| Industry | Film Production and Distribution |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1919; 107 years ago (1919) |
| Founder | Otis B. Thayer |
| Defunct | 1923 (1923) |
| Headquarters | , |
TheArt-O-Graf Film Company was an Americanfilm production anddistribution company founded by Otis B. Thayer that operated between 1919 and 1923 during thesilent era.[1] Four timeAcademy Awards nomineeVernon L. Walker started his career as the head cameraman for the company.[2] Cameraman, William E. Smith, previously worked forEssanay Studios inChicago. The company had offices in the Guardian Trust Building in Denver, Colorado, andSteamboat Springs,Colorado. The studio was atEnglewood,Colorado.[3][4] The company also filmed inGrand Junction, Colorado and surrounding areas. Many of the films produced by the company are now consideredlost, but a number still survive. Perhaps the company's best known film isWolves of the Street, also known asThe Wolves in Wall Street.[5]
Board of Directors: Alden Van Epps Wessels (owner of the Steamboat Springs Orphium Theatre), Clay Henry Monson, M. Jay Casey,Otis B. Thayer,Gretchen Wood, Lucius Alfred Dick (son of Ohio SenatorCharles William Frederick Dick), andDavid Townsend.
President and General Manager:Otis B. Thayer (1919), M. Jay Casey (1921)
Vice presidents:Gretchen Wood (1919),David Townsend (1921)
Managing Director:Otis B. Thayer
Assistant Manager/Director: Ned Jesse Pease
Scenario Editor:David Townsend (1923)
Head Cameraman:Vernon L. Walker
Cameramen: H. Haller Murphy, William E. Smith
Secretary/Treasurers: Alden VanEpps Wessels, L. Linderman (1919),David Townsend (1919)
Sales Manager:David Townsend (1920)
Rough Riders: A. E. McCormick, Babe Marshall Courvoisier, Charley S. Tipton (formerly withBuffalo Bill's Wild West), Dave Campbell (formerly with Erwin Bros. Wild West show), Fred Shaefer, Lewis Milner, Marion Milner, John Keogh, Ora Keogh, Albert Keogh, Frances Keogh, Lewis Hannan and Thomas Hannan.
In July, 1920 the company was sued for $3,000 in the Supreme Court for breach of contract by Frederick W. Eichorn, scenario writer, who had written a 15-episode serial script,Rado the Invisible, in whichAnna Luther was to star. The papers were served onDavid Townsend who was listed as director of the defendant.[6]
In September, 1921 M. Jay Casey was arrested in Durango, Colorado for passing a fraudulent check. He claimed he had been framed to oust him from the company.[7]
In July, 1923 Mrs. Gretchen Wood was arrested. Her driver had wrecked their car into another automobile causing injury to the three passengers, after which Mrs. Wood’s home was searched and 17 cases of liquor were found.