The Vitagraph Company was one of the biggest motion picture studios in the early era of American film. Originally founded in Brooklyn, NY in 1897, they established another studio on 2nd Street in Santa Monica in 1911. This photo was taken the following year, 1912, but they only lasted there until 1915 because the persistent fog made filming so difficult that they moved to 4151 Prospect Avenue in Hollywood. In 1925, they were bought by Warner Bros.
UPDATE: Vitagraph was at 1438 2nd Street in Santa Monica, and the southern part of it (known as the Rapp Saloon) is still there.
The Vitagraph Company was one of the biggest motion picture studios in the early era of American film. Originally founded in Brooklyn, NY in 1897, they established another studio on 2nd Street in Santa Monica in 1911. This photo was taken the following year, 1912, but they only lasted there until 1915 because the persistent fog made filming so difficult that they moved to 4151 Prospect Avenue in Hollywood. In 1925, they were bought by Warner Bros.
Vitagraph was at 1438 2nd Street in Santa Monica, and the southern part of it (known as the Rapp Saloon) is still there.
Interesting you mentioning fog. Virginia Robinson had the second house constructed in Beverly Hills in something like 1912.
In her later life Mrs. Robinson relayed that when the house was built the fog rolled in every evening, year round! Can you imagine that today?
As an aside, Mrs. Robinson was the wife of bygone Robinson’ Department Stores owner and one of Beverly Hill’s original “Grand Dames”.
No, Matt, I most certainly canNOT imagine fog rolling into Beverly Hills at all, let alone every day. Laguna Beach, yes, but Beverly Hills? Nuh-uh!
Hello Martin,
My grandfather worked at Vitagraph in Santa Monica around 1916-18. Do you know if any of the studio employee records are archived?
Thanks,
Nick Pinhey