Triangle Film Corporation (also known as Triangle Motion Picture Company) was a major
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
motion-picture studio, founded in July 1915 in
Culver City, California
Culver City is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,779. Founded in 1917 as a "whites only" sundown town, it is now an ethnically diverse city with what was called the "third-most d ...
and terminated 7 years later in 1922.
History
The studio was founded in July 1915 by Harry and Roy Aitken, two brothers from the
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
farmlands who pioneered the
studio system
A studio system is a method of filmmaking wherein the production and distribution of films is dominated by a small number of large movie studios. It is most often used in reference to Hollywood motion picture studios during the Golden Age of Hol ...
Reliance-Majestic Studios
Reliance-Majestic Studios was an early American movie studio in Hollywood, California, originally built around 1914 at 4516 Sunset Boulevard.
Within a few years, it became the home of D. W. Griffith and Mutual Film Corporation. The studio's na ...
; both parted with the
Mutual Film Corporation
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
Mutual ...
in the wake of ''
The Birth of a Nation
''The Birth of a Nation'', originally called ''The Clansman'', is a 1915 American silent epic drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish. The screenplay is adapted from Thomas Dixon Jr.'s 1905 novel and play ''The Cla ...
'' unexpected success that year. Triangle was envisioned as a prestige studio based on the producing abilities of filmmakers D. W. Griffith, Thomas Ince and
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 ...
.
On November 23, 1915, the Triangle Film Corporation opened a state-of-the-art motion picture theater in
Massillon, Ohio
Massillon is a city in Stark County, Ohio, Stark County in the U.S. state of Ohio, approximately west of Canton, Ohio, Canton, south of Akron, and south of Cleveland. The population was 32,146 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Mass ...
. The Lincoln Theater is still an operational movie theater owned and operated by the Massillon Lion's Club. The theater has been restored and is host to a yearly
film festival
A film festival is an organized, extended presentation of films in one or more cinemas or screening venues, usually in a single city or region. Increasingly, film festivals show some films outdoors. Films may be of recent date and, depending upon ...
dedicated to the films of
Dorothy
Dorothy may refer to:
*Dorothy (given name), a list of people with that name.
Arts and entertainment
Characters
*Dorothy Gale, protagonist of ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' by L. Frank Baum
* Ace (''Doctor Who'') or Dorothy, a character playe ...
and Lillian Gish.
Eventually, the studio suffered from bloat. By 1917, producer Adolph Zukor had taken control of all of the studio's assets. In June 1917, Thomas H. Ince and Mack Sennett left the company and sold their remaining interests. In 1917, Triangle's
distribution Distribution may refer to:
Mathematics
*Distribution (mathematics), generalized functions used to formulate solutions of partial differential equations
* Probability distribution, the probability of a particular value or value range of a vari ...
Goldwyn Pictures
Goldwyn Pictures Corporation was an American motion picture production company that operated from 1916 to 1924 when it was merged with two other production companies to form the major studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was founded on November 19, 1 ...
purchased the
Triangle Studios
Triangle Studios is a mid-sized computer game development company based in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, founded in 2005. It has developed several games for the PC, the Nintendo DS and iOS. On March 2, 2010, the company opened a new branch office in D ...
in Culver City in 1918.
Triangle continued to produce films until 1919, when it ceased operations. Films using the Triangle name were still released to the general public until 1923.
Selected filmography
The Phantom 1916.jpg, ''The Phantom'' (1916)
False to the Finish.jpg, ''False to the Finish'' (1917)
Haunted by Himself.jpg, ''Haunted by Himself'' (1917)
Her Busted Debut.jpg, ''Her Busted Debut'' (1917)
Mystic Faces.jpg, ''Mystic Faces'' (1918)
Child of M'sieu.jpg, ''Child of M'sieu'' (1919)
With the exception of ''
Oh, Mabel Behave
''Oh, Mabel Behave'' is a 1922 American Silent film, silent comedy film starring Mabel Normand, Owen Moore, Mack Sennett, and Ford Sterling. Sennett and Sterling also directed the film.Fort Lee, New Jersey.
;1915
* ''
Jordan Is a Hard Road
''Jordan Is a Hard Road'' is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Dorothy Gish, Frank Campeau and Sarah Truax. The production was under the overall supervision of D. W. Griffith, and was the first film made by Dw ...
''
* ''
Fickle Fatty's Fall
''Fickle Fatty's Fall'' is a 1915 American short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.
Cast
* Phyllis Allen
* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle
* Glen Cavender
* Ivy Crosthwaite
* Alice Davenport
* Bobby Dunn
* Minta Durfee
* May Emory
...
''
* ''A Game Old Knight''
* ''
Fatty and the Broadway Stars
''Fatty and the Broadway Stars'' is a 1915 American short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.
Cast
* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle
* Ivy Crosthwaite
* Mack Sennett
* Joe Weber
* Lew Fields
* Sam Bernard
* William Collier Sr.
* Joe ...
''
* ''
The Winged Idol
''The Winged Idol'' is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by Scott Sidney and starring Katharine Kaelred, House Peters and Clara Williams. It was released by Triangle Film on a program alongside Allan Dwan's '' Jordan Is a Hard Road''.L ...
''
;1916
* ''
Fatty and Mabel Adrift
''Fatty and Mabel Adrift'' is a 1916 Keystone short comedy film starring Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, Mabel Normand, and Al St. John.
Plot
The story involves Arbuckle as a farm boy marrying his sweetheart, Normand. They have their honeymoon with ...
He Did and He Didn't
''He Did and He Didn't'' is a 1916 American Short subject, short comedy film starring Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle and Mabel Normand.
Production
The dark plot, extremely sophisticated for its time, involves a corpulent husband who finds himself con ...
The Flying Torpedo
''The Flying Torpedo'' is a 1916 American silent drama directed by John B. O'Brien and Christy Cabanne. It was produced by the Fine Arts Film Company and distributed by the Triangle Film Corporation. The film was written by John Emerson (who ...
His Wife's Mistakes
''His Wife's Mistakes'' is a 1916 American short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.
Cast
* Roscoe Arbuckle
* Minta Durfee
* Joe Bordeaux
* Arthur Earle - Percy Dovewing
* Betty Gray
* William Jefferson
* Alfred St. John
...
''
* ''Bucking Society''
* ''His Bread and Butter''
* '' The Other Man''
* ''
The Stepping Stone
''The Stepping Stone'' is a 1916 American silent drama film, directed by Reginald Barker and Thomas H. Ince. It is a lost film.Civilization
A civilization (or civilisation) is any complex society characterized by the development of a state, social stratification, urbanization, and symbolic systems of communication beyond natural spoken language (namely, a writing system).
Ci ...
''
* ''Rough Knight''
* '' A Dash of Courage''
* ''The Primal Lure''
* ''The Bugle Call''
* ''
Going Straight
''Going Straight'' is a BBC sitcom created and written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and starring Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale. The programme was a direct spin-off to the sitcom '' Porridge'', which all four were involved in, wit ...
''
* '' The Mystery of the Leaping Fish''
* ''The Dividend''
* ''His First False Step''
* '' An Innocent Magdalene''
* '' Flirting with Fate''
* ''Our American Boys in the European War''
* ''Courtin' of Caliope Clew''
* ''The Winning Punch''
* ''Nell Dale's Men Folks''
* ''The French Milliner''
* ''The Patriot''
* ''
Intolerance
Intolerance may refer to:
* Hypersensitivity
Hypersensitivity (also called hypersensitivity reaction or intolerance) refers to undesirable reactions produced by the normal immune system, including allergies and autoimmunity. They are usual ...
The Little School Ma'am
''The Little School Ma'am'' is a 1916 American drama silent black and white film directed by C.M. Franklin and S.A. Franklin, and written by Bernard McConville and Frank E. Woods. It stars Dorothy Gish.
Cast
* Dorothy Gish as Nan
* Elmer Clif ...
Happiness
Happiness, in the context of Mental health, mental or emotional states, is positive or Pleasure, pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Other forms include life satisfaction, well-being, subjective well-being, flourishin ...
''
* ''Her Torpedoed Love''
* ''His One Night Stand''
* ''A Laundry Clean-Up''
* ''
The Little Yank
''The Little Yank'' is a 1917 American silent film, silent historical film, historical drama film directed by George Siegmann and starring Dorothy Gish, Frank Bennett (actor), Frank Bennett and Bob Burns (actor), Bob Burns.Langman p.XVI The film i ...
''
* ''The Man Who Made Good''
* ''The Camera Cure''
* ''Twin Troubles''
* ''American – That's All''
* ''A Strange Transgressor''
* ''Dad's Downfall''
* ''
Her Excellency, the Governor
''Her Excellency, the Governor'' is a 1917 American silent drama film produced and distributed by the Triangle Film Corporation. Directed by Albert Parker, the film stars Elda Milar, who later became well known as gossip columnist Hedda Hoppe ...
''
* '' The Flame of the Yukon''
* ''His Sudden Rival''
* ''The House of Scandal''
* ''The Mother Instinct''
* ''A Successful Failure''
* ''Sudden Jim''
* ''
Borrowed Plumage
''Borrowed Plumage'' is a 1917 American silent comedy adventure film directed by Raymond B. West and starring Bessie Barriscale. It was produced by the Triangle Film Corporation.
A print exists in the Library of Congress collection. It is incom ...
''
* ''
An Even Break
''An Even Break'' is a 1917 American silent comedy-drama film written and directed by Lambert Hillyer, and starring Olive Thomas and Charles Gunn. A print of the film is preserved at the Library of Congress. Prints and/or fragments were found in ...
''
* ''
The Food Gamblers
''The Food Gamblers'' is a lost 1917 American silent drama film directed by Al Parker and starring Wilfred Lucas, Russell Simpson, and Elda Millar. The production was supervised by Allan Dwan. The plot involves the manipulation of the prices of f ...
''
* '' Golden Rule Kate''
* ''His Cool Nerve''
* ''Master of His Home''
* ''They're Off''
* ''
Wee Lady Betty
''Wee Lady Betty'' is a 1917 American silent film, silent drama film produced and distributed by the Triangle Film Corporation. It was directed by Charles Miller (director), Charles Miller and stars Bessie Love, Frank Borzage, and Charles K. Fren ...
Polly Ann
''Polly Ann'' (also known as ''The Little Reformer'' and ''Pernickety Polly Ann'') is a lost film, lost 1917 American Silent film, silent comedy-drama film produced and distributed by the Triangle Film Corporation. It was directed by Charles Mill ...
The Sultan's Wife
''The Sultan's Wife'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by Clarence G. Badger and starring Bobby Vernon and Gloria Swanson. The film is also known under the title ''Caught in a Harem''.
Plot
Gloria follows sailor boyfriend Bobby ...
''
* ''The Tar Heel Warrior''
* ''Ashes of Hope''
* ''A Phantom Husband''
* ''One Shot Ross''
* ''Wild Sumac''
* ''Cassidy''
* ''The Firefly of Tough Luck''
* ''His Busy Day''
* ''The Stainless Barrier''
* ''Fighting Back''
* ''Up or Down?''
* ''Indiscreet Corinne''
* ''The Medicine Man''
* ''A Case at Law''
* ''The Fuel of Life''
* ''For Valour''
* ''The Regenerates''
* '' The Cold Deck''
* ''The Sudden Gentleman''
* ''Fanatics''
* ''The Learnin' of Jim Benton''
* ''The Ship of Doom''
* ''Because of a Woman''
* ''The Maternal Spark''
* ''A Counterfeit Scent''
* ''Until They Get Me''
* ''Framing Framers''
* ''The Gown of Destiny''
;1918
* ''Without Honor''
* ''Betty Takes a Hand''
* ''His Hidden Shame''
* ''The Man Above the Law''
* ''I Love You''
* ''The Law's Outlaw''
* ''The Argument''
* ''The Flames of Chance''
* ''
The Gun Woman
''The Gun Woman'' is a 1918 American silent Western film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Texas Guinan. It was produced and distributed by the Triangle Film Corporation.
The film is preserved at the Library of Congress.
Plot
As descri ...
''
* ''Her American Husband''
* ''The Hopper''
* ''Limousine Life''
* ''Captain of His Soul''
* ''Real Folks''
* ''From Two to Six''
* ''Keith of the Border''
* ''Little Red Decides''
* ''A Soul in Trust''
* ''Heiress for a Day''
* ''The Shoes That Danced''
* ''The Hard Rock Breed''
* ''The Sea Panther''
* ''Caught with the Goods''
* ''The Answer''
* ''Faith Endurin''
* ''Innocent's Progress''
* ''Nancy Comes Home''
* ''The Love Brokers''
* ''The Vortex''
* ''The Boss of the Lazy Y''
* ''The Law of the Great Northwest''
* ''Who Killed Walton?''
* ''The Hand at the Window''
* ''
Society for Sale
''Society for Sale'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Frank Borzage and starring William Desmond and Gloria Swanson. It is not known whether the film currently survives, which suggests that it is a lost film.
Plot
As descr ...
Her Decision
''Her Decision'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Jack Conway and starring Gloria Swanson. It is not known whether the film currently survives, and it may be a lost film.
Plot
As described in a film magazine, after her sister ...
''
* ''Wolves of the Border''
* ''Old Hartwell's Cub''
* ''Who Is to Blame?''
* ''Old Love for New''
* ''The Man Who Woke Up''
* ''The Red-Haired Cupid''
* ''The Last Rebel''
* ''Madame Sphinx''
* ''His Enemy, the Law''
* '' Station Content''
* ''Closin' In''
* ''
You Can't Believe Everything
''You Can't Believe Everything'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Jack Conway and starring Gloria Swanson. It is not known whether the film currently survives, and it is likely to be a lost film.
Plot
As described in a film ma ...
''
* ''The Fly God''
* ''The Painted Lily''
* ''
Everywoman's Husband
''Everywoman's Husband'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Gilbert P. Hamilton and starring Gloria Swanson. A print of the film is preserved at the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
Plot
As described in a film magazine, when th ...
False Ambition
''False Ambition'' is a 1918 silent drama film produced and released by the Triangle Film Corporation. Directed by Gilbert P. Hamilton, the film stars Alma Rubens.
Cast
* Alma Rubens - Judith/Zariska
* Peggy Pearce - Felicity
* Alberta Lee - ...
''
* ''Beyond the Shadows''
* ''The Golden Fleece''
* ''Alias Mary Brown''
* ''The Price of Applause''
* ''Cactus Crandall''
* ''
Shifting Sands Shifting Sands can refer to:
*''The Shifting Sands'', a book in the ''Deltora Quest'' series
* ''Shifting Sands'' (1918 film), a 1918 film
* ''Shifting Sands'' (1922 film), a 1922 film
*''Shifting Sands'', a 1957 episode of The Goon Show
*Forms of ...
Wife or Country
''Wife or Country'' is a 1918 American silent film, silent drama film directed by E. Mason Hopper and starring Gloria Swanson in her last role for Triangle Film Corporation. It is not known whether the film currently lost film, survives.
Plot
B ...
The Little Rowdy
''The Little Rowdy'' is a 1919 American silent comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Hazel Daly, Harry Hilliard, and Sidney Ainsworth. The film was released by Triangle Film Corporation on March 23, 1919.
Plot
Cast
* Hazel Daly ...
''
* ''Toton the Apache''
* ''A Royal Democrat''
* ''A Regular Fellow''
* ''The Follies Girl''
* ''Taxi''
* ''The Water Lily''
* ''The Mayor of Filbert''
* ''The Root of Evil''
* ''
Love's Prisoner
''Love's Prisoner'' is a 1919 American silent crime drama film starring Olive Thomas
Olive Thomas (born Oliva R. Duffy; October 20, 1894 – September 10, 1920) was an American silent-film actress, art model, and photo model.
Thomas began ...
''
* ''Upside Down''
* ''Prudence on Broadway''
* ''Muggsy''
* ''Little Miss Deputy''
* ''Mistaken Identity''
* ''One Against Many''
* ''Three Black Eyes''
References
Bibliography
* Frederic Lombardi. ''Allan Dwan and the Rise and Decline of the Hollywood Studios''. McFarland, 2013.
Cinémathèque française
The Cinémathèque Française (), founded in 1936, is a French non-profit film organization that holds one of the largest archives of film documents and film-related objects in the world. Based in Paris's 12th arrondissement, the archive offers ...