User:MinorProphet/New York Film Co.

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Not to be confused with New York Motion Picture Company.

which made 101 Bison and Broncho films in Edendale, CA, and merged with Universal from June 1912.

The New York Film Company was the USA distributor for foreign films, particularly those made by the German production company Continental-Kunstfilm of Berlin.

History[edit]

The New York Film Renovating Company, with offices at 12 Union Square, E., NYC, were film importers and dealers. The directors were Abraham J. Danziger, Abraham G. Levi and Isaac Picker. They changed its name on 1 January 1912 to the New York Film Company. [1]

In early July 1912 the NY Film Co. advertised in the cinema trade press that they were sole agents for Continental-Kunstfilm and would be distributing Continental's two-, three-, and four-reel films. According to the advertisement, the films would be manufactured with American labour from the imported original negatives.[2]

The first four films were originally advertised as:

  • The Yellow Peril, 3000 feet.
  • At Night Through Icebergs, 3000' (In Nacht und Eis), released as Shipwrecked in Icebergs
  • The Jealous Impersonator, 2000'
  • The Miracle, 3500'

The Miracle and Shipwrecked in Icebergs were copyrighted by Danziger on 24 October and 29 October 1912 respectively.

On 26 July 1912 Isaac Picker left the business and Henry G. Schultz joined Danziger and Levi. The company's offices (and also those of the New York Film Renovating Company) were at 145 West Forty-fifth Street, New York.[3]

The "Battle of the Miracles"[edit]

The Continental-Kunstfilm production released by NYFC as The Miracle was a deliberate copy of The Miracle (1912 film) by Joseph Menchen,

  • Press screening: CKF version 1st showing in USA, 18 October 1912[4]

Reviewed by Stephen W. Bush MPW 2 November 1912 Vol 14 no. 5

  • CKF copyrighted the film on 24 October 1912.

THE MIRACLE. A LEGEND OF MEDIEVAL TIMES. 1912.
A. J. Danziger (Continental Kunstfilm Co., author);
title, descr. & 17 prints, 24Oct12; LU103.
[5]

NY Film Co. advert, 10_Facts, 16 November 1912 [6]

On 15 January 1913, internal dissensions within the New York Film Company led to Harry Schultz dissolving his partnership with the other two directors and continuing the business alone.[7] [8] However, by 1 February 1913 the situation had been reversed; after differences between the directors had been resolved, Schultz quit the business and Danziger and Levi took control of the New York Film Company.[9]

In the end it led to a law suit in April 1913 by the Miracle Film Co. and Albert H. Woods against the New York Film Co. for copyright infringement. [10]

  • Springfield Mass - unauthorised picture of The Miracle

Restraining injunction served against defendants: "The courts of Massachusetts and New York have both upheld the genuine Prof. Max Bernhardt [sic] pictures, as having the sole right to the use of the name "Miracle" in connection with the moving pictures." MPW Vol 16 No. 5 3 May 1913, p. 502

Although the judge found for the plaintiffs and ordered the New York Film Co. to change their film's title (which they did), Al Woods failed to pay a bond of $20,000 by May 1913 and the judgement lapsed.

Main article: The Miracle (1912 film) § Litigation

NY Film Co billed The Miracle as "'Sister Beatrice', previously advertised as 'The Miracle" [11]

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD Vol 16 Apr-June 1913b, p. 213
THE MIRACLE OF SISTER BEATRICE

"Now Booking: The Miracle OR Sister Beatrice FOR New York State. Wire, Phone or Call for Terms. Theatre Film Co.12 Union Square, New York." [12]

Judge Lehman vacated the injunction on 6 May.

N. Y. FILM Co. WINS POINT IN "MIRACLE" CONTROVERSY.
We are in receipt of a communication from the New York Film Company, stating that Judge Lehman May 6 vacated the injunction obtained by A. H. Woods and The Miracle Company some time ago. The New York Film Company is now free to use the original title "The Miracle." The attorney for the defendants was Isaac J. Danziger. (Who he?) [13]

Later activity[edit]

The New York Film Company produced a couple of locally-made films:

  • The Lure of New York (possibly directed by George K. Rolands and written by Abraham J. Danziger). Copyright 30 Oct 19l3; LU1497. Released November 1913.[14][15]
  • Only a boy, 1914. Abraham J. Danziger; title, descr. & 24 prints, 28 March 19l4; LU2404.[16]
  • Truth About Sex, 1928.

References[edit]

Notes
Citations
  1. ^ The Billboard, 9 December 1911, p. 95
  2. ^ (MPW 1912c, p. 89) (Vol 13 No. 1, 6 July 1912)
  3. ^ New York Tribune, 1 August 1912, p. 13 col. 7 This was also the address of Vita Film Sales Co, so it was possibly an office suite.
  4. ^ Full review of Misu version, expand this. FIND LITIGATION REF
  5. ^ Library of Congress. Copyright Office. Motion pictures, 1912-1939. (page 162) http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/library-of-congress-copyright-office/motion-pictures-1912-1939-hci/page-162-motion-pictures-1912-1939-hci.shtml
  6. ^ [http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2015/Billboard/Billboard%201913/Billboard%201913%20-%200424.pdf The Billboard, 16 November 1912] p. 55
  7. ^ (MPW 1913a, p. 302) Volume 15 no. 3,18 Jan 1913
  8. ^ New York Dramatic Mirror, 15 January 1913
  9. ^ (MPW 1913a, p. 520) Volume 15 No. 5, 1 February 1913
  10. ^ "A bill in equity has been filed In court, and an order of notice, which acts as a temporary injunction until a hearing Is given, was Issued by the court." MPW Vol 16 No. 1, 5 April 1913, p. 68 col. 2
  11. ^ MWP Vol. 15, No. 12 22 Mar 1913, p. 1281
  12. ^ MPW as above p. 215.
  13. ^ New York Clipper, 7 May 1913, p. 16
  14. ^ Variety, 24 October 1913, p. 16 col. 4 "The New York Film Co. is out after some of the money stirred loose by the Shuberts' production of "The Lure." The N. Y. F. Co.'s bait is a filmed play entitled, The Lure of New York
  15. ^ The Lure of New York at imdb
  16. ^ Library of Congress thang
Sources
  • "The Moving Picture World, July to September 1912". XIII. New York: Chalmers Publishing. 1912c. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • "The Moving Picture World, January to March 1913". XV. New York: Chalmers Publishing. 1913a. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)


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