The First Movie Studio in Texas

Know about the book -

The First Movie Studio in Texas is written by Kathryn Fuller-Seeley and published by University of Texas Press. It's available with International Standard Book Number or ISBN identification 1477333126 (ISBN 10) and 9781477333129 (ISBN 13).

"Fuller-Seeley and Thompson document the history of the Méliès Star Ranch and their production of over 70 Western comedies and melodramas, examining the importance the brief life of this company had on the filmmaking industry and celebrity culture in the early days of the medium. The authors explore the cultural history of San Antonio in the early 20th century and why Méliès decided to set up base there. They follow the production, exhibition, and reception of the films, analyzing the few that have survived today and how racial issues of the day involving Mexicans and Native Americans were treated. In addition, they document the eccentric cast of characters involved, from Gaston himself and his strained relationship with his better-known brother to Francis Ford, who innovated a number of common filmmaking techniques and eventually trained his younger brother, director John Ford. Among the cast and crew were also "tomboy" Edith Storey and Anna Nichols, who ran away from her husband to join show business. Their stories allow the authors to examine the growing role of women in the industry, both in front of and behind the camera. Finally, they examine the company's last production, the first cinematic depiction of the fall of the Alamo, and how this ambitious project brought about the ranch's fall as well. The histories of these small production companies are becoming increasingly important in the history of film, as their experiments and successes and failures trained filmmakers, who brought their experiences back to New York or eventually Hollywood to impact the growing industry. Early stars such as Edith Storey and Francis Ford also helped fuel the celebrity culture that sprang up around actors and helped propel the burgeoning medium to increasing popularity"-- Provided by publisher.