Exactly 111 years ago, on July 4, 1912, the film studio Keystone Pictures Studio (also known as the Keystone Film Company) was founded, based in the former Bison Studios facilities at 1712 Alessandro Street (now Glendale Boulevard) in Edendale (a district of Los Angeles, USA).
Keystone Pictures Studio was founded by director Mack Sennett, with the assistance of film producers Adam Kessel and Charles O. Baumann.
The studio became famous for producing fast-paced slapstick comedies—notable for features such as the "Keystone Cops" and early roles played by Charlie Chaplin.
The photos show the founders of the Keystone Film Company: Mack Sennett, Charles O. Baumann, and Adam Kessel.
Keystone Studios went down in history as the "cradle of comedy." It was at this studio that Chaplin made his screen debut and created and refined his famous "Tramp" persona.
In addition to Charlie Chaplin, other significant and distinguished artists took their first steps here, such as Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, Mabel Normand, Ford Sterling, Harry Langdon, Fred Mace, and Sydney Chaplin.
In subsequent years, Mack Sennett also facilitated the debuts and career growth of other aspiring artists, providing opportunities to talents such as Harold Lloyd, Chester Conklin, Ben Turpin, Marie Dressler, Louise Fazenda, Slim Summerville, Charley Chase, Alfred St. John, Gloria Swanson, Wallace Beery, and Carole Lombard.
From a historical perspective, the three years following the studio's founding were pivotal. It was during this period that many of the silent film era's most iconic and groundbreaking productions were created.
Charlie Chaplin made a total of 36 films at the Keystone studio; all of them were produced in 1914.
The company operated from 1912 to 1935.
The following collection of photos features some of the actors who began their careers at the aforementioned Keystone Pictures Studio, starting in 1912. I have listed only the most famous ones, though many others are also worthy of note -
- Charlie Chaplin, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, Mabel Normand, and Mack Sennett (pictured together), Chester Conklin, Ford Sterling, Gloria Swanson, Marie Dressler, Fred Mace, Harold Lloyd, Minta Durfee, Sydney Chaplin, Ben Turpin, Mack Swain, Alfred St. John, and Buster Keaton.
