Famous Players Film Company
Encyclopedia
The Famous Players Film Company was founded in 1912 by Adolph Zukor
in partnership with the Frohman brothers
, the powerful New York City
theatre
impresarios. The company advertised "Famous Players in Famous Plays" and its first release was the French film Les Amours de la reine Élisabeth
(1912) starring Sarah Bernhardt
and Lou Tellegen
. The company established a studio on 26th Street in New York City
that today is Chelsea Studios
.
The company produced both short and feature-length productions. In 1915 the company established Famous Players Fiction Studios in at 5300 Melrose Avenue
in Hollywood, one of the oldest studios in Hollywood. The studio later became Clune Studio, then California Studio, followed by Producers Studios Inc., and is now known as Raleigh Studios. The new studio's first film starred Mary Pickford
.
In 1916, the company merged with the Jesse L. Lasky
Feature Play Company to form Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, which later became Paramount Pictures
.
Adolph Zukor
Adolph Zukor , born Adolph Cukor, was a film mogul and founder of Paramount Pictures.-Early life:...
in partnership with the Frohman brothers
Frohman brothers
The Frohman brothers were important American Broadway theatre owners and theatrical producers who also owned and operated motion picture production companies.The brothers were:*Daniel Frohman *Gustave Frohman...
, the powerful New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
impresarios. The company advertised "Famous Players in Famous Plays" and its first release was the French film Les Amours de la reine Élisabeth
Les Amours de la reine Élisabeth
Les Amours de la reine Élisabeth , Les Amours d'Elisabeth, Reine d'Angleterre or La reine Élisabeth is a 1912 short 4-reel French silent film based on the love affair between Elizabeth I of England and the Earl of Essex...
(1912) starring Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage and early film actress, and has been referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known". Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of France in the 1870s, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas...
and Lou Tellegen
Lou Tellegen
Lou Tellegen was a Dutch-born silent film and stage actor, director and screenwriter. -Early life:...
. The company established a studio on 26th Street in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
that today is Chelsea Studios
Chelsea Studios
Chelsea Studios is a television studio and sound stage at 221 West 26th Street in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City.-History:The building was originally an armory that was home to Ninth Mounted Calvary which moved to 14th Street in 1914....
.
The company produced both short and feature-length productions. In 1915 the company established Famous Players Fiction Studios in at 5300 Melrose Avenue
Melrose Avenue
Melrose Avenue is an internationally renowned shopping, dining and entertainment destination in Los Angeles that starts from Santa Monica Boulevard at the border between Beverly Hills and West Hollywood and ends at Lucille Avenue in Silver Lake...
in Hollywood, one of the oldest studios in Hollywood. The studio later became Clune Studio, then California Studio, followed by Producers Studios Inc., and is now known as Raleigh Studios. The new studio's first film starred Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
.
In 1916, the company merged with the Jesse L. Lasky
Jesse L. Lasky
Jesse Louis Lasky, Sr. was a pioneer Hollywood film producer. He was a key founder of Paramount Pictures with Adolph Zukor, and father of screenwriter Jesse L...
Feature Play Company to form Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, which later became Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
.