Vitagraph: The Big V on Avenue M
November 9–13, 2006

Although the Vitagraph Company of America was founded in the 1890s, it wasn’t until the company opened its massive studio in Brooklyn in 1906 that the Big V became one of the major producers of its era. Exactly one hundred years later the site still stands, housing both an orthodox Jewish girls’ school and a television production facility. The Biograph studio in Manhattan and the New Jersey facilities of Vitagraph’s other competitors are long gone, but a smokestack with the vertical letters “Vitagraph” still hovers over Flatbush, marking an important site in movie history. To commemorate the centennial, this series offers Vitagraph films from the Museum’s collection. The selection begins with pictures from the studio’s earliest days on Avenue M in Brooklyn and ends just short of the purchase of the company by Warner Bros. in 1925. All films from the USA and directors unknown, unless otherwise noted.

Organized by Charles Silver, Associate Curator, Department of Film. Thanks to Kevin Lewis, Mark Wannamaker, Thelma Schoonmaker, and the Motion Picture Editors Guild.

Early Films: 1906–14
A fragmentary survey, culminating in two films with behind-the-scenes looks at the studio and its environs.
Automobile Thieves/The Bold Bank Robbery. 1906. J. Stuart Blackton. Incomplete.
A Mid-Winter Night’s Dream/Little Joe’s Luck. 1906.
Francesca di Rimini/The Two Brothers. 1907. J. Stuart Blackton.
Liquid Electricity. 1907.
The Mill Girl. 1907.
Little Nemo. 1911. Winsor McCay, J. Stuart Blackton. With McCay, John Bunny.
A Vitagraph Romance. 1912. James Young. With Clara Kimball Young.
Goodness Gracious/Movies as They Shouldn’t Be. 1914. With Clara Kimball Young, Sidney Drew. Program approx. 72 min. Silent, with piano accompaniment by Stuart Oderman.
Thursday, November 9, 6:15 (introduced by film historian Kevin Lewis); Saturday, November 11, 4:00. T2

The Life of Moses. 1909. USA. Directed by Charles Kent. Pro-duced by J. Stuart Blackton. With C. P. Hartigan. Although originally released in five parts, its overall length makes this arguably the first narrative feature film. Print recently restored by MoMA. Silent, with piano accompaniment by Stuart Oderman and Philip Carli. 72 min.
Thursday, November 9, 8:15 (Oderman); Sunday, November 12, 2:00 (Carli). T2

John Bunny Program
Brooklyn’s own John Bunny, who died at the height of his fame in 1915, was the industry’s first star comedian.
Jack Fat and Slim Jim at Coney Island. 1910. With Kate Price. Incomplete.
In Neighboring Kingdoms. 1910. William Humphrey. With Norma Talmadge.
Kitty and the Cowboys. 1911.
Stenographer Wanted. 1912. With Flora Finch (Bunny’s favorite costar), Kate Price.
Which Way Did He Go? 1913. George Baker. With Finch.
Hearts and Diamonds. 1914. George Baker. With Finch.
Bunny Backslides. 1914. George Baker. With Finch.
Program approx. 68 min. Silent, with piano accompaniment by Ben Model and Philip Carli.
Friday, November 10, 8:30 (Model); Sunday, November 12, 4:00 (Carli). T2

Later Comedies (1917–22) with Sidney Drew and Larry Semon
Drew rejected slapstick, while Semon was briefly a rival in popularity to Chaplin, Keaton, and Lloyd.
Professional Patient. 1917. Sidney Drew. With Drew, Lucille McVey (Mrs. Drew).
Bathing Beauties and Big Boobs. 1918. Larry Semon. With Semon.
The Star Boarder. 1919. Larry Semon. With Semon, Lucille Carlisle (Mrs. Semon), Norma Shearer.
The Sawmill. 1921. Norman Taurog. With Semon.
The Counter Jumper. 1922. Larry Semon. With Semon.
Program approx. 83 min. Silent, with piano accompaniment by Stuart Oderman and Ben Model.
Saturday, November 11, 6:00 (Oderman); Monday, November 13, 8:30 (Model). T2

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