Essanay Film
Manufacturing Company

One of the nation's largest film companies and Chicago's early movie-making leader

Chicago studios

Essany exterior thumb

Niles, CA studio

Essanay Niles 1913 1 thumb

East Hollywood studio

Essanay Hollywood thumb

East L.A. Studio

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Golden, CO studio

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Jacksonville, FL studio

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When George K. Spoor and Gilbert M. (Bronco Billy) Anderson met, they were both veterans of the movie business.  Spoor was a manufacturer of film projectors, the Kinodrome, and ran a film distribution business, National Movie Rental Co. Like other men offering side services, he realized he could make more money, and have a more consistent income if he produced his own movies.

Anderson was a successful actor and burgeoning director.

His office was located at 62 N. Clark, which became the partnership's first studio.

Essanay's Founders

George K. Spoor and Gilbert M. Anderson

Links to the Essanay Studios

 

See the Essanay Studios on the Map

ATTENTION: This page is a Work-in-Progress.  Check back to see the completed page.

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