Active 1907-1917

In the beginning, Kalem Motion Picture Company had a New York office, but no studio as a base.  That left them free to go where ever they needed to make their movies.  No place was too far.  From close by Fort Lee to Jacksonville, Florida to Jerusalem, Ireland, and Egypt.  Kalem took their actors all across the globe.

Founded in 1907, Kalem's lifespan was relatively short, especially for a company of Kalem's size and success.  By 1917 it ceased production and in 1919 Vitagraph of America bought its assets.  But during its life, Kalem established more studio and shooting locations than any of the other early companies.  Like so many of its contemporaries, it flamed out early.

Of all the early companies, it was the only one not to have its beginnings in New York or Chicago.  Kalem got its name from the initials of its three founders, George Kleine, Samuel Long, and Frank Marion, then stuck a couple of vowels in between (this was a common technique in the early days). 

Long and Marion were former American Biograph employees who decided to strike out on their own.  They brought knowledge of the business side of movie making to the partnership.  George Kleine brought the money.  The company hired Sydnety Olcott as company President and it was under Olcott's leadership that Kalem has its greatest success.  He led them all over the world and then to Florida, California, and New Jersey. 

Kalem was a most enigmatic company.  They preferred to have no studio.  Two years in they finally decided a studio would benefit them, so they open a series of small underfunded studios, and didn't keep any of them for very long.  During their 11 years of existence the went through nine studios.  Kalem was a cheap company and took profits out rather than invest them back into the company, the studios, and the product.  When it looked like profits were diminishing, they didn't  wait around or try harder, they liquidated and took the money.  They were never interested in the movie business except as a way to make fast money.  Their lack of interest showed in their product.  They never looked for quality, but for the fast buck.

The company achieved profitability quickly and Long and Marion bought out Kleine early on (at a handsome profit) and the two remaining partners achieve great success.

Kalem became known for churning out low quality but highly profitable one reelers shot on location with practically no budget beyond salaries and film stock.