producer and the co-founder and, until 1934, owner of Universal Pictures. He produced or worked on over 400 films.
Regarded as one of the most important o ...
.
On April 30, 1912, Laemmle brought together Pat Powers of
Powers Motion Picture Company
Patrick Anthony Powers (8 October 1870 – 30 July 1948) was an American businessman who was involved in the movie and animation industry of the 1910s, '20s, and '30s as a distributor and producer. His firm, Celebrity Productions, was the fi ...
, Mark Dintenfass of Champion Film Company, William Swanson of
Rex Motion Picture Company
Rex Motion Picture Company was an early film production company in the United States.
History
After Edwin S. Porter's short-lived ''Defender Film Company'' failed, The Rex Motion Picture Company was established by Edwin S. Porter, Joseph Engel, a ...
, David Horsley of
Nestor Film Company
The Nestor Film Company, originally known as the Nestor Motion Picture Company, was an American motion picture production company. It was founded in 1909 as the West Coast production unit of the Centaur Film Company located in Bayonne, New Jersey. ...
, and Charles Baumann and Adam Kessel of the
New York Motion Picture Company
The New York Motion Picture Company was a film production and distribution company from 1909 until 1914. It changed names to New York Picture Corporation in 1912. It released films through several different brand names, including 101 Bison, Kay- ...
, to merge their companies with
Independent Moving Pictures
The Independent Moving Pictures Company (IMP) was a motion picture studio and production company founded in 1909 by Carl Laemmle. The company was based in New York City, with production facilities in Fort Lee, New Jersey. In 1912, IMP merged with ...
and create Universal Film Manufacturing Company, with Laemmle assuming the role of president. Dintenfass later founded the
Vim Comedy Company
The Vim Comedy Company was a short-lived movie studio in Jacksonville, Florida and New York City. Vim bought out Siegmund Lubin's Lubin Manufacturing Company Jacksonville, Florida facilities at 750 Riverside Avenue in 1915 after that company ...
(1915)
In its four years of activity, Champion produced more than two hundred films. It specialized initially in westerns and historical reconstructions of military episodes of the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
and
American Revolution
The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...
. Later, he produced numerous drama films, documentaries and some movies related to famous people, such as the aviators
Blanche Scott
Blanche Stuart Scott (April 8, 1884 – January 12, 1970), also known as Betty Scott, was possibly the first United States, American woman aviator.
Biography
Early life
Blanche Stuart Scott was born on April 8, 1884, in Rochester, New York, to ...
and
Robert G. Fowler
Robert George Fowler (August 10, 1884 – June 15, 1966) was an early aviation pioneer and was the first person to make a west-to-east transcontinental flight in North America in stages.
Biography
He was born on August 10, 1884 in San Francisco, ...
. Among those who appeared in Champion films were
John G. Adolfi
John Gustav Adolfi (February 19, 1888 – May 11, 1933) was an American silent film director, actor, and screenwriter who was involved in more than 100 productions throughout his career. An early acting credit was in the recently restored 1912 fi ...
,
Irving Cummings
Irving Caminsky (October 9, 1888 – April 18, 1959) was an American movie actor and director.
Career
Born in New York City, Cummings started his acting career at age 16 in ''Diplomacy''. His Broadway, performances included ''In the Long R ...
,
Jeanie Macpherson
Abbie Jean MacPherson (May 18, 1886 – August 26, 1946) was an American silent actress, writer, and director. MacPherson worked as a theater and film actress before becoming a screenwriter for Cecil B. DeMille. She was a pioneer for women in th ...
.
Filmography
*''
Abernathy Kids to the Rescue
Abernathy may refer to:
Places in the United States
* Abernathy, Alabama, an unincorporated community
* Abernathy, Texas, a city
Other uses
* Abernathy (surname)
* Abernathy High School, Abernathy, Texas
* Abernathy Field, Pulaski, Tennessee, ...
'', directed by
Travers Vale
Travers Vale (31 January 1865 – 10 January 1927) was an English-born silent film film director, director. He directed more than 70 films between 1910 and 1926. He was born in Liverpool and died in Hollywood, California from cancer. Trave ...
(1910)
*''
A Romance of an Anvil
A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes' ...
'' (1910)
*''
Cow-boy and the Squaw
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the ''vaquero'' ...
A Wild Goose Chase
''A Wild Goose Chase'' is a 1919 American silent adventure film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Matt Moore, Hazel Daly and Sidney Ainsworth.Nash p.551
Cast
* Hazel Daly as Margaret Sherwood
* Sidney Ainsworth
* Chester Barnett
C ...
The Way of the West
''The Way of the West'' is a 1934 American Western film directed by Robert Emmett Tansey.
Cast
*Hal Taliaferro as Wally Gordon
*Bobby Nelson as Bobby Parker
* Myrla Bratton as "Fiery" Parker
* Fred Parker as Dad Parker
* William Desmond as ' ...
Hearts of the West
''Hearts of the West'', released in Europe as ''Hollywood Cowboy'', is a 1975 American comedy film directed by Howard Zieff, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and starring Jeff Bridges, Andy Griffith, Blythe Danner, and Alan Arkin. Set in 1930s ...
His Mother
''His Mother'' is a 1912 American silent film produced by Kalem Company. It was directed by Sidney Olcott with Gene Gauntier and Jack J. Clark in the leading roles. It was one of more than a dozen films produced by the Kalem Company filmed in Ir ...
Ulysses Davis
Ulysses Davis (November 5, 1872 – October 1, 1924), was an American film director. He directed 86 films between 1911 in film, 1911 and 1916 in film, 1916, some at Champion Film Company. He is probably best remembered today for having direc ...
The Price He Paid
''The Price He Paid'' is a 1914 American silent melodrama film, directed by Lawrence McGill. It stars Philip Hahn, Gertrude Shipman, and Julia Hurley (actress), Julia Hurley, and was released on December 7, 1914. The film is inspired by the Ella ...
Out of the Dark Out of the Dark may refer to:
Films
* ''Out of the Dark'' (1989 film), a comedy/horror film starring Karen Witter
* ''Out of the Dark'' (1995 film), a comedy/horror film by Jeffery Lau and starring Stephen Chow
* ''Out in the Dark'', a 2012 Israe ...
'', directed by
Ulysses Davis
Ulysses Davis (November 5, 1872 – October 1, 1924), was an American film director. He directed 86 films between 1911 in film, 1911 and 1916 in film, 1916, some at Champion Film Company. He is probably best remembered today for having direc ...
Molly Pitcher
Molly Pitcher is a nickname given to a woman said to have fought in the American Revolutionary War. She is most often identified as Mary Hays (American Revolutionary War), Mary Ludwig Hays, who fought in the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778. Ano ...
'', directed by
Ulysses Davis
Ulysses Davis (November 5, 1872 – October 1, 1924), was an American film director. He directed 86 films between 1911 in film, 1911 and 1916 in film, 1916, some at Champion Film Company. He is probably best remembered today for having direc ...
Ulysses Davis
Ulysses Davis (November 5, 1872 – October 1, 1924), was an American film director. He directed 86 films between 1911 in film, 1911 and 1916 in film, 1916, some at Champion Film Company. He is probably best remembered today for having direc ...
The Confessional
''The Confessional'' (french: Le Confessionnal) is a 1995 mystery-drama film directed by Robert Lepage.
The film is set in Quebec City, in two distinct time periods. In the present day, Pierre Lamontagne (Lothaire Bluteau) searches for his estran ...
'' (1911)
*''
A Daughter of Dixie
''A Daughter of Dixie'' is an American silent film produced by Kalem Company and directed by Sidney Olcott with Gene Gauntier in the leading role. It is a story about the American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 †...
Sidney Drew
Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Drew were an American comedy team on stage and screen. The team initially consisted of Sidney Drew (August 28, 1863 – April 9, 1919) and his first wife Gladys Rankin (October 8, 1870 – January 9, 1914). After Gladys died in 19 ...
Barbara Frietchie
''Barbara Frietchie, The Frederick Girl'' is a play in four acts by Clyde Fitch and based on the heroine of John Greenleaf Whittier's poem "Barbara Frietchie" (based on a real person: Barbara Fritchie). Fitch takes a good bit of artistic libe ...
Circumstantial Evidence
Circumstantial evidence is evidence that relies on an inference to connect it to a conclusion of fact—such as a fingerprint at the scene of a crime. By contrast, direct evidence supports the truth of an assertion directly—i.e., without need ...
'' (1911)
*''
The Copperhead
''The Copperhead'' is a 1920 American silent film, silent historical drama film based on a novel by Frederick Landis and a 1918 play by Augustus Thomas. The star of this film is Lionel Barrymore who won acclaim in the play version on Broadway, a ...
'', directed by
Ulysses Davis
Ulysses Davis (November 5, 1872 – October 1, 1924), was an American film director. He directed 86 films between 1911 in film, 1911 and 1916 in film, 1916, some at Champion Film Company. He is probably best remembered today for having direc ...
Yankee Doodle
"Yankee Doodle" is a traditional song and nursery rhyme, the early versions of which predate the Seven Years' War and American Revolution. It is often sung patriotically in the United States today. It is the state anthem of Connecticut. Its ...
Ulysses Davis
Ulysses Davis (November 5, 1872 – October 1, 1924), was an American film director. He directed 86 films between 1911 in film, 1911 and 1916 in film, 1916, some at Champion Film Company. He is probably best remembered today for having direc ...
Ulysses Davis
Ulysses Davis (November 5, 1872 – October 1, 1924), was an American film director. He directed 86 films between 1911 in film, 1911 and 1916 in film, 1916, some at Champion Film Company. He is probably best remembered today for having direc ...
For Her Father's Sake
''For Her Father's Sake'' is a 1921 British silent drama film directed by Alexander Butler and starring Owen Nares, Isobel Elsom and James Lindsay. It was based on the play ''The Perfect Lover'' by Alfred Sutro.
Cast
* Owen Nares as Walter Ca ...
Kid Canfield
George Washington Bonner (1878 – March 12, 1935), popularly known as Kid Canfield, was an American gambler and confidence trickster who later reformed and made a series of lectures and two films on the prevalence of cheating in gambling. Born ...
'', directed by
Ulysses Davis
Ulysses Davis (November 5, 1872 – October 1, 1924), was an American film director. He directed 86 films between 1911 in film, 1911 and 1916 in film, 1916, some at Champion Film Company. He is probably best remembered today for having direc ...
Brothers
A brother is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to non-familia ...
'', directed by
Wallace Reid
William Wallace Halleck Reid (April 15, 1891 – January 18, 1923) was an American actor in silent film, referred to as "the screen's most perfect lover". He also had a brief career as a racing driver.
Early life
Reid was born in St. Louis, M ...
(1912)
*''
Winona Winona, Wynona or Wynonna may refer to:
Places Canada
* Winona, Ontario
United States
* Winona, Arizona
* Winona, Indiana
* Winona Lake, Indiana
* Winona, Kansas
* Winona, Michigan
* Winona County, Minnesota
** Winona, Minnesota, the seat of Wi ...
An Italian Romance (1912 film)
''An Italian Romance'' ( it, L'amore ritrovato, also known as ''A Rekindled Affair'') is a 2004 Italian drama film directed by Carlo Mazzacurati. It premiered out of competition at the 61st Venice International Film Festival and was later screened ...
Lucky Jim
''Lucky Jim'' is a novel by Kingsley Amis, first published in 1954 by Victor Gollancz. It was Amis's first novel and won the 1955 Somerset Maugham Award for fiction. The novel follows the exploits of the eponymous James (Jim) Dixon, a reluctant ...
'' (1912)
*''
What Might Have Been
"What Might Have Been" is a song recorded by American country music group Little Texas. It was released in May 1993 as the lead-off single from their second (and breakthrough) album, '' Big Time''. It was written by Julian Williams and the band' ...
Sisters
A sister is a woman or a girl who shares one or more parents with another individual; a female sibling. The male counterpart is a brother. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to ...
The Gypsy Bride
''The Gypsy Bride'' ( es, La novia gitana, links=no) is a Spanish television series directed by Paco Cabezas adapting the novel of the same name by Carmen Mola that began airing on 25 September 2022. It stars Nerea Barros as the lead character Ins ...
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls () is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the border between the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the United States. The largest of the three is Horseshoe Falls, ...
Thy Will Be Done
Thy Will Be Done is an American heavy metal band formed in 2005 from Providence, Rhode Island. The ensemble has released the studio albums ''Was and Is to Come'' and ''In Ancient of Days'' via Stillborn Records, as well as the EP ''Temple'' v ...
The Honeymooners
''The Honeymooners'' is an American television sitcom which originally aired from 1955 to 1956, created by and starring Jackie Gleason, and based on a recurring comedy sketch of the same name that had been part of Gleason's variety show. It fol ...
Art and Love
Art is a diverse range of human behavior, human activity, and resulting product, that involves creative or imagination, imaginative talent expressive of technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas.
There is no genera ...
Shanghaied
Shanghaied may refer to:
*Shanghaiing, or forced conscription
* ''Shanghaied'' (1915 film), a film starring Charlie Chaplin
* ''Shanghaied'' (1927 film), a 1927 American silent film
* ''Shanghaied'' (1934 film), an animated short film starring Mi ...
John Griffith Wray
John Griffith Wray (August 30, 1881 – July 15, 1929) was an American stage actor and director who later became a noted Hollywood silent film director. He worked on 19 films between 1913 in film, 1913 and 1929 in film, 1929 that included ''Anna C ...
John Griffith Wray
John Griffith Wray (August 30, 1881 – July 15, 1929) was an American stage actor and director who later became a noted Hollywood silent film director. He worked on 19 films between 1913 in film, 1913 and 1929 in film, 1929 that included ''Anna C ...
John G. Adolfi
John Gustav Adolfi (February 19, 1888 – May 11, 1933) was an American silent film director, actor, and screenwriter who was involved in more than 100 productions throughout his career. An early acting credit was in the recently restored 1912 fi ...
Irving Cummings Motion Picture Magazine may 1914.png,
Irving Cummings
Irving Caminsky (October 9, 1888 – April 18, 1959) was an American movie actor and director.
Career
Born in New York City, Cummings started his acting career at age 16 in ''Diplomacy''. His Broadway, performances included ''In the Long R ...
Jeanie MacPherson - 1919 MPN.jpg,
Jeanie MacPherson
Abbie Jean MacPherson (May 18, 1886 – August 26, 1946) was an American silent actress, writer, and director. MacPherson worked as a theater and film actress before becoming a screenwriter for Cecil B. DeMille. She was a pioneer for women in th ...