Al Christie
Encyclopedia
Al Christie was a Canadian
-born motion picture
director
, producer
and screenwriter
.
, Canada
, he was one of a number of Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood
who made their way to Hollywood, California, attracted by the newly developing motion picture business. Al Christie began his career in 1909 working for David Horsley
's Nestor film company in Bayonne, New Jersey. In 1910, at Horsley's Centaur Film Company
, Christie began turning out one single reel of a Mutt and Jeff comedy picture every week. The following year, Al went to the West Coast to head up Nestor Studios
for Horsley. This operation was the first ever movie studio
to be built in Hollywood It opened October 27, 1911. Al Christie then formed a partnership with his brother Charles
to form Christie Film Company
which lasted until 1933 when the company went into receivership
.
, Hollywood, California. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
at 6771 Hollywood Boulevard.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
-born motion picture
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
.
Career
Born Alfred Ernest Christie, in London, OntarioLondon, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, he was one of a number of Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood
Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood
Motion pictures have been a part of the culture of Canada since the beginning.-History:Around 1910, the East Coast filmmakers began to take advantage of California winters and after Nestor Studios, run by Canadian Al Christie, built the first permanent movie studio in Hollywood a number of the...
who made their way to Hollywood, California, attracted by the newly developing motion picture business. Al Christie began his career in 1909 working for David Horsley
David Horsley
David Horsley was an English born pioneer of the movie industry who built the first movie studio in Hollywood....
's Nestor film company in Bayonne, New Jersey. In 1910, at Horsley's Centaur Film Company
Centaur Film Company
Centaur Film Company - Nestor Studios merged with Universal Studios in 1912.-Formation:David Horsley met a former employee of Biograph Studios, Charles Gorman, and along with his brother William Horsley , they formed the Centaur Film Company in a converted store.By 1910, their operation was...
, Christie began turning out one single reel of a Mutt and Jeff comedy picture every week. The following year, Al went to the West Coast to head up Nestor Studios
Nestor Studios
The Nestor Motion Picture Company was a motion picture studio/production company located in Bayonne, New Jersey, and Hollywood, California, which was owned and operated by David Horsley and his brother, William Horsley....
for Horsley. This operation was the first ever movie studio
Movie studio
A movie studio is a term used to describe a major entertainment company or production company that has its own privately owned studio facility or facilities that are used to film movies...
to be built in Hollywood It opened October 27, 1911. Al Christie then formed a partnership with his brother Charles
Charles Christie
Charles H. V. Christie was a motion picture studio owner.Born in London, Ontario, Canada, Charles and his brother Al left home to pursue a career in the fledgling motion picture industry...
to form Christie Film Company
Christie Film Company
Christie Film Company was an American pioneer motion picture company founded in Hollywood, California by Al Christie and Charles Christie, two brothers from London, Ontario, Canada....
which lasted until 1933 when the company went into receivership
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
.
Death
Christie died after a lengthy illness. He is interred in the Hollywood Forever CemeteryHollywood Forever Cemetery
Hollywood Forever Cemetery, originally called Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery, is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles, California. It is located at 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard in the Hollywood...
, Hollywood, California. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
at 6771 Hollywood Boulevard.