Jesse Jerome Robbins was born April 30, 1886, in Dayton Ohio, and began his career with the Essanay company out of Chicago in 1908 as one of the company's cameraman. He was with the company until early 1914 when he opened this little south L.A. studio. He produced 14 films for release through Pathe, then closed the studio.

Robbins returned to Essanay and was the producer and occasional director of Charles Chaplins' famous Essanay short subjects beginning in 1915.  This is the period that was credited for making Chaplin a household name.  Legend also credits him  (correctly or not) along with Essanay owner Gilbert M.Anderson, with creating Anderson's seminal character "Broncho Billy."

Jess Robbins stayed with the company until Essanay shut its doors in 1920.

He also directed the very first teaming of the famous comedy duo, Laurel and Hardy in 1921 (before they were later famously teamed by Hal Roach).  He was also teamed with Ben Turpin directing many of his Vogue and Jolly comedies at the National Film Company Studios.

Robbins housed his production company at the Fine Arts Studio from 1921-1923 and, along with longtime friend "Broncho Billy" Anderson, also was a founder of Amalgamated Studio, the successor of the famous Nestor/Christie studio, Hollywood's first. They owned it for a short period between 1922 and 1923.  Robbins returned to independent producing and directing, but when talkies came along, Jess Robbins retired the movie business and started a taxi cab business.

Jess Robbins died   March 11, 1973, at his Los Angeles home.  He had a good long run in the movie business,