International photographer (Jan-Dec 1934)

February, 1934 T 1 1 INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER Thirteen closed and all work was done at the Glendale studio at the entrance to Sycamore Canyon. The Fleming St. lot was afterward used hy Charles Ray. Vitagraph came to the coast in 1911, and began studio work at the rear of a house on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. At first, instead of an open air stage, the company worked in a tent, a stage with diffusers being used later. After a few years production was begun at their Hollywood studio at the time they discontinued at Santa Monica. In the latter part of 1914, a studio was built by the Climax Co. at the intersection of Romaine and Lillian Way, in Hollywood. One picture, "The Lone Star Rush" was produced, featuring Robert Frazer, Mae Gaston, and Charles Arling. Jack Holt was a member of the supporting cast. After Climax, the studio was used successively by Kolb and Dill, Chaplin, Metro, and Buster Keaton. In 1913, the Zodiac Film Co. was formed, and were scheduled to begin the production of pictures on the property on the southwest corner of Hill and Council streets, over the Hill street tunnel. The Zodiac Co. had a rather brief existence, and Hobart Bosworth moved in, making his first production after leaving Selig to become an independent star. Beginning with "The Sea Wolf", he filmed several Jack London stories. In the years that followed, the studio was used by various companies — Rolin, headed by Hal Roach, with Harold Lloyd and Bebe Daniels; Chaplin, finishing out his Essanay contract, Mary Pickford, making her first version of "Tess of the Storm Country", and a number of smaller independent organizations. At the present time the lot is used as an auto park. Lubin had a studio in 1913 at 4550 Pasadena Ave., which was later used by J. P. MacGowan's Signal Film Co. for the production of a series of railroad dramas featuring Helen Holmes. In the period around 1914-15, studios were started and abandoned so rapidly that it was difficult to keep track of them. The Crown City Film Co. had a fairly large one in Pasadena, there was one in Alhambra, the Navajo Co. had one in Edendale where the Mixville market now stands, Jess Robbins had another out on Central Ave., Dave Horsley built a big one at Washington and Main on the old Chutes-Luna Park site, Milton H. Fahrney and George Ovey made MinA ("Made in America") comedies at Culver City, the Oz studio got under way at First set built by Los Angeles Selig Co. Picture, "Ramona." Director, Francis Boggs. the northwest corner of Santa Monica and Gower — and there were still others. When Dave Horsley brought his Nestor Co. to the coast in October 1911, he built Hollywood's first studio. This was at the northwest corner of Sunset and Gower. Ford Sterling occupied it later, after leaving Keystone to become a Universal star. It was afterward used for years Please mention The International Photogra David Horsley's first studio; northwest corner Cower and Sunset, now occupied by the Christies. by the Christie Comedy Co. Carl Laemmle started production by the newly formed Universal Co. in Hollywood, July 12, 1912, taking over the Nestor property and also half a block across the street on Sunset boulevard. With the opening of Universal City on March 15, 1915, the Hollywood Universal studio was left to the Stern brothers, producing L-Ko comedies. All buildings on the lot were destroyed several years ago by fire. Wm. H. Clune built a studio in 1915, on Melrose avenue across from the present Paramount lot. Clune produced "Ramona," with Monroe Salisbury and Adda Gleason playing leads. Donald Crisp directed. The property has since been used by various directors and stars, one of whom was Douglas Fairbanks. The first Ince Culver City studio was built in 1915. After Ince moved out it passed into the hands of the Triangle Co., who passed it on to Sam Goldwyn. It is now occupied by M-G-M. Ince built his second Culver City plant in 1917. After his death, it was taken over by C. B. DeMille. It was afterward bought by Pathe, who in turn sold it to RKO, who now own it. The original Lasky studio at the intersection of Selma and Vine, in Hollywood, was built in 1913. Most of the early studios started by buying a frame house and building a stage back of it, using the house as office and dressings rooms. The beginnings of the Lasky lot were even more humble ; they started with a barn ! A glass stage was added in 1914, this being the second one on the coast. Thomas Dixon — author of "The Clansmen" — built a studio on Western Avenue in 1915 for the production of a war picture, "The Fall of a Nation." The property was later bought by the Fox Company who still hold it. The studio at the corner of Council and Occidental streets was built in 1914 for Hobart Bosworth. Oliver Morosco had it for a while, after which it was used by Paramount for their Realart productions. It is now occupied by the Cinecolor laboratories. The Balboa studio on Sixth street in Long Beach was started in 1913 by the Horkheimer brothers. During 1915 this was one of the busiest lots in the industry. In 1917 Balboa went out of business, and Fatty Arbuckle took over the plant, making most of his two reel Paramount comedies there. Biograph built their first Los Angeles studio in 1910, at the corner of Washington and Grand. This was only a temporary structure, used for one season. In 1911 the studio at the corner of Georgia and Girard was built ; during the next five years it was used as Biograph's winter headquarters. In the early part of 1917 it was occupied by 'Fhomas H. Ince, pending construction of his second Culver City plant. The studio was last used in 1923 by Katherine MacDonald. Other studios not thus far mentioned were those of the Quality Co. on Gordon street, E and R Jungle Film on (Continued on Page 31) pher when corresponding with advertisers.