The Selig Polyscope Company was an American motion picture company that was founded in 1896 by William Selig in Chicago. The company produced hundreds of early, widely distributed commercial moving pictures, including the first films starring Tom Mix, Harold Lloyd, Colleen Moore, and Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. Selig Polyscope also established Southern California's first permanent movie studio, in the historic Edendale district of Los Angeles. Ending film production in 1918, the business, based on its film production animals, became an animal and prop supplier to other studios and a zoo and amusement park attraction in East Los Angeles until the Great Depression in the 1930s.[1] In 1947, William Selig and several other early movie producers and directors shared a special Academy Honorary Award to acknowledge their role in building the film industry.[2]
Surviving hand-tinted still from The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays (1908), based on L. Frank Baum's Oz books
Selig studio facilities and extensive backlot in Chicago, 1911
William Selig had worked as a magician and minstrel show operator on the west coast in California. Later on, in Chicago, he entered the film business using his own photographic equipment, free from patent restrictions imposed through companies controlled by Thomas Edison. In 1896, with help from Union Metal Works and Andrew Schustek, he shot his first film, Tramp and the Dog. He went on to successfully produce local actualities, slapstick comedies, early travelogues and industrial films (a major client was Armour and Company). In 1908 Selig Polyscope was involved in the production of The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays, a touring "multimedia" attempt to bring L. Frank Baum's Oz books to a wider public (which played to full houses but was nonetheless a financial disaster for Baum). By 1909 Selig had studios making short features in Chicago and the Edendale district of Los Angeles. The company also distributed stock film footage and titles from other studios. That year, Roscoe Arbuckle's first movie was a Selig comedy short. The company's early existence was fraught with legal turmoil over disputes with lawyers representing Thomas Edison's interests. In 1909 Selig and several other studio heads settled with Edison by creating an alliance with the inventor. Effectively a cartel, Motion Picture Patents Company dominated the industry for a few years until the Supreme Court (in 1913 and 1915) ruled the firm was an illegal monopoly. In 1910 Selig Polyscope produced a wholly new filmed version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The company produced the first commercial two-reel film, Damon and Pythias, successfully distributed its pictures in Great Britain and maintained an office in London for several years before World War I. Although Selig Polyscope produced a wide variety of moving pictures, the company was most widely known for its wild animal shorts, historical subjects and early westerns.[citation needed]
Attracted by Southern California's mild, dry climate, varied geography for location shooting and isolation from Edison's legal representatives on the east coast, Selig set up his studio in Edendale in 1909 with director Francis Boggs, who began the facility in a rented bungalow and quickly expanded, designing the studio's front entrance after Mission San Gabriel.[citation needed]
Street view of Selig's studio in Edendale, c. 1910.
An early production there was The Count of Monte Cristo. Edendale soon became Selig Polyscope's headquarters, but in 1911 Boggs was murdered by a Japanese gardener who also wounded Selig. The company produced hundreds of short features at Edendale, including many early westerns featuring Tom Mix (which were also shot at Las Vegas, New Mexico). Selig Polyscope made dozens of highly successful short movies involving wild animals in exotic settings, including a popular re-creation of an African safari hunt by Teddy Roosevelt. In 1914 Selig made 14 short experimental "talking pictures" with Scottish actor Harry Lauder.[3]
The "cliffhanger"
In 1913, through a collaborative partnership with the Chicago Tribune, Selig produced The Adventures of Kathlyn, introducing a dramatic serial plot device which came to be known as the cliffhanger.[citation needed] Each chapter's story was simultaneously published in the newspaper. A combination of wild animals, clever dramatic action and Kathlyn Williams' screen presence resulted in significant success. The Tribune’s circulation reportedly increased by 10% and both dance and cocktail were named after Williams, whose likeness was reportedly sold on over 50,000 postcards.
Hearst-Selig News Pictorial
Hearst-Selig News Pictorial was established in 1914 by the Selig Polyscope Company and the Hearst Corporation. Hearst-Selig News Pictorial, No. 104 was released in US theaters by the General Film Company on December 30, 1915. After this release , the partnership between Hearst and Selig broke up: Selig continued to produce newsreels in collaboration with the Chicago Tribune while Hearst made use of Vitagraph to produce the Hearst-Vitagraph News Pictorial series.[4]
Selig created a zoo in east Los Angeles to serve as a home for the company's performing animals. The Selig Zoo was founded in about 1913 and persisted for several decades under a variety of names.
Legacy
Academy library
In the late 1940s, Selig made a large donation of business records to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Library. The William Selig papers, together with the donation, include Selig's correspondence, scripts, scrapbooks, production files and six feet of photographs that include production stills from over 500 films that are otherwise lost (only about 225 of the over 3,500 films released by Selig between 1896 and 1938 have survived into the present day). This collection still requires further study.[6]
The potential of movies as long term sources of revenue was unknown to early movie industry executives. Films were made quickly, sent into distribution channels and mostly forgotten soon after their first runs. Surviving prints were typically stored haphazardly, if at all. Nitrate film stock, in common use until the mid-20th Century, was chemically volatile and many prints were lost in fires or decomposed in storage. Some were recycled for their silver content or simply thrown away to save space. Out of Selig Polyscope's hundreds of films, only a few copies and scattered photographic elements are known to survive.
^Wagenknecht, Edward (13 October 2014). The Movies in the Age of Innocence, 3d ed. McFarland. ISBN9780786494620. Retrieved 9 September 2018 – via Google Books.
^Erish, Andrew A. (2012). Col. William N. Selig: The Man Who Invented Hollywood. University of Texas Press. p. 2. ISBN978-0292728707. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Selig Polyscope Company.
Lincoln Heights page with pictures of recovered statues
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (one of Selig Polyscope Company's few surviving films) download at Internet Archive
February 27, 2023
selig, polyscope, company, american, motion, picture, company, that, founded, 1896, william, selig, chicago, company, produced, hundreds, early, widely, distributed, commercial, moving, pictures, including, first, films, starring, harold, lloyd, colleen, moore. The Selig Polyscope Company was an American motion picture company that was founded in 1896 by William Selig in Chicago The company produced hundreds of early widely distributed commercial moving pictures including the first films starring Tom Mix Harold Lloyd Colleen Moore and Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle Selig Polyscope also established Southern California s first permanent movie studio in the historic Edendale district of Los Angeles Ending film production in 1918 the business based on its film production animals became an animal and prop supplier to other studios and a zoo and amusement park attraction in East Los Angeles until the Great Depression in the 1930s 1 In 1947 William Selig and several other early movie producers and directors shared a special Academy Honorary Award to acknowledge their role in building the film industry 2 Selig Polyscope CompanyIndustryEntertainmentFounded1896Defunct1918HeadquartersChicagoLos Angeles United StatesProductsMotion picturesOwnerWilliam Selig Contents 1 History 1 1 Edendale 1 2 The cliffhanger 1 3 Hearst Selig News Pictorial 1 4 V L S E Incorporated 1 5 Selig Zoo 2 Legacy 2 1 Academy library 2 2 Lost films 3 Partial filmography 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed April 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message Surviving hand tinted still from The Fairylogue and Radio Plays 1908 based on L Frank Baum s Oz books Selig studio facilities and extensive backlot in Chicago 1911 William Selig had worked as a magician and minstrel show operator on the west coast in California Later on in Chicago he entered the film business using his own photographic equipment free from patent restrictions imposed through companies controlled by Thomas Edison In 1896 with help from Union Metal Works and Andrew Schustek he shot his first film Tramp and the Dog He went on to successfully produce local actualities slapstick comedies early travelogues and industrial films a major client was Armour and Company In 1908 Selig Polyscope was involved in the production of The Fairylogue and Radio Plays a touring multimedia attempt to bring L Frank Baum s Oz books to a wider public which played to full houses but was nonetheless a financial disaster for Baum By 1909 Selig had studios making short features in Chicago and the Edendale district of Los Angeles The company also distributed stock film footage and titles from other studios That year Roscoe Arbuckle s first movie was a Selig comedy short The company s early existence was fraught with legal turmoil over disputes with lawyers representing Thomas Edison s interests In 1909 Selig and several other studio heads settled with Edison by creating an alliance with the inventor Effectively a cartel Motion Picture Patents Company dominated the industry for a few years until the Supreme Court in 1913 and 1915 ruled the firm was an illegal monopoly In 1910 Selig Polyscope produced a wholly new filmed version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz The company produced the first commercial two reel film Damon and Pythias successfully distributed its pictures in Great Britain and maintained an office in London for several years before World War I Although Selig Polyscope produced a wide variety of moving pictures the company was most widely known for its wild animal shorts historical subjects and early westerns citation needed Edendale Edit Main article Edendale Los Angeles Attracted by Southern California s mild dry climate varied geography for location shooting and isolation from Edison s legal representatives on the east coast Selig set up his studio in Edendale in 1909 with director Francis Boggs who began the facility in a rented bungalow and quickly expanded designing the studio s front entrance after Mission San Gabriel citation needed Street view of Selig s studio in Edendale c 1910 An early production there was The Count of Monte Cristo Edendale soon became Selig Polyscope s headquarters but in 1911 Boggs was murdered by a Japanese gardener who also wounded Selig The company produced hundreds of short features at Edendale including many early westerns featuring Tom Mix which were also shot at Las Vegas New Mexico Selig Polyscope made dozens of highly successful short movies involving wild animals in exotic settings including a popular re creation of an African safari hunt by Teddy Roosevelt In 1914 Selig made 14 short experimental talking pictures with Scottish actor Harry Lauder 3 The cliffhanger Edit In 1913 through a collaborative partnership with the Chicago Tribune Selig produced The Adventures of Kathlyn introducing a dramatic serial plot device which came to be known as the cliffhanger citation needed Each chapter s story was simultaneously published in the newspaper A combination of wild animals clever dramatic action and Kathlyn Williams screen presence resulted in significant success The Tribune s circulation reportedly increased by 10 and both dance and cocktail were named after Williams whose likeness was reportedly sold on over 50 000 postcards Hearst Selig News Pictorial Edit Hearst Selig News Pictorial was established in 1914 by the Selig Polyscope Company and the Hearst Corporation Hearst Selig News Pictorial No 104 was released in US theaters by the General Film Company on December 30 1915 After this release the partnership between Hearst and Selig broke up Selig continued to produce newsreels in collaboration with the Chicago Tribune while Hearst made use of Vitagraph to produce the Hearst Vitagraph News Pictorial series 4 V L S E Incorporated Edit In 1915 Selig entered into an agreement with Vitagraph Studios Lubin Manufacturing Company and Essanay Studios to form a film distribution partnership known as V L S E Incorporated 5 Selig Zoo Edit Main article Selig Zoo Selig created a zoo in east Los Angeles to serve as a home for the company s performing animals The Selig Zoo was founded in about 1913 and persisted for several decades under a variety of names Legacy EditAcademy library Edit In the late 1940s Selig made a large donation of business records to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Library The William Selig papers together with the donation include Selig s correspondence scripts scrapbooks production files and six feet of photographs that include production stills from over 500 films that are otherwise lost only about 225 of the over 3 500 films released by Selig between 1896 and 1938 have survived into the present day This collection still requires further study 6 Lost films Edit 1914 Selig Polyscope trade ad in Motography This section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed August 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message The potential of movies as long term sources of revenue was unknown to early movie industry executives Films were made quickly sent into distribution channels and mostly forgotten soon after their first runs Surviving prints were typically stored haphazardly if at all Nitrate film stock in common use until the mid 20th Century was chemically volatile and many prints were lost in fires or decomposed in storage Some were recycled for their silver content or simply thrown away to save space Out of Selig Polyscope s hundreds of films only a few copies and scattered photographic elements are known to survive Partial filmography Edit Flier for Lost in the Arctic 1911 Flier for The Devil and Tom Walker 1913 Poster for Wamba Child of The Jungle 1913 Exotic animals were a staple of Selig Productions The Tramp and the Dog 1896 Soldiers at Play 1898 Something Good Negro Kiss 1898 Chicago Police Parade 1901 Dewey Parade 1901 Gans McGovern Fight 1901 Fun at the Glenwood Springs Pool 1902 A Hot Time on a Bathing Beach 1903 Business Rivalry 1903 Chicago Fire Run 1903 Chicago Firecats on Parade 1903 The Girl in Blue 1903 Trip Around The Union Loop 1903 View of State Street 1903 Tracked by Bloodhounds or A Lynching at Cripple Creek 1904 survives Humpty Dumptry 1904 The Tramp Dog 1904 The Hold Up of the Leadville Stage 1904 The Grafter 1907 The Count of Monte Cristo 1908 Damon and Pythias 1908 The Fairylogue and Radio Plays 1908 Briton and Boer 1909 Hunting Big Game in Africa 1909 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz 1910 survives The Sergeant 1910 survives The Way of the Eskimo 1911 Lost in the Arctic 1911 Life on the Border 1911 partial section survives The Coming of Columbus 1911 Brotherhood of Man 1912 Kings of the Forest 1912 War Time Romance 1912 The Adventures of Kathlyn 1913 Arabia the Equine Detective 1913 The Devil and Tom Walker 1913 The Sheriff of Yavapai County 1913 Wamba A Child of the Jungle 1913 The Spoilers 1914 survives A Black Sheep 1915 House of a Thousand Candles 1915 The Man from Texas 1915 The Crisis 1916 The Garden of Allah 1916 The City of Purple Dreams 1918 Little Orphant Annie 1918 See also EditUniversal City ZooReferences Edit Lincolnheightsla com lincolnheightsla com Retrieved 9 September 2018 The 20th Academy Awards Memorable Moments Oscars org Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 27 August 2014 Retrieved 4 August 2021 Silent Era Progressive Silent Film List www silentera com Retrieved 9 September 2018 Hearst Selig News Pictorial No 104 1915 IMDb Retrieved 15 February 2021 Wagenknecht Edward 13 October 2014 The Movies in the Age of Innocence 3d ed McFarland ISBN 9780786494620 Retrieved 9 September 2018 via Google Books Erish Andrew A 2012 Col William N Selig The Man Who Invented Hollywood University of Texas Press p 2 ISBN 978 0292728707 Retrieved 8 August 2019 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Selig Polyscope Company Lincoln Heights page with pictures of recovered statues The Wonderful Wizard of Oz one of Selig Polyscope Company s few surviving films download at Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Selig Polyscope Company amp oldid 1139454756, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
