Sun Haven Studios was a

movie A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

company located on

Weedon Island The Weedon Island Preserve is a 3,190 acre natural area situated along the western shore of Tampa Bay, and located on 1800 Weedon Drive NE. St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. It is predominately an estuarine preserve composed of upland and a ...

St. Petersburg, Florida St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 258,308, making it the fifth-most populous city in Florida and the second-largest city in the Tampa Bay Area, after Tampa. It is the ...

during the early 1930s. Originally founded as Kennedy Studios by Hollywood director Aubrey M. Kennedy, it was renamed to Sun Haven after being purchased by local investors. It produced only 3 movies: ''

Playthings of Desire ''Playthings of Desire'' is a 1924 American silent melodrama film produced and directed by Burton L. King and starring Estelle Taylor. Cast Preservation A print listed as being complete of ''Playthings of Desire'' is located in the Library o ...

'' (1933), ''

Hired Wife ''Hired Wife'' is a 1940 American romantic comedy film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Rosalind Russell, Brian Aherne and Virginia Bruce. Plot When Stephen Dexter (Brian Aherne), boss of Dexter Cement, competes with the giants in his ...

'' (1934) and ''

Chloe, Love Is Calling You ''Chloe, Love Is Calling You'' is a 1934 American pre-Code drama film directed by Marshall Neilan. The film is also known as ''Chloe'' (American short title). This was lead actress Olive Borden's last film. Plot summary A low-budget Southern dra ...

'' (1934). All of the lead actors were minor players from

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

. In addition to these three productions, the company had several adaptations from popular novels in development, including ''The Mad Dancer'', ''Ermine and Rhinestones'', ''Wings of Pride'', ''Her Indiscretion'' and ''Madonnas and Men''.

Buster Keaton Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is best known for his silent film work, in which his trademark was physical comedy accompanied by a stoic, deadpan expression ...

did come to the studios to work on revitalizing his career but left before making any movies. The studio was closed shortly thereafter. In late 1933, pulp writer Eustace L. Adams, who wintered in the St. Petersburg area, was working on a script for the Sun Haven film ''Gambler's Throw'', based on his 1930 '' Argosy'' magazine serial.St. Petersburg ''Evening Independent'', August 24, 1933.

References

Mass media companies established in 1933 Mass media companies disestablished in 1934 Defunct American film studios Film production companies of the United States 1933 establishments in Florida 1934 disestablishments in Florida {{film-studio-stub