Reliance Film Company (1910–1915) was an early movie production studio in the United States. It was established in 1910 in Coney Island by Adam Kessel Jr. and

Charles O. 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 ...

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 ...

purchased the Reliance Film Company in 1911 from

. It also went by the name the Reliance Motion Picture Company.

History

Reliance Film Company was founded in 1910 by Adam Kessel Jr. and Charles O. Baumann in

Coney Island Coney Island is a peninsular neighborhood and entertainment area in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is bounded by Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, Manhattan Beach to its east, L ...

in Brooklyn, New York City. It was a subsidiary of the New York Motion Picture Company. They were also the founders of the Bison Film Company on the West Coast. In 1911, Baumann stepped down from leadership at the company in order to focus more time at the Bison Film Company; control and management was succeeded by J. V. Ritchey and J. C. Graham. From 1910 until 1912, Kessel and Baumann were joined at the company by

Phillips Smalley Wendell Phillips Smalley (August 7, 1865 – May 2, 1939) was an American silent film director and actor. Biography Born in Brooklyn, New York, he was the grandson of Wendell Phillips; he was the son of George Washburn Smalley, a war correspon ...

and

Lois Weber Florence Lois Weber (June 13, 1879 – November 13, 1939) was an American silent film actress, screenwriter, producer and director. She is identified in some historical references as among "the most important and prolific film directors in the e ...

, both were actors and filmmakers. The studio took over the offices of the Sanford White studio in Manhattan. It also operated a 10,000 sq ft factory on

. It published ''The Film'', a weekly. Actor

Max Davidson Max Davidson (May 23, 1875 – September 4, 1950) was a German-American film actor known for his comedic Jewish persona during the silent film era. With a career spanning over thirty years, Davidson appeared in over 180 films. Career Born i ...

portrayed the character 'Izzy' in a series of Reliance films shorts in 1914.

Filmography

*'' A Brass Button'' (1911) *''

Her Son ''Her Son'' is a 1920 British silent drama film directed by Walter West and starring Violet Hopson, Stewart Rome and Mercy Hatton. It was based on the 1907 novel ''Her Son'' by Horace Annesley Vachell. Cast * Violet Hopson - Dorothy Fairfax ...

'' (1911) * ''Jealousy'' (1912 film) *'' Votes for Women (film)'' (1912), about women's suffrage produced in partnership with the National American Woman Suffrage Association *'' The Rose Bush of Memories'' (1914) *'' The Huron Converts'' (1915) with Joseph Henabery *'' Man (1913 film)'', a Reliance film directed by Oscar Apfel starring James Ashley, Gertrude Robinson *'' Before the White Man Came'' *'' At Cripple Creek'' *'' The Victoria Cross (1912 film)'' (''

The Charge of the Light Brigade The Charge of the Light Brigade was a failed military action involving the British light cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. Lord Raglan had intended to s ...

''), directed by Hal Reid *''

A Man's Duty ''A Man's Duty'' was a 1919 Lincoln Motion Picture Company film. It starred Clarence A. Brooks. It was advertised as featuring an "All Colored Cast". The film's story is about rivals fighting over a woman. Harry A. Gant directed. Brooks debuted in ...

'' *'' The Secret Service Man'' *'' Curfew Shall Not Ring Tonight'' (1912) *'' His Mother's Son'' (1913) *'' Kaintuck'' (1912), a Kaintuck is a native of Kentucky *'' Virginius (film)'' (1912), based on the play by

James Sheridan Knowles James Sheridan Knowles (12 May 1784 – 30 November 1862) was an Irish dramatist and actor. Biography Knowles was born in Cork. His father was the lexicographer James Knowles (1759–1840), cousin of Richard Brinsley Sheridan. The family mov ...

*'' The Second Mrs. Roebuck'' (1914) *''

The Great Leap; Until Death Do Us Part ''The Great Leap; Until Death Do Us Part'' is a 1914 silent American drama film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Mae Marsh, Robert Harron, and Ralph Lewis, and was released on March 26, 1914. Plot Cast * Mae Marsh as Mary Gibbs * Robert ...

'' (1914) *'' The Three Brothers (1915 film)'' (1915) *'' Station Content (1915 film)'' (1915) *'' The Craven'' (1915) *''

Sympathy Sal Sympathy is the perception of, understanding of, and reaction to the distress or need of another life form. According to David Hume, this sympathetic concern is driven by a switch in viewpoint from a personal perspective to the perspective of ano ...

'' (1915) *''

The Outlaw's Revenge ''The Outlaw's Revenge'' is a 1915 silent American biographical drama film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Raoul Walsh, Irene Hunt, and Teddy Sampson, and was released on April 15, 1915. Cast list * Raoul Walsh as the outlaw * Irene ...

'' (1915) *''

Macbeth ''Macbeth'' (, full title ''The Tragedie of Macbeth'') is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. It is thought to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those w ...

'' *'' Rosanna's Dream'' *'' Solomon's Son'' *'' When Men Love'' *'' Invasion of the Wilderness'' *''

The Girl Who Waited "The Girl Who Waited" is the tenth episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series '' Doctor Who'', and was first broadcast on BBC One and BBC America on 10 September 2011. It was written by Tom MacRae and was direct ...

'' *'' The Reckoning''

References

Silent film studios Entertainment companies established in 1910 Defunct American film studios Entertainment companies based in New York City {{US-company-stub