A pictorial history of the silent screen (1953)

THE EDISON STOCK COMPANY (1907)-IN THE GROUP ARE CHARLES OGLE, PAT O'MALLEY, HERBERT PRIOR, FRANK McGLYNN persuaded Kyrle Bellew, noted actor, to film a tabloid version of "A Gentleman of France" which he had performed on the stage. In 1905 Vitagraph made "Raffles, The Amateur Cracksman" as a thousand-foot feature with J. Barney Sherry in the title role. It was directed by G. M. Anderson who began his career as an actor in "The Great Train Robbery" and who later became famous as Broncho Billy, the first motion picture cowboy. Companies were hiring actors by the week, but it was to be several years before their names were known or they were given any publicity. William Sorrelle, an obscure stage actor, was the first member of the Edison Stock Company. He was paid $30 a week. Maurice Costello, a juvenile from the Cecil Spooner Stock Company in Brooklyn, joined Edison. In 1906 Florence Turner, the daughter of an actor who lived near the Vitagraph Company in Flatbush, was hired for $18 a week. She doubled as actress and wardrobe mistress and later became known as "The Vitagraph Girl." The next year Marv Fuller began her film career at Vitagraph. Motion pictures were prospering and so were theatres showing them. In Chicago, William N. Selig, George Kleine and George K. Spoor entered the field. G. M. Anderson had left Vitagraph and joined Selig. In 1907 he met Spoor and together they formed the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company. The name was derived from their initials. The Kalem Company, which got its name from its founders George Kleine, Samuel Long and Frank Marion, also started in 1907 with $400 cash capital. They engaged Sidnev Olcott as actor and director. He had had some picture experience at Biograph but was then playing on the road with Joseph Santley and Marion Leonard in "Billy The Kid." Robert Vignola of the company was also hired as an actor. He later became a famous director. In December of 1907, Kalem produced "Ben Hur." It was advertised as "positively the most superb moving picture spectacle ever made in America in sixteen magnificent scenes with illustrated titles." Kalem did not acquire the rights to the famous Lew Wallace drama and they were sued by the publishers, producers and the author's estate. In 1911 Kalem finally settled for $25,000. Until this suit was instigated motion picture rights were unknown. This year a young actor named Lawrence Griffith made a film for Edison called "Rescued From An Eagle's Nest." His real name was David Wark Griffith. Pathe had not yet opened a studio in this countrv but were importing their French products. One was "Cinderella" in 967 feet and "partly colored." CHRISTMAS" (EDISON-1906) 'THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY" (EDISON-1903) "THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY" (EDISON-1903) PATHE Sf FILMS Qtie price j2$ per foot OnCQuality || D. W. GRIFFITH IN "RESCUED FROM AN EAGLE'S NEST" (EDISON-1 907) CINDERELLA Partly Colored LENGTH, 967 Feet fe>^-i? PRICE, $124.04 Wml<$M C? T hi V ■ ADVERTISEMENT FROM "FILM INDEX" (MARCH 2, 1907)