Post by Terry Harbin on Oct 30, 2010 23:53:19 GMT -5
WHARTON INCORPORATED
The Well-known Producing Brothers,
Theodore and Leopold Wharton.
To Establish a Studio at Ithaca, N.Y.
By Hugh Hoffman
Moving Picture World
April 1914
It was Theodore W. Wharton who
discovered Ithaca, New York, and
put it on the map as a motion
picture city. He could have gone to
Florida, or California, but he believes
that in Ithaca he has found a location
superior to either.
This is, of course, very flattering to
the little city at the lower end of
Cayuga Lake, all of which is duly
appreciated by the inhabitants
thereof. For many years Ithaca has
been noteworthy as the home of
Cornell University, which institution
has always been a source of pride
to every Ithacan.
But now the pride of Ithaca is to
be divided for its scenic charms
are about to vie with the fame of
Cornell in the eyes of the world.
Ithaca is agog over the fact that
the motion picture studios of
Wharton Inc. are to be located
there as a permanent institution,
which will rival Cornell in spreading
afar the name of the fair city.
Wharton Incorporated is to be a
close corporation consisting
principally of the brothers Wharton.
Theodore and Leopold, both men
of long and rare experience in the
theatrical business and in motion
pictures.
But it is quite probable that there
would never have been any such
thing as Wharton, Inc. had not
Theodore accidentally discovered
Ithaca and thereby discovered himself.
It was in the fall of 1912 that he
went there for the Essanay Company
of Chicago, to produce an incidental
football picture.
What he saw while there convinced
him that Ithaca was to be his home
for years to come, and that as a
moving picture producer he would
never care to be anywhere else.
He induced Essanay to send a company,
under his direction, to Ithaca in the
summer of 1913, and the results
were remarkably good.
Seeing no prospects of returning there
for Essanay in 1914, he severed his
connection with that concern and laid
his plans for Wharton Inc.
The Whartons were received with
open arms by the business men of
Ithaca and were practically given
the keys to the city. The whole town
is behind the project in spirit and
much assistance has been given by
the Business Men’s Association, the
Industrial Commission, the Cornell
University administration and faulty,
as well as by influential individual citizens.
The actual production will begin May 1st,
using the great glass ball cage of Cornell
University as a temporary studio. Ground
for a permanent studio and factory will be
broken July 1st.
The company starts on a strong financial
basis and will produce feature pictures of
five and six reels. The actual work will be
done by the Wharton Brothers, and the
product will be marketed by Pathe Freres.
The Well-known Producing Brothers,
Theodore and Leopold Wharton.
To Establish a Studio at Ithaca, N.Y.
By Hugh Hoffman
Moving Picture World
April 1914
It was Theodore W. Wharton who
discovered Ithaca, New York, and
put it on the map as a motion
picture city. He could have gone to
Florida, or California, but he believes
that in Ithaca he has found a location
superior to either.
This is, of course, very flattering to
the little city at the lower end of
Cayuga Lake, all of which is duly
appreciated by the inhabitants
thereof. For many years Ithaca has
been noteworthy as the home of
Cornell University, which institution
has always been a source of pride
to every Ithacan.
But now the pride of Ithaca is to
be divided for its scenic charms
are about to vie with the fame of
Cornell in the eyes of the world.
Ithaca is agog over the fact that
the motion picture studios of
Wharton Inc. are to be located
there as a permanent institution,
which will rival Cornell in spreading
afar the name of the fair city.
Wharton Incorporated is to be a
close corporation consisting
principally of the brothers Wharton.
Theodore and Leopold, both men
of long and rare experience in the
theatrical business and in motion
pictures.
But it is quite probable that there
would never have been any such
thing as Wharton, Inc. had not
Theodore accidentally discovered
Ithaca and thereby discovered himself.
It was in the fall of 1912 that he
went there for the Essanay Company
of Chicago, to produce an incidental
football picture.
What he saw while there convinced
him that Ithaca was to be his home
for years to come, and that as a
moving picture producer he would
never care to be anywhere else.
He induced Essanay to send a company,
under his direction, to Ithaca in the
summer of 1913, and the results
were remarkably good.
Seeing no prospects of returning there
for Essanay in 1914, he severed his
connection with that concern and laid
his plans for Wharton Inc.
The Whartons were received with
open arms by the business men of
Ithaca and were practically given
the keys to the city. The whole town
is behind the project in spirit and
much assistance has been given by
the Business Men’s Association, the
Industrial Commission, the Cornell
University administration and faulty,
as well as by influential individual citizens.
The actual production will begin May 1st,
using the great glass ball cage of Cornell
University as a temporary studio. Ground
for a permanent studio and factory will be
broken July 1st.
The company starts on a strong financial
basis and will produce feature pictures of
five and six reels. The actual work will be
done by the Wharton Brothers, and the
product will be marketed by Pathe Freres.