Astra Film Corp
| Industry | Silent films |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1916 in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States |
| Founder | |
| Defunct | March 1920 |
| Fate | The company became Louis J. Gasnier Productions from 1920-1940, then Monogram Pictures acquired the studio in 1941. |
| Successor |
|
| Headquarters |
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Astra Film Corp was an American film production company that produced silent films.[1] Louis J. Gasnier was the company's president. George B. Seitz co-founded it. It was making films by 1916. It became Louis J. Gasnier Productions after Seitz left.[2]
The studio operated in Jersey City, New Jersey before expanding to Fort Lee, New Jersey.[3]
The Fort Lee studio site at 1 Congress Street was acquired from Pathé in 1916.[4] The company distributed its films with Pathé. Rolin Studio in Los Angeles also worked with Pathé.[5]
The company's Hands Up serial included a storyline featuring the Inca.[6]
The studio produced Pathé's photoplay films including Stranded in Arcady. It was an adaptation of a story by Francis Lynde and starred Irene Castle. It was directed by Frank Hall Crane.[5]
The company also produced The Fatal Ring and The Seven Pearls serials.[5]
Arthur Miller worked for the company since at least 1916 working under director George Fitzmaurice and singing a contract with him personally.[7] Grace Darmond left Selig to work for the company.[when?]
Filmography
[edit]- At Bay (1915)
- Via Wireless (1915)[4]
- Pearl of the Army (1916), a serial
- The Shielding Shadow (1916),
- The Romantic Journey (1916)
- The Black Orchid (1916), starring Grace Darmond
- Arms and the Woman (1916)
- May Blossom (1917)[8]
- The Seven Pearls (1917), a serial
- The Fatal Ring (1917), a 19-chapter serial
- The Hidden Hand (1917), a serial
- Kick In (1917)
- The Cigarette Girl (1917)
- The Mystery of the Double Cross (1917)
- Caleb Piper's Girl (1917), starring Helene Chadwick[9]
- The Hunting of the Hawk (1917)
- Vengeance Is Mine (1917)
- Stranded in Arcady (1917)[10]
- Hands Up (1918), a serial
- The Yellow Ticket (1918)
- The House of Hate (1918)
- The Honest Thief (1918)
- The Mystery of the Doublecross (1918)
- The Naulahka (1918)
- The Hillcrest Mystery (1918)
- The House of Hate (1918), a serial
- A Japanese Nightingale (1918)
- The Adventures of Ruth (1919)
- The Cry of the Weak (1919)
- Out Better Selves (1919)
- The Tiger's Trail (1919), a serial
- The Lightning Raider (1919)
- The Pleasant Devil (1919)
- Daredevil Jack (1920)
- The Phantom Foe (1920)
- Pirate Gold (1920), a serial
- The Third Eye (1920), a serial
- Trailed by Three (1920)
References
[edit]- ^ "The Moving Picture World". World Photographic Publishing Company. November 7, 1916 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Silent Wierdness". silentwierdness.blogspot.com.
- ^ Koszarski, Richard (March 2, 2005). Fort Lee: The Film Town (1904-2004). Indiana University Press. ISBN 9780861969425 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Pathé Fort Lee – The Movie Studios". themoviestudios.com.
- ^ a b c "Motography". August 17, 1917.
- ^ "Motography". November 7, 1918 – via Google Books.
- ^ Koszarski, Richard (2005). Fort Lee : The Film Town. Indiana University Press. pp. 150–151. ISBN 978-0-86196-942-5.
- ^ "Catalogue of Copyright Entries: Pamphlets, leaflets, contributions to newspapers or periodicals, etc.; lectures, sermons, addresses for oral delivery; dramatic compositions; maps; motion pictures". U.S. Government Printing Office. November 7, 1917 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Caleb Piper's Girl". cplorg.contentdm.oclc.org.
- ^ "Irene Castle and Frank Hall Crane on a film set. | Photograph". Wisconsin Historical Society. December 1, 2003.