American Film Manufacturing Company
Encyclopedia
The American Film Manufacturing Company, also known as Flying "A" Studios, was founded in Chicago
in fall 1910. In 1915, the formal name was changed to the American Film Company.
The enterprise was originally financed by Samuel Hutchinson, John Freuler, Charles Hite and Harry Aitken, four mid-western businessmen who joined forces and capital to create the American Film Manufacturing company.
Flying "A" Studios, under the leadership of Alan Dwan made over 150 films in San Diego County. The films were usually western adventures or comedies with an occasional local documentary. The Flying A westerns were popular with the public and kept Dwan and his crew extremely busy. The Dwan westerns gave the Flying A the ability to mount large advertising campaigns, create additional films, and become a player in the motion picture industry. While mostly filming in the backcountry near La Mesa, some sets were built behind the Flying A Studios. Dwan would occasionally film a cowboy chase scene and then build a plot around that chase. Dwan's troupe of actors became very popular with the public.
In August, 1912, Flying "A" Studios established its western branch in Santa Barbara
, California. Prior to this, three shooting companies were created. Two would work at the studio or surrounding locales of Chicago
while it was the third unit that was sent out to concentrate on westerns. This western unit would move through the southwest with stops in New Mexico
, Arizona
and finally California
.
The third unit would eventually settle in the town of La Mesa
before moving Northwest to Santa Barbara
. The reasons for the move to California had a lot to do with weather, and even more to do with avoiding the constraints of the "Edison Trust" (i.e., The Motion Picture Patents Company
or MPPC) operating in Chicago
and New York
. The main reason for choosing Santa Barbara
before La Mesa
was that the American Film Company wanted to have urban backdrops in some of its movies.
During its operation between 1912 and 1917, Flying "A" Studios was one of the largest motion picture studios in the United States. At the time, this made Santa Barbara
a film making center rivaled only by Hollywood.
The American Film Company had many great movie stars during their years located in Santa Barbara. One of the greatest, if not the greatest was Mary Miles Minter
. Minter, born Juliet Reilly, April 1, 1902 – August 4, 1984, was one of the most successful in her genre as a silent film actress. She did her first featured film in 1915, as Viola Drayton in the "The Fairy and the Waif
". She did her last role as an actress in 1923 in "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine
". She left the movie industry at only age 22 after a scandal involving her and director William Desmond Taylor
. Even though she wasn’t in the movie industry for more than eight years, she made more than 50 movies and her contributions to the motion picture industry gave her a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
at 1724 Vine Street.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in fall 1910. In 1915, the formal name was changed to the American Film Company.
The enterprise was originally financed by Samuel Hutchinson, John Freuler, Charles Hite and Harry Aitken, four mid-western businessmen who joined forces and capital to create the American Film Manufacturing company.
History
Before settling in Santa Barbara, Flying "A" Studios were located in La Mesa, CA from August 12, 1911 through July 6, 1912, using film locations in La Mesa, other East County areas such as Lakeside, in addition to sites around San Diego.Flying "A" Studios, under the leadership of Alan Dwan made over 150 films in San Diego County. The films were usually western adventures or comedies with an occasional local documentary. The Flying A westerns were popular with the public and kept Dwan and his crew extremely busy. The Dwan westerns gave the Flying A the ability to mount large advertising campaigns, create additional films, and become a player in the motion picture industry. While mostly filming in the backcountry near La Mesa, some sets were built behind the Flying A Studios. Dwan would occasionally film a cowboy chase scene and then build a plot around that chase. Dwan's troupe of actors became very popular with the public.
In August, 1912, Flying "A" Studios established its western branch in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, California. Prior to this, three shooting companies were created. Two would work at the studio or surrounding locales of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
while it was the third unit that was sent out to concentrate on westerns. This western unit would move through the southwest with stops in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and finally California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
The third unit would eventually settle in the town of La Mesa
La Mesa
La Mesa may refer to:* La Mesa, California, a city in California, USA* La Mesa, Cundinamarca, a town in Cundinamarca, Colombia* La Mesa, a town in the Doña Ana County, New Mexico, USA* La Mesa, a town in the Veraguas Province, Panama...
before moving Northwest to Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
. The reasons for the move to California had a lot to do with weather, and even more to do with avoiding the constraints of the "Edison Trust" (i.e., The Motion Picture Patents Company
Motion Picture Patents Company
The Motion Picture Patents Company , founded in December 1908, was a trust of all the major American film companies , the leading film distributor and the biggest supplier of raw film stock, Eastman Kodak...
or MPPC) operating in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The main reason for choosing Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
before La Mesa
La Mesa
La Mesa may refer to:* La Mesa, California, a city in California, USA* La Mesa, Cundinamarca, a town in Cundinamarca, Colombia* La Mesa, a town in the Doña Ana County, New Mexico, USA* La Mesa, a town in the Veraguas Province, Panama...
was that the American Film Company wanted to have urban backdrops in some of its movies.
During its operation between 1912 and 1917, Flying "A" Studios was one of the largest motion picture studios in the United States. At the time, this made Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
a film making center rivaled only by Hollywood.
Notable Actors or Actresses
Mary Miles Minter
Mary Miles Minter was an American film actress of the silent film era.-Early life and rise to stardom:Born Juliet Reilly in Shreveport, Louisiana, Minter was the daughter of Broadway actress Charlotte Shelby...
. Minter, born Juliet Reilly, April 1, 1902 – August 4, 1984, was one of the most successful in her genre as a silent film actress. She did her first featured film in 1915, as Viola Drayton in the "The Fairy and the Waif
The Fairy and the Waif
The Fairy and the Waif is a 1915 silent film directed by Marie Hubert Frohman and George Irving. The film was the debut of actress Mary Miles Minter, who was twelve years old by the time of the release.-Plot:...
". She did her last role as an actress in 1923 in "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine is a 1908 romance novel/western novel written by John Fox, Jr.. The novel became Fox's most successful, and was included among the top ten list of bestselling novels for 1908 and 1909. The novel has been adapted numerous times for both stage and screen, the most...
". She left the movie industry at only age 22 after a scandal involving her and director William Desmond Taylor
William Desmond Taylor
William Desmond Taylor was an Irish-born American actor, successful film director of silent movies and a popular figure in the growing Hollywood film colony of the 1910s and early 1920s...
. Even though she wasn’t in the movie industry for more than eight years, she made more than 50 movies and her contributions to the motion picture industry gave her 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 1724 Vine Street.