Jump to content

Famous Players Film Company: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Coldbrizz (talk | contribs)
Reference added to page
 
(29 intermediate revisions by 22 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Film studio founded by Adolph Zukor and the Frohman brothers}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = The Famous Players Film Company
| name = The Famous Players Film Company
Line 4: Line 5:
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_size = 200px
| fate = Corporate merger
| fate = Corporate merger
| successors = [[Famous Players-Lasky]]<br>[[Paramount Pictures]]
| successors = [[Famous Players–Lasky]]<br>[[Paramount Pictures]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|1912|5|8}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|1912|5|8}}
| defunct = {{start date and age|1916}}
| defunct = {{start date and age|1916}}
Line 14: Line 15:
[[File:Andy's Dog Day - O die honden - Wallace A. Carlson - 1921, Celebrated Players Film Corporation - EYE FLM47934 - OB 687181.webm|thumb|'''PLAY''': ''Andy's Dog Day'' (1921) by [[Wallace A. Carlson]] for Celebrated Players Film Corporation. An animated film with balloon texts, this [[Film short|short]] features the character Andy Gump, who is repeatedly harassed by dogs (duration 05:54).]]
[[File:Andy's Dog Day - O die honden - Wallace A. Carlson - 1921, Celebrated Players Film Corporation - EYE FLM47934 - OB 687181.webm|thumb|'''PLAY''': ''Andy's Dog Day'' (1921) by [[Wallace A. Carlson]] for Celebrated Players Film Corporation. An animated film with balloon texts, this [[Film short|short]] features the character Andy Gump, who is repeatedly harassed by dogs (duration 05:54).]]


The '''Famous Players Film Company''' was a film company founded in 1912 by [[Adolph Zukor]] in partnership with the [[Frohman brothers]], powerful [[New York City]] [[theatre]] impresarios. Discussions to form the company were held at [[The Lambs]], a famous theater club where Charles and Daniel Frohman were members.{{Citation needed|date=February 2018}} The company advertised "Famous Players in Famous Plays" and its first release was the French film ''[[Les Amours de la reine Élisabeth]]'' (1912) starring [[Sarah Bernhardt]] and [[Lou Tellegen]]. Its first actual production was ''[[The Count of Monte Cristo (1913 film)|The Count of Monte Cristo]]'' (1912, released 1913), directed by [[Edwin S. Porter]] and starring [[James O'Neill (actor, born 1847)|James O'Neill]], the father of dramatist [[Eugene O'Neill]].
The '''Famous Players Film Company''' was a film company founded in 1912 by [[Adolph Zukor]] in partnership with the [[Frohman brothers]], powerful [[New York City]] [[theatre]] owners and producers.


==History==
In 1914, the company purchased the former headquarters of New York City's Ninth Mounted Cavalry unit at 221 West 26th Street in [[Manhattan]].<ref name="Alleman231">{{Cite book |last=Alleman |first=Richard |authorlink= |year=2005 |title=New York: The Movie Lover's Guide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wDpSaPkSt-8C&pg=PA231 |location=New York |publisher=Broadway Books |page=231 |isbn=0-7679-1634-4 }}</ref> The cavernous brick building made excellent filming space for Zukor, and the modernized site is still used today as [[Chelsea Television Studios]].<ref name="Alleman231"/>
Discussions to form the company were held at [[The Lambs]], a famous theater club where Charles and Daniel Frohman were members.{{Citation needed|date=February 2018}} The company advertised "Famous Players in Famous Plays" and its first release was the French film ''[[Les Amours de la reine Élisabeth]]'' (1912) starring [[Sarah Bernhardt]] and [[Lou Tellegen]]. Its first actual production was ''[[The Count of Monte Cristo (1913 film)|The Count of Monte Cristo]]'' (1912, released 1913), directed by [[Joseph A. Golden]] and [[Edwin S. Porter]] and starring [[James O'Neill (actor, born 1847)|James O'Neill]], the father of dramatist [[Eugene O'Neill]].


In 1914, the company purchased the former headquarters of New York City's Ninth Mounted Cavalry unit at 221 West 26th Street in [[Manhattan]].<ref name="Alleman231">{{Cite book |last=Alleman |first=Richard |year=2005 |title=New York: The Movie Lover's Guide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wDpSaPkSt-8C&pg=PA231 |location=New York City |publisher=Broadway Books |page=231 |isbn=0-7679-1634-4 }}</ref> The cavernous brick building made excellent filming space for Zukor, and the modernized site is still used today as [[Chelsea Television Studios]].<ref name="Alleman231"/>
Hiring its performers straight from the New York stage, Famous Players had an early roster of some of the city's biggest names including [[Marguerite Clark]], [[Hazel Dawn]], and [[H. B. Warner]].<ref name="Alleman231"/> The company also featured cinema's biggest star of the era, [[Mary Pickford]], and presented theater idol [[John Barrymore]] in his first two feature films.<ref name="Alleman231"/> The company produced both short and feature-length productions.


Hiring its performers straight from the Broadway stage, Famous Players had an early roster of some of the theater world’s biggest names including [[Marguerite Clark]], [[William Farnum]], [[Gaby Deslys]], [[Hazel Dawn]], and [[H. B. Warner]].<ref name="Alleman231"/> The company also featured cinema's biggest star of the era, [[Mary Pickford]], and presented theater idol [[John Barrymore]] in his first two feature films.<ref name="Alleman231"/> The company produced both short and feature-length productions.
In 1916, the company merged with the [[Jesse L. Lasky]] Feature Play Company to form [[Famous Players-Lasky]] Corporation, which later became [[Paramount Pictures]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=1916-06-29|title=$12,500,000 MERGER OF FILM COMPANIES; Famous Players and Jesse L. Lasky Feature Unite in a New Corporation. ADOLPH ZUKOR, PRESIDENT Consolidate to Meet Present Conditions ;- 84 Pictures a Year to be Distributed by Paramount.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1916/06/29/archives/12500000-merger-of-film-companies-famous-players-and-jesse-l-lasky.html|access-date=2020-08-26|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>


In 1916, the company merged with the [[Jesse L. Lasky]] Feature Play Company to form [[Famous Players–Lasky Corporation]], which later became [[Paramount Pictures]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=1916-06-29|title=$12,500,000 MERGER OF FILM COMPANIES; Famous Players and Jesse L. Lasky Feature Unite in a New Corporation. ADOLPH ZUKOR, PRESIDENT Consolidate to Meet Present Conditions ;- 84 Pictures a Year to be Distributed by Paramount.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1916/06/29/archives/12500000-merger-of-film-companies-famous-players-and-jesse-l-lasky.html|access-date=2020-08-26|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
== Raleigh Studios ==

In 1915, the company established Famous Players Fiction Studios at 5300 [[Melrose Avenue]] in [[Hollywood]]. The new studio's first film starred [[Mary Pickford]].<ref>[http://www.raleighstudios.com/about.aspx Raleigh Studios] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526055228/http://www.raleighstudios.com/about.aspx |date=May 26, 2010 }}</ref> The studio later became [[W. H. Clune|Clune Studio]], then California Studio, then [[Jack J. Gross|Gross]][[Philip N. Krasne|-Krasne]],<ref>Gross-Krasne Buys California Studios. The Billboard (Archive: 1894–1960) 64.40 (Nov 29, 1952): 11</ref> followed by Producers Studios Inc., and is now known as Raleigh Studios.<ref>{{cite web|author=Gary Wayne |url=http://www.seeing-stars.com/studios/RaleighStudios.shtml |title=Raleigh Studios |publisher=Seeing Stars.com |date= |accessdate=2013-10-10}}</ref> Raleigh Studios is known for being the site of ''Gunsmoke,'' ''Perry Mason,'' and currently ''[[Let's Make a Deal]]''. It is one of the oldest studios in Hollywood.
=== Famous Players Fiction Studios<!--'Famous Players Fiction Studios' redirects here-->===
In 1915, the company established '''Famous Players Fiction Studios'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> at 5300 [[Melrose Avenue]] in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]]. The new studio's first film starred [[Mary Pickford]].<ref>[http://www.raleighstudios.com/about.aspx Raleigh Studios] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526055228/http://www.raleighstudios.com/about.aspx |date=May 26, 2010 }}</ref> The studio later became [[W. H. Clune|Clune Studio]], then California Studio, then [[Jack J. Gross|Gross]][[Philip N. Krasne|-Krasne]],<ref>Gross-Krasne Buys California Studios. The Billboard (Archive: 1894–1960) 64.40 (Nov 29, 1952): 11</ref> followed by Producers Studios Inc., and is now known as [[Raleigh Studios]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Gary Wayne |url=http://www.seeing-stars.com/studios/RaleighStudios.shtml |title=Raleigh Studios |publisher=Seeing Stars.com |access-date=2013-10-10}}</ref> Raleigh Studios is known for being the site of ''Gunsmoke,'' ''Perry Mason,'' and ''[[Let's Make a Deal]]''. It is one of the oldest studios in Hollywood.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Famous Players|Famous Players theatres]]
* [[Famous Players|Famous Players theatres]]
* [[Lists of Paramount Pictures films]]
* [[Famous Players-Lasky]]
* [[List of Paramount Pictures films]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.armypictorialcenter.com/ Army Pictorial Center], built in 1919 as Famous Players Studio, now part of [[Kaufman Astoria Studios]]

{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:American companies established in 1912]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1912]]
Line 39: Line 46:
[[Category:Silent film studios]]
[[Category:Silent film studios]]
[[Category:Defunct American film studios]]
[[Category:Defunct American film studios]]
[[Category:Cinema of Southern California]]
[[Category:Film studios in Southern California]]
[[Category:Hollywood history and culture]]
[[Category:Defunct organizations based in Hollywood, Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies based in California]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies based in California]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Greater Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Greater Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:1912 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:1912 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:1916 disestablishments in California]]
[[Category:1916 disestablishments in California]]
[[Category:Film production companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Film production companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1912]]
[[Category:American companies disestablished in 1916]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Mass media companies of the United States]]
{{US-film-company-stub}}
{{US-film-company-stub}}

Latest revision as of 12:46, 17 December 2024

The Famous Players Film Company
IndustryMotion pictures
FoundedMay 8, 1912; 112 years ago (1912-05-08)
FounderAdolph Zukor
Defunct1916; 108 years ago (1916)
FateCorporate merger
SuccessorsFamous Players–Lasky
Paramount Pictures
Headquarters,

United States
PLAY: Andy's Dog Day (1921) by Wallace A. Carlson for Celebrated Players Film Corporation. An animated film with balloon texts, this short features the character Andy Gump, who is repeatedly harassed by dogs (duration 05:54).

The Famous Players Film Company was a film company founded in 1912 by Adolph Zukor in partnership with the Frohman brothers, powerful New York City theatre owners and producers.

History

[edit]

Discussions to form the company were held at The Lambs, a famous theater club where Charles and Daniel Frohman were members.[citation needed] The company advertised "Famous Players in Famous Plays" and its first release was the French film Les Amours de la reine Élisabeth (1912) starring Sarah Bernhardt and Lou Tellegen. Its first actual production was The Count of Monte Cristo (1912, released 1913), directed by Joseph A. Golden and Edwin S. Porter and starring James O'Neill, the father of dramatist Eugene O'Neill.

In 1914, the company purchased the former headquarters of New York City's Ninth Mounted Cavalry unit at 221 West 26th Street in Manhattan.[1] The cavernous brick building made excellent filming space for Zukor, and the modernized site is still used today as Chelsea Television Studios.[1]

Hiring its performers straight from the Broadway stage, Famous Players had an early roster of some of the theater world’s biggest names including Marguerite Clark, William Farnum, Gaby Deslys, Hazel Dawn, and H. B. Warner.[1] The company also featured cinema's biggest star of the era, Mary Pickford, and presented theater idol John Barrymore in his first two feature films.[1] The company produced both short and feature-length productions.

In 1916, the company merged with the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company to form Famous Players–Lasky Corporation, which later became Paramount Pictures.[2]

Famous Players Fiction Studios

[edit]

In 1915, the company established Famous Players Fiction Studios at 5300 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. The new studio's first film starred Mary Pickford.[3] The studio later became Clune Studio, then California Studio, then Gross-Krasne,[4] followed by Producers Studios Inc., and is now known as Raleigh Studios.[5] Raleigh Studios is known for being the site of Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, and Let's Make a Deal. It is one of the oldest studios in Hollywood.[citation needed]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Alleman, Richard (2005). New York: The Movie Lover's Guide. New York City: Broadway Books. p. 231. ISBN 0-7679-1634-4.
  2. ^ "$12,500,000 MERGER OF FILM COMPANIES; Famous Players and Jesse L. Lasky Feature Unite in a New Corporation. ADOLPH ZUKOR, PRESIDENT Consolidate to Meet Present Conditions ;- 84 Pictures a Year to be Distributed by Paramount". The New York Times. 1916-06-29. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  3. ^ Raleigh Studios Archived May 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Gross-Krasne Buys California Studios. The Billboard (Archive: 1894–1960) 64.40 (Nov 29, 1952): 11
  5. ^ Gary Wayne. "Raleigh Studios". Seeing Stars.com. Retrieved 2013-10-10.
[edit]