Adam Kessel, Jr. (April 1867 – 21 September 1946 Keeseville, New York), was an American film studio executive and pioneer in the motion picture industry who, in 1906, founded, with
- Kessel's brothers ???
- William Kessel (1881–1914)[i]
- Fred Kessel (né John Frederick Kessel; 1869–1914)
- Joseph Kessel (1870–1935)
- Louis Kessel (1873–1937)
- Charles Kessel (1874–1953)[1]
- Nicholas Kessel (1884–1966)
- Fred J. Balshofer (1877–1969)
- Charles O. Baumann (1874–1931)[1]
- founded the New York Motion Picture Company, which became the parent company of Reliance, Kay-Bee (Kessel and Bauman), Bison Life Motion Pictures Company (it), Bison-101, and Keystone Studios. Among other things, historians credit Kessel and Bauman for having produced Charlie Chaplin in his early career.[2] Although Kessel exited the film industry in 19?? to focus on real estate in Brooklyn, Journalist and historians have chronicled him as an important early influence that shaped the film industry.
Career
edit(circa 1912)
Before forming a film production company, Kessel, with his partner, Charles O. Baumann, had formed a series of film exchanges with 6 or 7 other film exchange owners. Baumann, Kessel's partner, was head of the International Film Exchange, a subexchange created by Kessel.[3][ii]
With Charles O. Bauman, Kessel founded the New York Motion Picture Company,[4] which became the parent company for:
- Reliance
- Kay-Bee Film Co. (Kessel and Bauman)[5]
- Bison Life Motion Pictures Company (it), formed in 1909
- 101 Bison,[iii] the name was drawn from the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch; the company was formed in 1911 as a collaboration with the Miller brothers. Kessel and Baumann owned New Motion Picture Company, which controlled 101 Bison[ii]
- Broncho Motion Picture Company
- Domino
- Keystone Film Corporation (Keystone Studios)[3]
Other companies
edit- Triangle, in 1917, owned a controlling interest in:
- New York Motion Picture Corporation
- Reliance Motion Picture Corporation
- Keystone Film Company
- In 1917, Triangle absorbed Majestic Motion Picture Company
In 1917, the Kessel brothers sold their interest to Triangle Film Corporation.[5]
Willat Film Manufacturing Company
editThe Willat Film Manufacturing Company began putting together this lot in October of 1913, buying a little at a time. Eventually this large studio, at the corner of Main and Linwood, extended 444 feet up Main Street, and 648 feet paralleling Linwood, forming an "L" shape around the already existing Eclair Studio.
The studio was owned by Carl A. Willatowski (1878–1937), better know as "Doc" Willat, who, along with his his brother, Irvin V. Willat (1890–1976), would build a short-lived studio in Culver City. Note that a third Willat brother, Edwin W. (1882–1950), had been a cinematographer on several films. Carl Willat built two vaulted greenhouse stages and a large laboratory in 1914. He sold his interest to Ad Kessel and Charles Baumann (who already owned several large studios on both coasts). Beginning in 1915 William Fox rented the stages and Triangle Film Corporation (one of the production companies owned by Kessel and Bauman) moved some production to the studio.
Kay-Bee
editAfter leaving Universal, Baumann and Kessel had to give-up using the name Bison and Bison 101; and, in 1912, they created Kay-Bee and Broncho to replace the names.
Universal Film Manufacturing Company
editUniversal Film Manufacturing Company was incorporated in New York on April 30, 1912, by:
- Carl Laemmle (1867–1939)
- Mark M. Dintenfass (it) (1872–1933), who in 1908, founded the Champion Film Company (it) in Fort Lee
- Charles O. Baumann (1874–1931)
- Adam Kessel
- Pat Powers (1869–1948)
- Bill Swanson (né William Henry Swanson; 1871–1922)
- David Horsley (1873–1933)
- Jules Brulatour (1870–1946)
Laemmle, who in July 1912 emerged as president, was the primary figure in the partnership. Eventually all would be bought out by Laemmle. The new Universal studio was a vertically integrated company, with movie production, distribution and exhibition venues all linked in the same corporate entity, the central element of the Studio system era.
Subsidiaries
edit- Moving-Picture Negative and Positive Films (1914)
Ownership
edit- The Kessel brothers, in 1917, sold their interest in Keystone Studios to the Triangle Film Corporation.
- Moody's Manual of Investments: Part II – Public Utilities and Industrials (5th section)," Entry: "Triangle Film Corp.," Moody's Investors Service (1919). p. 1889; OCLC 183311928
External links
edit- Kesselv/bio Biography for Eurodog/sandbox116 at IMDb
- "Film Actors Fight Rush of Flames: Big Producing Plant of Moving Picture Company Believed to be Saved," Los Angeles Herald, Vol. 39, No. 283, August 27, 1913, p. 1
- "101 Ranch Acquires Broncho Film Plant," Los Angeles Herald, Vol. 39, No. 192, May 13, 1913, p. 4
Family
editAdam Kessel, Jr., was born to the marriage of Adam Kessel (1846–1911) and Christine Petermann (maiden; 1847–1897)[iv]
Jacques Singer
edit- Final concert, Feb 15, 1980, fell ill in NYC, postponing an NIU Phil concert April 1, 1980, concert. David Gilbert stepped-in to conduct NIU's
- "One of the most gifted musicians I have known" – Isaac Stern ("NIU Conductor Singer Dies," Daily Chronicle (DeKalb) August 12, 1980, p. 7 www
.newspapers .com /image /126781413)
- Notable conductors that followed Singer at NIU include:
- 2005–2007: Brett Mitchell
- Downbeat poll: 1980 "Best College Symphony Orchestra"
American Symphony Orchestra
edit- "Ricci To Open Series of Four Concerts Nov. 17"
- Beginning Nov. 17, violinist Ruggiero Ricci will present a series of four concerts at Philharmonic Hall during which he will play 12 concerti. He will be assisted by members of the American Symphony Orchestra led by four different conductors, each making his first appearance at Lincoln Center: Gerhard Samuel (1925–2008), Ezra Rachlin. Jacques Singer, and Igor Buketoff. The programs will include works by Bach, Bartok, Beethoven. Hindemith, Prokofieff, and Stravinsky. Remaining dates are Dec. 1, 8, 16.[7]
Singer-Juilliard article
edit- article
- "Albert Stoessel to Head Juilliard Orchestra," Scarsdale Inquirer, No. 4, December 14, 1928
- Albert Stoessel, the conductor of the Juilliard Graduate School String Orchestra, is also the conductor of the New York Symphony at Chautauqua during the summer, and the conductor of the New York Oratorio Society. On Saturday evening, December 15th, at 8:30 the Juilliard Musical Foundation will present the Graduate School String Orchestra in a concert under Mr. Stoessel's baton. The program is in four parts.
- In the first part Handel's Concerto Grosse in B minor, No. 11 will be played by Thomas Mancini, violino concertante, Harry Fagin, violino concertante, John Frazer, violoncello concertante.
- The second number is the Concerto for two violins and strings by Bach to be played by Hine Brown and Jacques Singer.
- The third number is composed of the Two Elegiac Melodies, Opus 34 of Grieg.
- The serenade, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart concludes the program. This concert, which is the second of the season 1928-1929 scries, will be given in the Engineering Auditorium, 25 West 39th street.
Immigration history
edit- Meyer (43), Rosa (39) (husband and wife), Sina (18), Jakob (10), Basia (16) sailed from Bremen October 21, 1920, aboard the USS Susquehanna, arriving in New York City November 4, 1920.[8] According to the ship's manifest, their nearest relative, Elias Singer – Jakob's grandfather – was residing in Jersey City. The manifest listed Meyer Singer's occupation as "chanter."[9]
Naumburg Concerts
edit- Naumburg Concerts, Naumburg Orchestra, Jacques Singer, conductor, Naumburg Bandshell, Central Park
- August 3, 1975, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Leslie N. Parnas (born 1931), cello soloist - August 1, 1976, 5 to 7:30 p.m., broadcast on WNYC-FM
Yong Uck Kim (born 1947) violin soloist
Saint-Saëns, Violin Concerto No. 3 in B Minor
Ben Franklin, Ben Franklin Suite, arranged by Alan Shulman
Mozart, Symphony No. 41, the Jupiter Symphony - July 31, 1977, 5 to 7:30 p.m., broadcast on WNYC-FM
Hamao Fujiwara (born 1947), violin soloist
Rossini, "Overture": La gazza ladra
Gid Waldrop, "Rancher's whistling Song," From the Southwest (suite)
Glazounov, Concerto in A Minor, Op. 82
Saint-Saëns, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28
Dvorák, Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88
(Gideon William Waldrop, Jr.; 1917–2000, was, among other things, Dean of the Juilliard School from 1963 to 1986 and President of the Manhattan School of Music from 1986 to 1989) - July 30, 1978, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Leslie N. Parnas (born 1931), cello soloist
Bernstein, Overture, from Candide
Beethoven, Symphony No. 7 in A Major
Haydn, Cello Concerto in D Major
Rimsky-Korsakov, Capriccio Espagnol, Op. 34 - August 2, 1979, 8:00 p.m., broadcast on WNYC-FM
Joseph Fuchs, violin soloist
Beethoven, Symphony No. 5
Mendelssohn, Violin Concerto
Shostakovich, Festival Overture
The concert marked the the 25th anniversary the first meeting between Fuchs and Singer, which took place in Vancouver, when Singer was conductor of the Vancouver Symphony and Mr. Fuchs was the soloist.[10] But, actually, Fuchs first performed in Vancouver with Singer conducting on January 22, 1950.[11]
American Symphony Orchestra
edit- December 8, 1964, Philharmonic Hall, Lincoln Center
Ruggiero Ricci, violinist
American Symphony Orchestra
Jacques Singer, conductor
American Symphony Orchestra music directors
edit- 1962–1973: Leopold Stokowski (founder)
- 1972–1973: Season suspended, for lack of funds; the 1970–1972 season, the Symphony performed 32 concerts at Philharmonic Hall and Carnegie Hall
- 1973–1978: Kazuyoshi Akiyama
- 1993–present: Leon Botstein
Premiere
edit- Robert Russell Bennett, Concerto for Violin, Piano and Orchestra
- Portland Symphony Orchestra, Jacques Singer, conductor
- March 18, 1963
- Benno and Sylvia Rabinof, soloists
Notes and references
editNotes about sources
edit- Source for newspapers articles: fultonhistory.com
Books, magazines, journals, dissertations, and websites
edit- ^ a b Directory of Directors in the City of New York (1917), Entries:"Aitken, Harry E.," p. 7
"Baumann, Charles O.," p. 40
"Kessel, Adam, Jr.," p. 388
"Kessel, Charles," p. 388
"Kessel, Henry A.," p. 388 - ^ Dictionary of Film Makers (translated from French), by Georges Sadoul; University of California Press (1978); OCLC 615510828
- ^ a b The New Historical Dictionary of the American Film Industry, by Anthony Slide, Taylor and Francis (2014); OCLC 937904156
- ^ Poor's Manual of Industrials (8th ann. ed.) Entry: "New York Motion Picture Corporation," Poor's Railroad Manual Company (1917), p. 1786; OCLC 1776201
- ^ a b c Motion Picture News, Vol. 12, No. 4, July 31, 1915
- ^ Moody's Analyses of Investments, Part II – Public Utilities and Industrials, Entry: "Triangle Film Corp.," Moody's Investors Service(9th year), Part 10, "Industrials" (5th section), (1918), p. 2010OCLC 183311928 (1913–1919)
(10th year), Part 8, "Industrials" (5th section), (1919), p. 1889 - ^ "Ricci To Open Series of Four Concerts Nov. 17," New York Post, December 6, 1964, p. 68 (accessible via fultonhistory.com)
- ^ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892–1924" (database), FamilySearch, December 6, 2014Entry: "Jakob Singer," Arrival: November 3, 1920; Departure port: Bremen; Arrival port: Port of New York; Ship name: USS Susquehanna, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.)
- ^ "Student World – Columbia," J.H. Sun (ed.), The Chinese Students' Monthly, Vol. 19, No. 6, April 1924, p. 66; OCLC 295004885, 606321422, 976836126
- ^ "Architecture: Show Of Rudolph's Work," by Paul Goldberger, New York Times, July 5, 1979
- ^ "1930 US Census" (database with images), April 8, 1930"Solomon Singer" in "Jersey City," ED 42, Sheet 12B, Household No. 220, Line 55; Street address: 283 York Street, Jersey City
National Archives and Records Administration, Publication No. T626, Film No. 1351
Accessed via FamilySearch December 18, 2017, FHL microfilm (GS No.) 2341086, Digital Folder No. 004951939, Image No. 00159
(GS = Genealogical Society of Utah) (registration/login for FamilySearch is required, but free)
Newspapers
edit- ^ "Wm. Kessel Dies Suddenly," New York Clipper, Vol. 62, No. 39, November 7, 1914, p. 17 (accessible via fultonhistory.com)
- ^ a b "Independent Plans: New Sales Company of Considerable Importance," New York Dramatic Mirror, Vol. 63, No. 1633, April 9, 1910, p. 17 (accessible via fultonhistory.com)
- ^ "Bison Gets 101 Ranch," New York Dramatic Mirror, Vol. 66, No. 1720, December 26, 1911, p. 29 (accessible via fultonhistory.com)
- ^ "Adam Kessel," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Vol. 72, No. 15, January 16, 1911, p. 3, col. 3 (accessible via fultonhistory.com)