Scene 5; Why Pick Niles Canyon for Essanay Studios?

Let's continue our studio tour. Let's begin with a little local history about Niles itself. The land where we are standing belonged once to Jose de Jesus Vallejo (c 1840's) in which he owned 17,000 acres called Ranch Arroyo de la Alameda. Later this place was known as Vallejo Mills. There is a creek here that once provided water power to grind wheat that was grown in fields close by. Orchards eventually took their place and Vallejo lost his land due to debts he owed to a man named Clark. )
Clark sold his land to The Spring Valley Water Company because they wanted the water rights.(Source:"Broncho Billy & the Essanay Film Company" by David Kiehn
During the late 1860's the railroad came to town. Niles Station was built by the Central Pacific and named the depot after a local attorney, Addison C. Niles. In 1871he later became a Justice of the California Supreme Court.By 1884 the Southern Pacific Railroad owned the land and a town gradually began to take form. Hotels,stables, churches and of course saloons were built. In addition barbershps, a general store, cobbler, and other businesses came to Niles Canyon (originally known as Alameda Canyon

It was 1912 when Gilbert Anderson (Broncho Billy) brought the Essanay Film Company to the little town of Niles (the word "Canyon" was now dropped from the town's name).>

The studio was originally located in Chicago, but with constant inclement winter weather and a lack of natural light,coming west was the perfect solution. California offered not only a moderate year round weather pattern, but it posessed beautiful natural scenery as well. Of course Anderson did not count on the cold foggy and rainy weather we have in Northern California, but it was certainly better than what Chicago offered. Essanay Studios initially shot several movies in southern California. Anderson decided he wanted to live in San Francisco, so it made sense to look for a location to relocate his studio near his home. Enter Niles.........


There really wasn't much to the place in the way of industry except a 600 acre nursery known as California Nursery and fruit orchards. Upon arrival, Anderson promptly met with the president of the local bank(Bank of Alameda County)August May, the local newspaper editor ("The Register"), and the owner of the local saloon, Billy Moore. During this meeting it was decided that an empty barn was to be Essanay's first studio, located on Second Street.


Anderson negotiated with the townspeople to buy land for his studio in the immediate down town area between Front and Second Streets in Niles. He tore down orchards and built bungalows and other buildings needed to make movie sets.During this time they started filming their movies, complete with cowboys, stagecoaches, and of course the local saloon was used for the bar scenes.

The locals became used to the comings and goings of the studio crews, camera men and the actors rehearsing their lines and shooting various scenes around town. The problems came when tourists and visitors would get in the way and scenes would have to be shot over and over until someone chased these unwanted "guests" out. Obviously, sets were not elaborate as they are today. They would use local buildings after asking permission of the inhabitants. Most sets were reused after being repainted or changed in some way in order to match the scene they needed for a particular day. The surrounding hills and canyon added a realistic back drop as well. Muslin cloth was draped overhead to defuse light and glare from the sun.

According to David Kehn's book, Anderson never used more than 2,000 feet of film to shoot his movies. Stock footage was used over again in many of his films to save time and money. This also gave him personal time for personal appearances and traveling, because he would shoot 5 films in six days.

Some actors were paid salaries of $25.00 per week, and supplemented their income by acting as movie extras which would yield them an additional $3.00 per day. Some featured character parts paid an additonal $5.00 per day. Anderson did not like to pay for script writers if he could get scripts from other sources. He searched through pulp magazines and even the Oakland Public Library according to Josephine Rector who was the head of Essanay's one person scenerio department (Source; "Broncho Billy and the Essanay Film Company" by David Kiehn).

On our next tour we will talk about more Essanay studio history,the films,and actors that have left their imprint on this special place. Until then....happy trails.

Scene 4; Brief Intermission

Welcome back to our studio tour! We will resume our journey into the past and see the rest of our (virtual) studio and review the actor's histories and activities. But first, before anyone embarks on any journey, whether it be a trek into the past, present or future, it is important to understand the reasons for doing it.

I have made several trips to Niles and am enjoying researching the history of movie making here. But, why is it so important? Is it because so many famous actors lived and worked here, and some of the most memorable movies were made and filmed in Niles? Is it because it is a major part of California history? Is it because our local history of major events should be preserved and chronicled for future reference? Is it because as historians we want future generations to know and understand what happened here and why?

Yes, it is all that, but there is something else..... Something intangible, something unique that only the people who live here can truly appreciate. The last physical remnants of the Essanay studio buildings are gone now. The old hotels, studio sets and surrounding buildings are in the past and have been replaced. As I walk down Niles Main Street, I see restaurants, bars, and shops that have replaced the structures where dreams were made, and where fantasy flourished. Broncho Billy and his posse ride no more. At first glance only the names of the street's businesses give a hint of what was once here.

As I spend more time here, I begin to see clearly that this place's past is still with us. As I speak with the residents and townspeople I sense their great pride in Niles, and their desire to preserve and rebuild this historic district of Fremont. They are rediscovering and exploring the past. What is truly remarkable is that they consider it "their" past. This place is revitalized and very much alive!

As you walk the main street, and visit the antique stores, and museum you are at once transported back in time. It is 1912 once again and you gain a sense of what Essanay studios accomplished here when Charlie Chaplin, Wallace Beery and Ben Turpin walked along these same streets. But there is so much more!

Niles has been here since the 1850's when the Southern Pacific railroad connected Oakland with San Jose and points south. Niles was also well recognized as the location of the California Nursery. As such it was the home of largest rose plantation in California. So,it is a combination of this area's rich history,and pride of its current residents that make Niles so special and appealing. Its history captivates anyone who visits here. This place has an atmosphere and historic character that compels one to explore it.

There are lots of historical places that you can visit and read a plaque or walk through a museum to gather historical facts. What sets Niles apart is even though "history" happened here almost 100 years ago, everyone that lives and works here is affected by it still today. It is a living history and that is what makes it so exciting and meaningful explore. That is why you are here with me on this studio tour! It is exactly the history of Niles Canyon that makes it the thriving place it is now.

But there is one more thing......... To really appreciate being in Niles it is necessary to "experience" Niles. The only way to do that is by viewing Charlie Chaplin's as well as some of the other works of the same genre. This journey through time is not complete until you can sit back, relax, and watch these people weave their magic on your mind. Only by seeing these old films can you get a feeling for this place as you walk the streets, and visit the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum.They show silent films there every week. On June 5, 2010 they will be having a Charlie Chaplin film festival featuring his most famous films.

I hope you will join me in this unique opportunity to transport yourself back to 1915 and let the spirit of Niles envelope you into its history, rather than simply remotely viewing it as just another event in California's colorful past. I will also be posting films for you to see in the "Projection Room" once my new projectionist learns how to operate that infernal machine! (I had to fire the old one!) Seeing the dedication and passion these actors put into their early film productions makes us understand why this connection with Niles's past is also its present and future.

Now....on with the show!

Scene 3 "Second Stringers" Source Review

Quiet on the set...QUIET ON THE SET! Action.....Roll 'em!

The plot...oh yes,every story must have a plot, and of course a "Colossal Blog Production"(CBP)is no exception! So why is this topic worth exploring? Why should we care about movies that were made nearly 100 years ago? Is it still relevant to our lives in this modern age of CD's,DVD's, portable movie players, and Netflix?
The answer is very simple really. But first, let's ask ourselves, "Why do we associate movie making with California?" I think that is a good place to start our quest for answers to your questions. As your (part time) studio guide today I will be glad to guide you in this marvelous journey through time. We will be especially interested in the time period between 1896 and 1916, when the cameras stopped rolling and Essanay Studios finally closed its doors forever in Niles Canyon. Later, Los Angeles became the hub of movie making in California and a new era of talking pictures was soon to arrive.

I do have a busy schedule running this blog production company so let's begin our tour. California is about much more than a composite of crowded sandy beaches, "Gidget" surfing the waves while basking in the sunshine,scenic topography,fancy houses and exotic cars,extremely diverse cities(Berkeley,S.F.and L.A. are great examples),exclusive exports(Oranges and computers!),Beach Boy music(Don't forget Jan & Dean!), movie stars (not to forget mentioning our "Governator", Arnold), and of course the rest of our very own "unique" people. It is both a place and a dream for people to visualize,visit,and stay if only in their minds. Even the name "California" has mystical origins.

As we enter our imaginary sound stage, we view our set; Please...relax...sit in my Director's chair and watch what's unfolding in your mind's eye. Cigar? I have one of Broncho Billy's favorites! A slug of gin perhaps? OK,but first...MAKE-UP!! Places everyone! Hurry up! Lights! Girls enter stage right!Take One!

The time is circa 1500's. We are on a beautiful tropical island with gorgeous,and topless(ok,I put that in to get your attention!)black women Amazons that are ruled by the mysterious Queen Califa. These ladies were known for their robust, healthy bodies basking in the warm sun (now are you getting the idea?). They had spears and scepters made of pure gold that came from a nearby mine. Eventually this magical place became known as "California" thanks to our Spanish script writer named Garci Rodriguez de Montalvo. In 1510 he wrote a romance novel, "Las Sergas de Esplandian (Adventures of Esplandian). Honestly,even I could not make something up this good!His book is what inspired Hernan Cortez to explore the coast of "New Spain" in the 1530's, and claim for Spain the land which is now our state of California. The Spanish named their newly discovered land "Las Californias", then later it became "Alta California". So finally, this fictional land became a real place.

OK! strike the set now! Follow me please to the next studio. "The unwritten Law" is being filmed(see explanation below).We're just in time. Careful! Watch your feet! I don't need a virtual law suit!

California which was once thought of as a mystical island was in fact a living paradise. (However the glamour girls came much later!) The point I'm making here is this place was and still is a land of dreams and fantasies, inhabited by real people. It is no wonder why the magic continues to happen here in our studios, on film, and why the movie entertainment industry ended up here centuries later.

Once established, and especially after the 1849 Gold Rush, California became the west coast mecca for business, agriculture, tourism and eventually film making. ("California, An Interpretive History" by James Rawls p 1-16). It is very important for me to note the contributions to California's economy, and the notoriety of the stars that made motion pictures here,but there is an even more important issue at stake. The movie industry made a huge contribution in preserving California's history by reflecting the attitudes, styles, politics and our way of life through film.It is only through this medium that we can visually look into the past. These films are the time machines in which we can interpret as well as be entertained by our own history. As such we will examine the personalities and characteristics of the actors, the scripts,movie titles,and the stories they continue to tell us. This is one of the reasons I have undertaken this project.

Their triumphant stories of good over evil, generosity vs. selfishness, greed and avarice vs. charity, love overpowering hate are their legacy. They still live in our hearts today. Through the looking glass of a film camera any historical time period can easily be re enacted, and life's continuing stories can be witnessed on the silver screen. How else can one see what San Francisco looked like before the 1906 earthquake? Only through the movies can you witness how San Francisco became a bustling Gold Rush town,and be there during "The Great Train Robberies" of the early 20th century. You can place yourself in the Old West,or comment on the political satire of Charlie Chaplin when you see him appearing in "The Tramp" c.1915. Most important of all,through film you can experience the feeling and emotion of an historical event as if it happened yesterday instead of "yesteryear".

Another reason I chose this topic is because much of it happened right here! Film making is a documentation of local northern California San Francisco Bay Area history in itself. As such, it should be preserved for our enjoyment and utilized to educate future generations about who we are as Californians today. What we see on film is the mystic roll call of those that will come no more, but their message lives on. I too wish to capture some of the romance of California in the novel de Montalvo wrote in another golden age,so long ago.

Fade out on camera 2...Cut! That's a wrap for today!

Director's note: Pictured above are actors William Pike and Albert Morrison in a scene from "The Unwritten Law",1916; California Motion Picture Corporation. This film was based on a true crime story of the Stanford White/Harry Thaw murder case. (Photo donated to the Marin History Museum by Roy Farrington.)

Scene 2; Drama on the Internet

Hello movie fans!

This last weekend, I started my research of the movie industry in northern California, and why it settled here. As I was "surfing" the net, I came across a most interesting site that had pictures and stories of the people and events that lead up to the movie making era that occurred in this area. As a result I found these wonderful photos (see above) to introduce my theme.

The top photo(Lights)was taken during a film shoot(c 1913).Please note the early film equipment used with the film canisters. That is so ancient in comparison to the digital filming methods used today. During our film journey into the past, we will be exploring the use of the film equipment used during this early period.

The middle photo (Camera) was taken c 1914 (Sanborn/Frustuck Collection, Fairfax Historical Society)while filming a motion picture in Marin,California. We will also be researching the many local areas that were used for making movies. California offered warm weather and (fairly) consistent sunshine that was essential for providing the natural light necessary for decent filming using these inefficient cameras. Unlike "electronic" computerized cameras of today, they were very basic and simple. They could not adjust well to the lighting available at hand, so ideal "natural" conditions had to exist before any filming could be done. The inset photo shows a "magic lantern" c 1870's which was the earliest form of slide projector. It gave a very crude impression of motion to the viewer,with a lot of imagination on the viewer's part! (Sanborn/Frustuck Collection, Fairfax Historical Society)

The bottom photo(Action!) shows a well known actress of the day, Beatriz Michelena
(in the boat). The actress in the inset photo is unknown. Many of the actors and actresses did their own stunts. As a result many were badly hurt, as Beatriz was many times during her filming career. The photo was taken during the filming of "Salomy Jane" c 1914 on the Russian River. (Fairfax Historical Society)
We will also examine the early film actors and actresses that made the silver screen come alive. Charlie Chaplin, and Gilbert Anderson (aka Broncho Billy) were notables that made major contributions to the early film industry.

They were also businessmen that greatly contributed to the local economy by bringing film making into our back yard. They were instrumental in setting up studios and in so doing were responsible for hiring local citizens of Hayward, Castro Valley,and the surrounding townships.For example,Essenay Studios was established in Niles Township in 1907 and the studio produced four movies per week on average! Because of the film making industry, local carpenters, horsemen, blacksmiths,restaurateurs and other small companies and workers flourished. So,we will examine the effects on the local economy during the height of the film making era here and afterward in the coming weeks.

On Sunday, April 11,2010 I visited the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum. located in Old Town Niles in Fremont,California. I met several wonderful people that are anxious to assist me in putting this project together.I met and interviewed the President of this organization and two of the docents that are very enthusiastic about preserving this piece of local history. I will script(post)my findings in a later scene(blog).

David Kiehn, author of "Broncho Billy and the Essanay Film Company" was there for a special showing of old movies to a historical group that was there in costume. I will post these photos later. He signed his book for me, and graciously allowed me to interview him as well about the contents of his book. I will certainly be using it as part of my research, as well as continuing to visit with him about related topics. All in all it was a really fun and informative day. For anyone that is interested in early film making this museum is a must see!

Opening Scene 1; Biography

This is my first blog and I wish to introduce myself. My "leading lady" starring in the photograph is my wife, Elena. I am an undergraduate U. S. History Major (Senior) student at California State University East Bay. History has always been a fascinating subject for me. I like to travel and have visited over 75 countries with Elena over the past several years. So, it makes perfect sense for me to understand and know what I'm looking at in the places I visit around the globe. Most importantly studying History helps me to understand the various cultures enveloping the people I meet and interact with during my travels and at home.

In addition I utilize historical research in my work as an expert witness and legal consultant to attorneys regarding insurance matters. I hold four professional insurance and financial planning designations, and have been involved in the financial services industry in various capacities for 34 years. Please click on "My Web Page" and enter my name in the "search members" section for more information on what I do as a consultant on the Forensic Expert Witness Association website.

After several years successfully developing my insurance and financial planning practice, I decided to go back to school and complete my Bachelor's degree, majoring in American/California History. My goal is to graduate June 2011, to utilize and integrate new knowlege into my research work I do as a legal consultant. To that end, I am currently enrolled in a History research class that explores topics relating to events that occured in the San Francisco Bay Area. The specific geographic location of my research will be centered in Castro Valley(Hayward), California, but other related local areas will be examined also.

During the next ten weeks, I will be posting the results of my research on this blog site. The topic I have chosen is early movie making and the start of the movie industry here in this area. Everyone thinks of Hollywood as the "epicenter", but the movie industry really started here around the early 20th century. Only later, Southern California was selected as the ideal spot as an entertainment and movie making center. Many of Hollywood's early movie stars lived and practiced their craft in Northern California first. Charley Chaplin filmed his most famous movie,"The Little Tramp" at Essenay Studios located in Niles,(now Fremont)California as an example.

In the coming weeks I will explore the actual locations of local movie studios, the equipment used and the inventor behind that equipment(Thomas Edison). He invented a lot more than just the light bulb! I wish to explore and identify the early actors,directors,studio locations,and the films that were created here. It will be interesting to see the financial impact the film industry had on the local economy, as well as the entire state during this early film producing period.

I will explore what other residents and industries were directly and indirectly affected and how they participated in the movie industry's growth. Lastly I will examine the after effects of why the movie industry relocated to Southern California. Other topics will include how unions and studio workers fitted in to the scheme of things and their impact on the movie industry as well. I hope to find people to visit with that can remember "how it was" and relate to me their impressions of a very unique time in California's growth during the early twentieth century and beyond.

Please feel free to post any comments or suggestions of where I might look for additional resources and information relating to this fascinating subject of creating California's dreams through the eye of a camera. Lights! Camera! Action!