Thanhouser Company

Last updated

Thanhouser Company
Founded1909, New Rochelle, New York
Founder Edwin Thanhouser, Gertrude Thanhouser, Lloyd Lonergan
Defunct1920
FateAbsorbed into First National Attraction
Products Film
Website thanhouser.org
British One Sheet, 1910s Thanhouser Photo Players, 1910s.jpg
British One Sheet, 1910s

The Thanhouser Company (later the Thanhouser Film Corporation) was one of the first motion picture studios, founded in 1909 by Edwin Thanhouser, his wife Gertrude and his brother-in-law Lloyd Lonergan. It operated in New York City until 1920, [1] producing over a thousand films.

Contents

Corporate history

Edwin Thanhouser constructed a studio in New Rochelle, New York. The company thrived under his leadership and by the summer of 1910, it had established itself as the best of the independents in the industry. Frank E. Woods of the American Biograph Company would pen an editorial in The New York Dramatic Mirror as "The Spectator", praising the Thanhouser company to this effect. [2] [3]

It was sold to Mutual Film Corporation on April 15, 1912, for $250,000. Charles J. Hite took charge.

On January 13, 1913, a fire destroyed the main facility in New Rochelle; much equipment and many costumes and negatives of films in production were lost. However, subsidiary studios that had been set up were able to meet distributors' needs while it was being rebuilt.

After Hite's death in an automobile accident, the company continued for another five years. After a period of floundering under inexperienced leadership, Edwin Thanhouser was hired to take charge, but he could not recreate the success of his earlier years. The film industry had evolved and was more competitive by this time, and although films featuring star Florence La Badie were still successful, other ventures were not. La Badie left Thanhouser Corporation in 1917, only weeks before her own death on October 13, 1917, due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident in late August. In 1920, Thanhouser Corporation was liquidated. [4]

Releases of 1910

A still from The Actor's Children. It shows the family with the father doing some theatrical acting for the amusement of his children. The Actor's Children 1.jpg
A still from The Actor's Children . It shows the family with the father doing some theatrical acting for the amusement of his children.

The Thanhouser Company's first release was The Actor's Children on March 15, 1910. [5] The plot focused on a family of theater actors who struggle to pay the rent. While the parents are out, their kids are left out on the street where they dance to the music of an organ grinder. They are later rescued by a theater manager and are reunited with their parents at the theater. The film's conclusion is an example of the deus ex machina dramatic technique, which Lonergan used to conclude many scenarios. [6] Though it was the first release, it was not the first film to be produced; the first film produced was The Mad Hermit . Produced in the autumn of 1909, The Mad Hermit would not be released until August 1910. [7] According to Lloyd Lonergan, the first script he wrote was for Aunt Nancy Telegraphs , which was shot in December 1909 but never released. [8]

The next release would be an adaptation of Augusta Jane Evans's novel St. Elmo. The Thanhouser version of St. Elmo would bring the company some recognition and would prove to be a success, but the film is also presumed lost. [9] Thanhouser would release two more original scenarios, She's Done it Again and Daddy's Double , [10] [11] before attempting two productions on the same reel. Released on April 15, 1910, A 29-Cent Robbery was included with The Old Shoe Came Back , a short comedy filler subject. [12] [13] The main subject, A 29-Cent Robbery, was the debut of Marie Eline, soon to be famously known as the "Thanhouser Kid". [12] Two more split reels would follow before the release of Jane Eyre . [9] Productions adapted from novels included Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale , Marie Corelli's Thelma and Mary Jane Holmes's Tempest and Sunshine . [14]

More adaptations of classic works, like Uncle Tom's Cabin , would be interspersed with several original scenarios like The Mermaid and The Restoration . [2] On August 9, The Mad Hermit was released and Edwin Thanhouser's fears of it being an amateur production were unfounded. [2] [15] Films in the autumn included novel plots like Dots and Dashes , where Morse code facilitates a man's escape from a safe. [16] As Halloween approached, the company released The Fairies' Hallowe'en , a trick film geared towards child audiences. [17] A Thanksgiving Surprise would also be released in time for Thanksgiving. [18]

The winter of 1910 saw more adaptations of classics and short stories, including Paul and Virginia , John Halifax, Gentleman , Rip Van Winkle and The Vicar of Wakefield . [19] Love and Law was released on December 17, it was to be the first of four films in the "Violet Gray, Detective" series though it was originally billed as part of the "Thanhouser Detective Series". [20] Previously Thanhouser had released another film about a woman reporter who uncovered a political corruption in The Girl Reporter and a young woman who does the same in A Dainty Politician . [21] [22] Thanhouser would also release Looking Forward , an adaptation of James Oliver Curwood's story, where a young chemist awakes a century later to a world run by women. [23] The last release of the year was Hypnotized , focusing on a traveling show with an ill-intentioned hypnotist. [24]

Filmography

Multiple silent-film scenes being simultaneously filmed under the glass roof of the Thanhouser studio, c. 1914. Visible are actors in costume, directors, cameramen, sets, a Klieg light, and four Pathe silent film cameras Thanhouser studio 1914.jpg
Multiple silent-film scenes being simultaneously filmed under the glass roof of the Thanhouser studio, c. 1914. Visible are actors in costume, directors, cameramen, sets, a Klieg light, and four Pathé silent film cameras

Thanhouser produced over 1,000 silent films. Among these were:

Related Research Articles

<i>The Actors Children</i> 1910 film by Barry ONeil

The Actor's Children is a 1910 American silent short drama written by Lloyd Lonergan and produced by the Thanhouser Company in New Rochelle, New York. The film features Orilla Smith, Yale Boss, Frank Hall Crane and Nicholas Jordan. The production was not the first film subject by the company, but it was the first to be released. Both Barry O'Neil and Lloyd B. Carleton have been credited as the director of the production. Edwin Thanhouser stated that 19 copies of the film were produced and distributed to dealers.

<i>St. Elmo</i> (1910 Thanhouser film) 1910 American film

St. Elmo is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The scenario was adapted by Lloyd Lonergan from Augusta Jane Evans's 1866 novel of the same name. Frank H. Crane and Anna Rosemond play the leading roles in the simplified plot that was reliant on inter-titles to tell the story. The film follows St. Elmo who is engaged to his cousin Agnes, being betrayed by his friend Dick Hammond who has an affair with Agnes. St. Elmo challenges and kills Hammond in a duel. A young girl, Edna witnesses the duel and leads Agnes and the sheriff off the trail. St. Elmo disappears and returns five years later to woo Edna. She rejects then accepts his affections only to stop him from committing suicide. The production was met with mixed reviews by critics, but was successful. The film is presumed lost.

<i>Shes Done it Again</i> 1910 American film

She's Done it Again is a 1910 American silent short comedy written by Lloyd Lonergan and produced by the Thanhouser Company in New Rochelle, New York. A thief named Sikes decides to rob a society woman who falsely claimed to have been robbed when she in fact pawned her jewelry. A gentleman thief strikes and robs her, but no one believes her. The thief is caught only by a clever detective. The film was the third release of the Thanhouser company and featured the leading players, Anna Rosemond and Frank H. Crane. The film was met with positive reviews, but is presumed to be lost.

<i>Daddys Double</i> 1910 American film

Daddy's Double is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Film Corporation. The film focuses on Hal, a young man, who proposes to Sue, his love interest. Her father overhears and becomes furious before whisking his daughter away to a boarding school. Hal and Sue attempt to elope, but it is foiled. Hal then gets an idea to disguise himself as the father and reclaim Sue. The plan works, but the father follows in pursuit. He breaks into the wedding ceremony at the parson's house and sees his double. He then laughs and approves of the marriage. The film was the fourth release by Thanhouser and it was met with favorable reviews by critics. In 2007, a surviving print was released on DVD with a new original score composed and performed by Raymond A. Brubacher.

<i>She Wanted to Marry a Hero</i> 1910 American film

She Wanted to Marry a Hero is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. Elsie Plush, an avid dime novel reader, came to idolize the concept of a hero and rejected her plain boyfriend, George Mild. She idolizes a series of men, only to have each ideal candidate be shattered a short time later by a series of incidents which highlight their flaws or weaknesses. In the end, Elsie returns and accepts her boyfriend's marriage proposal. Released on April 29, 1910, as split-reel with The Cigars His Wife Brought, the film was given favorable reviews and had advertisements for its showing until late 1912. The film is presumed lost.

<i>Jane Eyre</i> (1910 film) 1910 American film

Jane Eyre is a 1910 American silent short classic drama produced by the Thanhouser Film Corporation. Adapted from Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel, Jane Eyre, the film mirrors the events and plot of the original book. The writer of the scenario is unknown, but Lloyd Lonergan probably adapted the work. The film's director is often and erroneously claimed to be Theodore Marston, but Barry O'Neil or Lloyd B. Carleton are possible candidates. The cast of the film was credited, an act rare and unusual in the era.

<i>The Writing on the Wall</i> (film) 1910 film

The Writing on the Wall is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. Directed by Barry O'Neil from a script by Lloyd Lonergan, this presumed lost film focuses on a young girl named Grace who becomes attracted to a wealthy man named Jack. Two men, named Turner and Hank plot to rob Jack after he withdraws a large sum of money from a bank, but Grace warns him of a plot to drug him. Jack escapes and marries Grace. The film has no known trade publication reviews, but reviews may exist for this film. Theaters were advertising this film as late as 1913.

<i>The Little Hero of Holland</i> 1910 American film

The Little Hero of Holland is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. It is an adaptation of the short fictional story popularized in Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates, about a boy who plugs a leaking dike with his finger to prevent it from bursting. The role of the boy was played by Marie Eline, but little else is known about the production and cast of the film. The director may have been Barry O'Neil and the writer may have been Lloyd Lonergan. Parts of the film were shot on Glen Park Island in New Rochelle, New York. The film was released on June 17, 1910 and saw a wide release, including the United Kingdom. The film is presumed lost.

<i>Tempest and Sunshine</i> 1910 American film

Tempest and Sunshine is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film is an adaptation of Mary Jane Holmes's 1854 novel Tempest and Sunshine, and features the deceptive Tempest and the benevolent Sunshine being wooed by a Dr. Lacey. Tempest and Bill Jeffreys conspire against Sunshine. By intercepting the lovers' letters the doctor instead decides to marry Tempest, but Jeffreys interrupts the ceremony to reveal the conspiracy. The doctor and Sunshine are reunited. The novel was a popular subject of plays and vaudeville, but the Thanhouser adaptation appears to be the first film version for it predates the adaptations in The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Released on June 28, 1910, the production received a favorable review in The Moving Picture News. The film is presumed lost.

<i>Uncle Toms Cabin</i> (1910 film) 1910 film by Barry ONeil

Uncle Tom's Cabin is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film was adapted by from the 1852 novel Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The plot of the Thanhouser production streamlined the actual story to portray the film over the course of a single reel. The film was released on July 26, 1910, on the same day that Vitagraph released the first reel of their own three reel version of Uncle Tom's Cabin. This prompted the Thanhouser Company to advertise against the Vitagraph film by referring to the other as being overly drawn out. The film garnered mixed, but mostly positive reception in trade publications. The film is presumed lost.

<i>The Mermaid</i> (1910 film) 1910 American film

The Mermaid is a 1910 American silent short comedy produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film focuses on John Gary, a hotel owner, who wants to revitalize his business. After reading about a reported mermaid sighting, he has his daughter Ethel pose as a mermaid and gets a newspaper reporter to witness and photograph the mermaid. The publicity results in the hotel becoming famous, but Ethel eventually discloses the joke to the guests of the hotel in her mermaid suit. The film was released on July 29, 1910 and was met with mostly positive reviews. The film is presumed lost.

<i>Lena Rivers</i> (1910 film) 1910 film

Lena Rivers is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film follows a young woman who leaves home to search for employment and becoming married to a wealthy man, but the marriage is kept secret. The husband is arrested by mistake and by the time he is freed, his wife and child depart and he believes them dead. The young woman entrusts her baby, Lena, to her mother before her death. At age 16, Lena goes to the city is visited by her father, but the relationship is only known when he sees a picture of her mother in her locket. The film was an adaptation of Mary Jane Holmes' 1856 novel Lena Rivers and was released on August 12, 1910. It had a wide national release and received positive reviews from critics.

<i>The Girl Reporter</i> 1910 American film

The Girl Reporter is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film follows two sweethearts, May and Will, who are reporters for the Daily Wave newspaper. Will leaves the newspaper to work as a secretary to Blake, the commissioner of public works. Blake takes a bribe and blames Will and fires him. May sets out to clear his name and becomes Blake's new secretary. May investigates and clears Will's name while proving Blake's corruption. The film was released on August 16, 1910 and saw a wide national release. The film received mixed responses from critics who liked the acting, but found issues with the staging and the plausibility of the plot. The film is presumed lost.

<i>Mother</i> (1910 film) 1910 American film

Mother is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film is a melodrama that focuses with Will Allen who runs away from home after being violently abused by his stepfather and his mother keeps a candle lit for him to return home. Twenty years later, Will returns home after having become a successful lawyer, but cannot find his parents. Will later takes the case to defend a lady being prosecuted by a client company. After being successful he recognizes the lady as his mother and they are reunited. The film's cast included Anna Rosemond, Frank H. Crane and Carey L. Hastings, but other credits are uncertain. The film was released on September 6, 1910, and was met with mixed reviews. The film is presumed lost.

<i>Pocahontas</i> (1910 film) 1910 American film

Pocahontas is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The scenario was written by Lloyd Lonergan based on Lydia Sigourney's 1841 Pocahontas poem. The film is a retelling of the well-known story of Pocahontas, played by Anna Rosemond who saves the life of Captain John Smith, played by George Barnes. Pocahontas is captured and held hostage by the English. She is converted to Christianity and marries Rolfe, played by Frank H. Crane. Pocahontas then sickens and dies, spending her last hours wishing to return to her native home. Released on October 11, 1910, the film was met with praise by most reviewers. It is believed that a replica of Hendrik Hudson's ship, Halve Maen, was used for the opening scene to establish the Jamestown landing. Though minor costuming and historical accuracy errors were pointed out, the film was praised as being of the highest quality of any Independent company. The film is presumed lost.

<i>Their Child</i> 1910 American film

Their Child is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film begins with Ellen Stokes whose extravagant lifestyle is outside the means of the family. While their only son is hosting a birthday party, the husband informs Ellen that they are financially ruined because of her. Ellen attempts to get money from her uncle, who refuses, and a friend of the family soon comes to her aid with a loan. Ellen is deceptive in telling who provided the money and her jealous husband soon learns the truth. In anger, he takes the child and leaves. The child soon returns to Ellen and she whisks him away to a new home where she fails to obtain gainful employment. The son decides to sell newspapers for some money and in this job is recognized by his father, soon the family is reunited. Marie Eline played the role of "their child" and was likely so well disguised that the reviewer for The Nickelodeon believed her to be a boy. The film was released on October 21, 1910, and was met with positive reviews. The film is presumed lost.

<i>The Girls He Left Behind Him</i> and <i>The Iron Clad Lover</i> 1910 American film

The Girls He Left Behind Him and The Iron Clad Lover are two 1910 American silent short comedies produced by the Thanhouser Company. Both films were originally released together on a single reel and are two distinct and separate subjects. The Girls He Left Behind Him focuses on a young man, Jack Redfern, who receives a letter from an old sweetheart of his. This prompts him to reminiscence about all the girls he has had affections for on the eve of his wedding. All the old sweethearts of his life then appear at his wedding to wish him well. The Iron Clad Lover concerns two suitors who are vying for the affections of Bessie. Tom, who plays a game of chess with her father, ends up quarreling with him and he is thrown out of the house. The next day, Tom attempts to bring flowers and candy for Bessie's birthday, but is dismissed by the angry father. Tom decides to dress up in a suit of armor and ends up breaking a vase when trying to announce himself. The suit of armor is thrown out and Bessie and the other suitor chase down the junk dealer to free Tom from the suit of armor. Both films were released on December 9, 1910 and were met with positive reviews by The Moving Picture World and the New York Dramatic Mirror. Both films are presumed lost.

<i>Hypnotized</i> (1910 film) 1910 American film

Hypnotized, released in Britain as A Quack Hypnotist, is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film focuses on May Smalley and Jack, who loves her, who attend a traveling show that comes to their little town. The show consists of a hypnotist and a Hindu magician and proves to be a popular show, but the hypnotist who is becomes interest in May. The hypnotist lures May away by telling her that he has a message for her from the spirit world and later gets her to leave town with him. Jack knocks the magician down and takes his costume and follows the hypnotist and May back to their hotel, where he rescues her. Aside from William Russell's role in the film, the production and cast credits are unknown. The film was released on December 30, 1910, it was met with positive reviews. The film is presumed lost.

Under False Colors is a 1917 American silent drama film produced by the Thanhouser Company and directed by Emile Chautard.

<i>Berties Brainstorm</i> 1911 American film

Bertie's Brainstorm is a 1911 American silent short drama film produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film focuses on Bertie Fawcett, a dim-witted fop, who erroneously believes to have won the heart of May Vernon. In reality, May loves Jack and the two are set to be married, but May's father wishes he would prove his worth by earning his own living. Bertie chances upon the letter and sets off to make a living proceeds through a number of jobs with hope to claim May as his bride. The film ends with Bertie returning and finding out that May has married Jack. Little is known about the production of the film save that William Russell played an unknown role and that the scenario was written by Lloyd F. Lonergan. The foppish character of Bertie may have been inspired by Edwin Thanhouser's role as Bertie Nizril in Thoroughbred. Originally conceived as a series, this ultimately singular work received praise from critics. The film is presumed lost.

References

  1. ↑ Bellamy Pailthorp (November 11, 2009). "From The Vaults, A Look At Early Indie-Movie History". All Things Considered. National Public Radio.
  2. 1 2 3 Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 1: Narrative History - Chapter 3: 1910 Thanhouser Quality Commended". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  3. ↑ Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 2: Filmography - Thanhouser Filmography - 1910". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  4. ↑ KAHN, EVE M. (August 15, 2013). "Getting a Close-Up of the Silent-Film Era". The New York Times . Retrieved November 29, 2017– via www.nytimes.com.
  5. ↑ Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 2: Filmography - The Actor's Children". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  6. ↑ Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 1: Narrative History - Chapter 3: 1910 The First Release". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  7. ↑ Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 1: Narrative History - Chapter 3: 1910 Thanhouser Quality Commended". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  8. ↑ Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 1: Narrative History - Chapter 3 - 1910: Film Production Begins". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  9. 1 2 Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 1: Narrative History - Chapter 3: 1910 St. Elmo and Onward". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Volume 2: Filmography - She's Done it Again". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. 1995. pp. Q. David Bowers. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Volume 2: Filmography - Daddy's Double". Thanhouser.org. 1995. pp. Q. David Bowers. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  12. 1 2 Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 3: Biographies - Eline, Marie". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  13. ↑ Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 2: Filmography - The Old Shoe Came Back". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  14. ↑ Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 1: Narrative History - Chapter 3: 1910 Shakespeare on the Screen". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  15. ↑ Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 2: Filmography - The Mad Hermit". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  16. ↑ Q. David Bowers. (1995). "Volume 2: Filmography - Dots and Dashes". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  17. ↑ Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 2: Filmography - The Fairies' Halloween". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  18. ↑ Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 2: Filmography - A Thanksgiving Surprise". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  19. ↑ Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 1: Narrative History - Chapter 3: 1910 Ten Nights in a Bar Room". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  20. ↑ Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 2: Filmography - Love and Law". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  21. ↑ Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 2: Filmography - The Girl Reporter". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  22. ↑ Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 2: Filmography - A Dainty Politician". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  23. ↑ Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 2: Filmography - Looking Forward". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Volume 2: Filmography - Hypnotized". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. 1995. pp. Q. David Bowers. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  25. 1 2 "2011 National Film Registry More Than a Box of Chocolates". December 28, 2011.
  26. ↑ "Librarian of Congress Names 25 More Films to National Film Registry". December 18, 2001.
  27. ↑ "When the Studio Burned". Thanhouser.org. 2011 [1913]. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.