St. Louis Motion Picture Company

St. Louis Motion Picture Company was a film production company during the silent film era. It advertised its debut films A Gypsy's Love and Algernon's Busy Day in 1912.[1] In 1913 the company established itself in Santa Paula, California.[2]

1911 magazine advertisement
1911 ad from Moving Picture News

St. Louis lawyer Oscar E. Goebel was the firm's initial president and treasurer.[3] In 1913, the company bought Melie's Motion Picture Studio.[4][2]

Vaudevillian Glen Cavender began his film career with the company.[5] Cinematographer John F. Seitz followed Flying A executive Gilbert P. Hamilton to the company.[6] Filmmaker Willis Robards also worked for the company.[7]

In 1914, the company was contracted by the St. Louis Equal Suffrage League to produce a photoplay advancing the suffragist cause.[8]

Filmography

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References

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  1. ^ "Motion Picture News". Motion Picture News Incorporated. June 2, 1912 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b Jacobson, Brian R. (September 1, 2015). Studios Before the System: Architecture, Technology, and the Emergence of Cinematic Space. Columbia University Press. p. 256. ISBN 978-0-231-53966-1. Retrieved June 26, 2019 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "The Moving Picture World". World Photographic Publishing Company. June 2, 1916 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Nash, Bill (June 2, 2000). Oil, Orchards and Flames: The History of Firefighting in Santa Paula. Xlibris Corporation. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-7388-2871-8. Retrieved June 26, 2019 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Glen Cavender Biography". Fandango.
  6. ^ "JOHN F. SEITZ". cinematographers.nl.
  7. ^ "Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: 'Mothers of Men' Promotes Women's Causes". May 23, 2016.
  8. ^ "Clipping from The St. Louis Star and Times" – via Newspapers.com.