University of Wyoming
16 mm.
The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, a major silent motion picture film company based in Chicago, operated from 1907-1918. It was founded by producer George K. Spoor and actor Gilbert M. Anderson as the Peerless Film Manufacturing Company, but they changed the name shortly afterward to Essanay (phonetically representing the initials of their surnames). The company made more than 5000 silent films and featured actor Charlie Chaplin from 1914-1916 and actress Beverly Bayne. The company closed in 1918 after the defection of Chaplin to another studio, better filming conditions in Hollywood, California, and a U.S. Supreme Court anti-trust ruling against the Motion Picture Patents Company, which was founded in 1908 to protect the interests of Essanay and 8 other studios in the motion picture industry. conditions in Hollywood, California, and a U.S. Supreme Court anti-trust ruling against the Motion Picture Patents Company, which was founded in 1908 to protect the interests of Essanay and 8 other studios in the motion picture industry.
Collection contains seven 16 mm silent motion picture titles, dating from ca. 1909. These titles are: "Cracked Ice" (1 reel), "How to Wrestle" (2 reels), "Fable of the Honeymoon that Tried to Come Back" (1 reel), "My Wife's Gone to the Country" (1 reel), "Sin Unpardonable" (1 reel), and "Tell Tale Blotter" (1 reel). The Seventh title is "He Stubs his Toe" (1 reel), which contains the following short clips: Man carrying packages for a woman; Women exercising on rooftop; "Fable of a Triangle;" Excerpt from "Fable of the Honeymoon that Tried to Come Back;" Cowboys and horses (possibly from "Judgment" or "Tales of the West"); Newsreel of President Taft; Excerpt from "Tell Tale Blotter;" Couple dancing; and Dr. Mary Walker, Civil War surgeon, receiving medal.
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
There are no known other archival collections created by the Essanay Film Manufacturing Co. at the date of processing.
Finding aid available in repository.
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
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