Victor Studios
Encyclopedia
The Victor Film Company was a motion picture
company formed in 1912 by movie star
Florence Lawrence
and her husband, Harry Solter
. The company established Victor Studios in Fort Lee, New Jersey
, when early film studios in America's first motion picture industry were based there at the beginning of the 20th century. At a time when actors received no screen credits
, Carl Laemmle
of the Independent Moving Pictures Company
(IMP) had begun promoting Lawrence's name and image, making her into America's "First Movie Star."
Harry Solter had already been directing Lawrence at IMP and with their own studio, he made a large number of film shorts starring his wife, many of which co-starred Owen Moore
and King Baggot
. As well, the studio teamed Moore with Fritzi Brunette
in several of its productions. However, with the amalgamation of several studios to create the colossal Universal Film Manufacturing Company
, Lawrence and Solter had little choice but to sell out in 1913. With Solter no longer involved, Universal brought in young directors such as Allan Dwan
and James Kirkwood, Sr.
The Victor entity remained in use until 1917 when it was absorbed completely into Universal.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
company formed in 1912 by movie star
Movie star
A movie star is a celebrity who is well-known, or famous, for his or her starring, or leading, roles in motion pictures. The term may also apply to an actor or actress who is recognized as a marketable commodity and whose name is used to promote a movie in trailers and posters...
Florence Lawrence
Florence Lawrence
Florence Lawrence was a Canadian inventor and silent film actress. She is often referred to as "The First Movie Star." When she was popular, she was known as "The Biograph Girl," "The Imp Girl," and "The Girl of a Thousand Faces." Lawrence appeared in more than 270 films for various motion...
and her husband, Harry Solter
Harry Solter
Henry Lewis "Harry" Solter was an American silent film actor, screenwriter and director.-Career:Solter began his career as an actor in 1908 with Biograph Studios. That same year he met actress Florence Lawrence while making the film Romeo and Juliet for Vitagraph Studios and married on August 30...
. The company established Victor Studios in Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 35,345. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, the borough is the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge...
, when early film studios in America's first motion picture industry were based there at the beginning of the 20th century. At a time when actors received no screen credits
Motion picture credits
-Opening credits:Opening credits, in a television program, motion picture, or video game, are shown at the beginning of a show and list the most important members of the production. They are usually shown as text superimposed on a blank screen or static pictures, or sometimes on top of action in...
, Carl Laemmle
Carl Laemmle
Carl Laemmle , born in Laupheim, Württemberg, Germany, was a pioneer in American film making and a founder of one of the original major Hollywood movie studios - Universal...
of the Independent Moving Pictures Company
Independent Moving Pictures
The Independent Moving Pictures Company was a movie studio/production company founded in 1909 by Carl Laemmle, and was located at Eleventh Avenue and 53rd Street New York City, and in Fort Lee, New Jersey....
(IMP) had begun promoting Lawrence's name and image, making her into America's "First Movie Star."
Harry Solter had already been directing Lawrence at IMP and with their own studio, he made a large number of film shorts starring his wife, many of which co-starred Owen Moore
Owen Moore
Owen Moore was an Irish-born actor in American films, appearing in more than 279 movies spanning from 1908 to 1937.-Life and career:...
and King Baggot
King Baggot
William King Baggot was an American actor, director and screenwriter. He was an internationally famous movie star of the silent era...
. As well, the studio teamed Moore with Fritzi Brunette
Fritzi Brunette
Fritzi Brunette was an actress from Savannah, Georgia who acted in motion pictures for thirty years.-Southern beauty in silent movies:...
in several of its productions. However, with the amalgamation of several studios to create the colossal Universal Film Manufacturing Company
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
, Lawrence and Solter had little choice but to sell out in 1913. With Solter no longer involved, Universal brought in young directors such as Allan Dwan
Allan Dwan
Allan Dwan was a pioneering Canadian-born American motion picture director, producer and screenwriter.-Early life:...
and James Kirkwood, Sr.
James Kirkwood, Sr.
James Kirkwood, Sr. was an American actor and director....
The Victor entity remained in use until 1917 when it was absorbed completely into Universal.