Volume I: Narrative History

Chapter 2 (1909 Into the Film Industry): Equipping the Film Factory

The Thanhouser Company was producing films by November 1909, using improvised facilities in the skating rink Edwin Thanhouser had leased a few months earlier, and by taking pictures in various outside locations around New Rochelle. By the last week of December, renovations to the wooden rink building were nearly complete. Portions of the roof had been removed and glass skylights were installed. The interior was divided into two stages, several offices, a film laboratory and other facilities. Edwin Thanhouser was close to the fulfillment of his dream to have a complete motion picture factory under one roof, in an era in which certain other producers lacked their own stages, and many had no film developing or printing facilities. Edwin Thanhouser wasn't a person to do things halfway!

During the week of December 22, a telephone was added and given local number 1332. At the same time, a similar device was installed in Edwin Thanhouser's rented home in nearby Rochelle Heights and was assigned number 1409. Note Item by item, film developing and printing machines, a projector for viewing each day's work, desks, lamps with their cranes and stands, and other accessories were moved in. By early January 1910, all essential equipment was in place.