St. Louis Motion Picture Company was a film production company during the

silent film A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

era. It advertised its debut films '' A Gypsy's Love'' and '' Algernon's Busy Day'' in 1912. In 1913 the company established itself in

Santa Paula Santa Paula (Spanish for " St. Paula") is a city in Ventura County, California, United States. Situated amid the orchards of the Santa Clara River Valley, the city advertises itself to tourists as the "Citrus Capital of the World". Santa Pau ...

, California. St. Louis lawyer Oscar E. Goebel was the firm's initial president and treasurer. In 1913, the company bought Melie's Motion Picture Studio. Vaudevillian

Glen Cavender Glen W. Cavender (September 19, 1883 – February 9, 1962) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 250 films between 1914 and 1949. Biography Glen Cavender was born in Tucson, Arizona, and died in Hollywood, California. He sta ...

began his film career with the company. Cinematographer

John F. Seitz John Francis Seitz, A.S.C. (June 23, 1892 – February 27, 1979) was an American cinematographer and inventor. He was nominated for seven Academy Awards. Career His Hollywood career began in 1909 as a lab assistant with the Essanay Film ...

followed Flying A executive Gilbert P. Hamilton to the company. Filmmaker

Willis Robards Willis Lewis Robards (1873 – November 3, 1921), also known as Walter Edwards, was an American actor, film director, and film producer. He acted in stage, and in cinema during the silent film era. He is known for his work on the films '' When Shad ...

also worked for the company. In 1914, the company was contracted by the St. Louis Equal Suffrage League to produce a photoplay advancing the suffragist cause.

Filmography

*'' A Gypsy's Love'' (1912) *'' Algernon's Busy Day'' (1912) *'' Peril of the Plains'' (1912) *'' Colonel Custard's Last Stand'' (1914)

References

{{Reflist Film production companies of the United States 1912 establishments in Missouri American companies established in 1912 Mass media companies established in 1912