Betsy J. Green

A French Movie Company in Santa Barbara

Dateline: April 1911

In 1911, the Méliès Manufacturing Company considered settling here to make Westerns. "The cow punchers of the company attracted considerable attention on State Street yesterday, and although they refrained from indulging in the stunts that they are called upon to do before the camera during working hours, they managed to have a thoroughly good time without the assistance of shoeing irons and bucking broncos. They were dressed for the part, however, and made an imposing show." – Santa Barbara Morning Press, April 26, 1911

The group hung around here for a couple of months and did some filming, but they soon moved on and settled in Santa Paula. The film A Spanish Love Song was filmed here, however.

The End of Silent Movie Days in Santa Barbara

Dateline: April 1943

The "Flying A" ceased operating in Santa Barbara in 1921. A few Hollywood studios came here to film on the studio's property in the 1920s, but the end finally came in 1943 when the remaining studio property was demolished except for the studio building at the corner of Mission and Chapala streets, and a portion of the administration building that still stand. – Santa Barbara News-Press, April 4, 1943

Longtime Santa Barbara resident Mary Grimm told me that "During the war years in the 40s, the studios had been torn down and just the cement floors remained. The neighborhood kids used to go over there with our roller skates and brooms, sweep the trash aside, and have a grand time roller skating."

A Pig Named "Mary"

Dateline: April 1917
"Flying A" ingenue star Mary Miles Minter liked to visit the pigs at a local farm owned by Farmer Jones. "'I can't say that Mr. Jones' baby pigs are mine . . . but I go out to see them every Sunday afternoon, so they sort of belong to me . . . This little pig's name is 'Mary' – named after me . . . Mrs. Jones said I might have it killed and have it for dinner after it had played with me, but I just couldn't bear to have it done." – Photo-Play Journal, April 1917

No Honor Among Thieves!

Dateline: April 1924

Al Capone was not in Santa Barbara, but this was starting to seem like a film noir movie in our fair city. It was clear that bootleggers were not playing nice with each other during the Prohibition Era. "A war between rival bands of liquor dealers is expected to break out within a few days between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles factions, which may develop into a serious clash . . . A truckload of liquor was stolen from several rum smugglers north of Santa Barbara several days ago.

"Monday, two young men, alleged to be rum dealers, appeared in Santa Barbara to locate the men who were responsible for the theft. One of these men is alleged to have left a card at the home of the suspected man warning him to 'pack a gun today and to stay away from the ''plant" if you value your life.' " – Santa Barbara Morning Press, April 3, 1924

Santa Barbara High School Taking Shape

Dateline: March 1924

Construction of the Santa Barbara High School at its new location at 700 East Anapamu Street was nearing completion, and school officials were hoping that the new auditorium would be ready for June graduation ceremonies.

(Spoiler alert - the new school would open for classes in September 1924.)

A Complimentary Contribution!

Dateline – March 1920

The Pandora Productions studio of Los Angeles was making the silent film Crucifix of Destiny near the Santa Barbara Mission in 1920. An actor, dressed as a monk, "was given a handful of coppers by an old woman, who mistook him for the bona fide article." – Camera, March 20, 1920

A portion of this film is available for viewing online. Early scenes in the movie were filmed at the Mission and St. Anthony's Seminary, so it's a way to take a peek at that area 100+ years ago. (The final portion of the movie appears to be missing.) Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tat4vwglsw

 A Peak Performance

Dateline – March 1915

There used to be a large, picturesque rock on Santa Barbara's West Beach called Castle Rock. It was popular with tourists and starred in some "Flying A" silent movies as well.

"A certain scene taken near the Castle Rock bluff called for a fall down. A dummy might have been used, but rather than that, the director decided to make the fall himself, and in the picture, he will be shown going down and clutching at brush and rocks, all of which gave way. The final landing was made in a net, but that does not show in the picture. All who saw it, declare that it was some stunt." – Santa Barbara Morning Press, March 4, 1915

Mermaids Uncovered and Unashamed

Dateline – March 1916

California's Channel Islands – Santa Catalina Island and Santa Cruz Island were popular locations for silent movie filming.

"The shores of Catalina Island furnished the settings of sandy beaches, rugged and jagged rocks." – News Pilot (San Pedro, California), March 13, 1916

Mermaid movies were popular in the early silent movie years when ladies rarely showed their ankles on the streets, so movies about mermaids wearing just a few wisps of seaweed were considered hot stuff. Scenes for the mermaid movie Undine were filmed on Santa Cruz Island (seen here) and Santa Catalina Island.

Mae Murray, or Mae Rooned?

Dateline – March 1916

A silent movie crew filming To Have and to Hold off the shore of California's Santa Catalina Island lost the movie's leading actress for a while. "Mae Murray was left all night on a rock during a storm at Catalina . . . Now they call her 'Mae Rooned.'" – Motography, March 4, 1916

Here's how it happened:

"In two vessels, they went to Church Rock. Early in the afternoon, the sky began to look like rain, and Director George Melford decided upon a return to Avalon. Those in each vessel thought Miss Murray was in the other, and it was not until 8:00 that night, sometime after their arrival at Avalon, that they learned definitely that she had not left the rock with either party.

"Melford and Wallace Reid headed a rescue party in a launch . . . it was raining heavily, and they found Miss Murray vainly trying to obtain some shelter from the storm as she crouched by the side of the rock. She was so cold and wet and exhausted that they found it necessary to lash her to the skiff." – Moving Picture World, February 12, 1916

Movie Making in Goleta, CA

Dateline: February 1915

There was little mention of Santa Barbara's "Flying A" studio filming in the Goleta area, but they did make a couple of silent movies there. "Twilight . . . and its long cast calls for the entire company and a number of extras. Thirty-four scenes were taken at the John Moore Ranch at Goleta." – Moving Picture World, February 6, 1915.

This silent film was released as In the Twilight.