Essanay Film Manufacturing Co.

Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, an early motion picture production company, was founded in Chicago (Ill.) by George K. Spoor and Bronco Billy Anderson in 1907.

From the description of Essanay Film Manufacturing Company records, 1911-1942. (Chicago History Museum). WorldCat record id: 713915714

The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, a major silent motion picture film company based in Chicago, operated from 1907-1918. It was founded by producer George K. Spoor and actor Gilbert M. Anderson as the Peerless Film Manufacturing Company, but they changed the name shortly afterward to Essanay (phonetically representing the initials of their surnames). The company made more than 5000 silent films and featured actor Charlie Chaplin from 1914-1916 and actress Beverly Bayne. The company closed in 1918 after the defection of Chaplin to another studio, better filming conditions in Hollywood, California, and a U.S. Supreme Court anti-trust ruling against the Motion Picture Patents Company, which was founded in 1908 to protect the interests of Essanay and 8 other studios in the motionpicture industry. conditions in Hollywood, California, and a U.S. Supreme Court anti-trust ruling against the Motion Picture Patents Company, which was founded in 1908 to protect the interests of Essanay and 8 other studios in the motionpicture industry.

From the description of Motion Pictures, ca, 1909-1917. (University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center). WorldCat record id: 46837493