Charles J. Hite
Encyclopedia
Charles Jackson Hite was an American businessman and film producer
of the early 20th century, most importantly the president and chief executive officer
of the Thanhouser Film Corporation
from 1912
to 1914.
, having nine brothers and sisters. His father, Joseph Hite, had moved his family to Ohio
from Rockingham County, Virginia
prior to Charles Hite's birth. He began working in the motion picture business at an early age, working his way up through the ranks of the business, mostly as an administrator. In 1906
, he created the C. J. Hite Moving Picture Company. His business was less than successful. In 1908
he was joined by Samuel S. Hutchinson, who would later see success with American Film Manufacturing Company
, which was formed in 1910 with Western Film Exchange owner John R. Freuler. Hite's company name was then changed to H & H Film Service Company. By this time he had married his wife, Marjorie, with whom he would have two daughters.
, and he and his partners purchased that company for $250,000 on April 15, 1912, in a transaction arranged by Mutual Film Corporation. Following the purchase, Hite was named president of the Thanhouser Film Corporation.
Under Hite's leadership, the company would see numerous successes in its films. In 1911
, Edwin Thanhouser had obtained actress Florence La Badie
, who would become Thanhouser Corporation's most profitable film star. In 1914
, Hite cast La Badie in the serial
The Million Dollar Mystery, which would become highly successful. By mid-1914, Hite was listed by Photoplay
magazine as one of its twelve featured millionaire
s. During this period, Thanhouser Film Corporation was at its height.
, across a viaduct
located at 155th street, his vehicle, for reasons unknown, skidded off the roadway and onto the sidewalk, tore through an iron railing and plunged 50 feet before landed atop a wooden fence. A police officer
was standing nearby, and witnessed the crash, running immediately to the scene. The viaduct was located beside the "Central Casino," which was that night hosting a dance. Hearing the accident, several people rushed outside. It took them 15 minutes to pull Hite from underneath the motor of the vehicle.
Hite was transported to Harlem Hospital, where he regained consciousness, and requested that his wife be notified. He had suffered a fractured skull, a compound fracture to his jaw, and three broken ribs. He died that same night. He was originally buried in Beechwood Cemetery, however at the request of his widow
his remains were moved to Oakwood Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois, less than a year after his death.
, only weeks before her own death on October 13, 1917 as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident in late August 1917. In 1918
, Thanhouser Corporation was liquidated.
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...
of the early 20th century, most importantly the president and chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the Thanhouser Film Corporation
Thanhouser Company
The Thanhouser Company was one of the first motion picture studios, founded in 1909 by Edwin Thanhouser.-See also:...
from 1912
1912 in film
The year 1912 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Mack Sennett, who had previously worked as an actor and comedy director with D. W. Griffith, formed a new company with New York City entrepreneur Adam Kessel called Keystone Studios...
to 1914.
Early life and career
Hite was born in Pleasantville, OhioPleasantville, Ohio
Pleasantville is a village in Fairfield County, Ohio, United States. The population was 877 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pleasantville is located at ....
, having nine brothers and sisters. His father, Joseph Hite, had moved his family to Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
from Rockingham County, Virginia
Rockingham County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 67,725 people, 25,355 households, and 18,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 27,328 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
prior to Charles Hite's birth. He began working in the motion picture business at an early age, working his way up through the ranks of the business, mostly as an administrator. In 1906
1906 in film
The year 1906 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*26 December - The world's first feature film, The Story of the Kelly Gang, is released.-Films released in 1906:*The Automobile Thieves*The Dream of a Rarebit Fiend...
, he created the C. J. Hite Moving Picture Company. His business was less than successful. In 1908
1908 in film
The year 1908 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Thomas Edison formed the Motion Picture Patents Company, with goals of controlling production and distribution, raising theater admission prices, cooperating with censorship bodies, and preventing film stock from getting into the hands...
he was joined by Samuel S. Hutchinson, who would later see success with American Film Manufacturing Company
American Film Manufacturing Company
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....
, which was formed in 1910 with Western Film Exchange owner John R. Freuler. Hite's company name was then changed to H & H Film Service Company. By this time he had married his wife, Marjorie, with whom he would have two daughters.
Major purchases, obtaining Thanhouser Corporation
Hite bought stock in the American Film Manufacturing Company, and afterward purchased the Globe, Royal, and Union film companies, forming the Majestic Film Exchange. When he learned that the successful Thanhouser Film Company might be for sale, he approached Edwin ThanhouserEdwin Thanhouser
Edwin Thanhouser was an actor, businessman, and film producer, most notable as a founder of the Thanhouser Company, along with his wife Gertrude Thanhouser and brother-in-law Lloyd Lonergan.-Biography:...
, and he and his partners purchased that company for $250,000 on April 15, 1912, in a transaction arranged by Mutual Film Corporation. Following the purchase, Hite was named president of the Thanhouser Film Corporation.
Under Hite's leadership, the company would see numerous successes in its films. In 1911
1911 in film
The year 1911 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*March 23: D.W Griffith shows the first major close-up shot on film with the successful release of The Lonedale Operator proving his ever growing mastery of how to utilise film....
, Edwin Thanhouser had obtained actress Florence La Badie
Florence La Badie
Florence La Badie was an American actress in the early days of the silent film era. Though little known today, she was a major star between 1911 and 1917, her career was at its height and climbing when she died unexpectedly due to injuries sustained during an automobile accident.-Early life:While...
, who would become Thanhouser Corporation's most profitable film star. In 1914
1914 in film
The year 1914 in film involved some significant events, including the debut of Cecil B. DeMille as a director.-Events:*The 3,300-seat Mark Strand Theatre opens in New York City....
, Hite cast La Badie in the serial
Serial (film)
Serials, more specifically known as Movie serials, Film serials or Chapter plays, were short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a feature film. They were related to pulp magazine serialized fiction...
The Million Dollar Mystery, which would become highly successful. By mid-1914, Hite was listed by Photoplay
Photoplay
Photoplay was one of the first American film fan magazines. It was founded in 1911 in Chicago, the same year that J. Stuart Blackton founded a similar magazine entitled Motion Picture Story...
magazine as one of its twelve featured millionaire
Millionaire
A millionaire is an individual whose net worth or wealth is equal to or exceeds one million units of currency. It can also be a person who owns one million units of currency in a bank account or savings account...
s. During this period, Thanhouser Film Corporation was at its height.
Death
On August 21, 1914, Hite had been working late in business meetings, and was on his way to host an evening affair. At around 9 p.m., while driving alone through New Rochelle, New YorkNew Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
, across a viaduct
Viaduct
A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
located at 155th street, his vehicle, for reasons unknown, skidded off the roadway and onto the sidewalk, tore through an iron railing and plunged 50 feet before landed atop a wooden fence. A police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
was standing nearby, and witnessed the crash, running immediately to the scene. The viaduct was located beside the "Central Casino," which was that night hosting a dance. Hearing the accident, several people rushed outside. It took them 15 minutes to pull Hite from underneath the motor of the vehicle.
Hite was transported to Harlem Hospital, where he regained consciousness, and requested that his wife be notified. He had suffered a fractured skull, a compound fracture to his jaw, and three broken ribs. He died that same night. He was originally buried in Beechwood Cemetery, however at the request of his widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
his remains were moved to Oakwood Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois, less than a year after his death.
Thanhouser Corporation following Hite's death
The Thanhouser Company continued for another three years following Hite's death. Edwin Thanhouser again took over as head of the corporation following Hite's death, but did not see success as he had in his earlier years. The film industry was more competitive by this time, and although films featuring Florence La Badie were still successful, other ventures were not. La Badie left Thanhouser Corporation in 19171917 in film
The year 1917 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Foundation of Universum Film AG , as a propaganda film company, in Berlin.*Technicolor System 1, a two-color process, is introduced...
, only weeks before her own death on October 13, 1917 as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident in late August 1917. In 1918
1918 in film
The year 1918 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Following litigation for anti-trust activities, the US Supreme Court orders the Motion Picture Patents Company to disband....
, Thanhouser Corporation was liquidated.