Essanay Film Studio
ESSANAY FILM STUDIO
The western branch studio of the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company stood on this site from 1913 to 1933. It was the first movie studio built for that purpose in Northern California.
The Essanay company of 52 people led by movie star cowboy Gilbert M. "Broncho Billy" Anderson arrived in Niles in April 1912, attracted to this community by its favorable weather and Niles Canyon scenery Over 100 films were made from their headquarters in a barn on Second Street by the time the studio building was ready for occupancy the next year. In the next three years Essanay produced two hundred and fifty films here: Broncho Billy westerns, Snakeville Comedies, contemporary dramas and five by Charlie Chaplin, including The Tramp (1915). The studio closed in 1916 due to a change in ownership and consolidation of production facilities at the main studio in Chicago. Nevertheless, the Niles studio was the most successful movie company in the San Francisco Bay Area during the silent era.
Submitted by @jqmcd
The western branch studio of the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company stood on this site from 1913 to 1933. It was the first movie studio built for that purpose in Northern California.
The Essanay company of 52 people led by movie star cowboy Gilbert M. "Broncho Billy" Anderson arrived in Niles in April 1912, attracted to this community by its favorable weather and Niles Canyon scenery Over 100 films were made from their headquarters in a barn on Second Street by the time the studio building was ready for occupancy the next year. In the next three years Essanay produced two hundred and fifty films here: Broncho Billy westerns, Snakeville Comedies, contemporary dramas and five by Charlie Chaplin, including The Tramp (1915). The studio closed in 1916 due to a change in ownership and consolidation of production facilities at the main studio in Chicago. Nevertheless, the Niles studio was the most successful movie company in the San Francisco Bay Area during the silent era.
Submitted by @jqmcd
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