Astra Film Corp

Last updated
Astra Film Corp
Industry Silent films
Founded1916;108 years ago (1916) in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States
Founder
DefunctMarch 1920 (March 1920)
FateThe company became Louis J. Gasnier Productions from 1920-1940, then Monogram Pictures acquired the studio in 1941.
Successor
    • Louis J. Gasnier Productions (1920-1940)
Headquarters
The Naulahka poster The Naulahka (film).jpg
The Naulahka poster
Ad for The Hunting of the Hawk The Hunting of the Hawk.jpg
Ad for The Hunting of the Hawk

Astra Film Corp was an American film production company that produced silent films. [1] Louis J. Gasnier was the company's president. George B. Seitz co-founded it. It was making films by 1916. It became Louis J. Gasnier Productions after Seitz left. [2]

The studio operated in Jersey City, New Jersey before expanding to Fort Lee, New Jersey. [3]

The Fort Lee studio site at 1 Congress Street was acquired from Pathé in 1916. [4] The company distributed its films with Pathé. Rolin Studio in Los Angeles also worked with Pathé. [5]

The company's Hands Up serial included a storyline featuring the Inca. [6]

The studio produced Pathé's photoplay films including Stranded in Arcady . It was an adaptation of a story by Francis Lynde and starred Irene Castle. It was directed by Frank Hall Crane. [5]

The company also produced The Fatal Ring and The Seven Pearls serials. [5]

Arthur Miller worked for the company since at least 1916 working under director George Fitzmaurice and singing a contract with him personally. [7] Grace Darmond left Selig to work for the company.[ when? ]

Filmography

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References

  1. "The Moving Picture World". World Photographic Publishing Company. November 7, 1916 via Google Books.
  2. "Silent Wierdness". silentwierdness.blogspot.com.
  3. Koszarski, Richard (March 2, 2005). Fort Lee: The Film Town (1904-2004). Indiana University Press. ISBN   9780861969425 via Google Books.
  4. 1 2 "Pathé Fort Lee – The Movie Studios". themoviestudios.com.
  5. 1 2 3 "Motography". August 17, 1917.
  6. "Motography". November 7, 1918 via Google Books.
  7. Koszarski, Richard (2005). Fort Lee : The Film Town. Indiana University Press. pp. 150–151. ISBN   978-0-86196-942-5.
  8. "Catalogue of Copyright Entries: Pamphlets, leaflets, contributions to newspapers or periodicals, etc.; lectures, sermons, addresses for oral delivery; dramatic compositions; maps; motion pictures". U.S. Government Printing Office. November 7, 1917 via Google Books.
  9. "Caleb Piper's Girl". cplorg.contentdm.oclc.org.
  10. "Irene Castle and Frank Hall Crane on a film set. | Photograph". Wisconsin Historical Society. December 1, 2003.