Amalgamated Pictures
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film production, film exchange, theatre ownership |
| Founded | March 4, 1911 |
| Founder | John Tait, Nevin Tait, Millard Johnson, William Gibson |
| Defunct | 1912 |
| Fate | Merged into General Film Company of Australasia; later part of Union Theatres and Australasian Films |
| Headquarters | St Kilda, Melbourne , Australia |
Key people | W. J. Lincoln (writer-director), Orrie Perry (cinematographer) |
Number of employees | 80–90 |
Amalgamated Pictures Ltd functioned as an Australian film exchange and operated briefly as a film production enterprise. Although none of its motion pictures have survived, the company was recognized for delivering high-quality feature films during the 1911–12 surge in Australian cinema, ranking just behind Spencer's Pictures in terms of ambition and scale.
History of the production company
Founded on 4 March 1911, the Amalgamated Picture Company Ltd was created by brothers John and Nevin Tait, together with Millard Johnson and William Gibson, backed by capital amounting to £100,000. This group had previously worked jointly on significant Australian productions such as The Story of the Kelly Gang and Robbery Under Arms.
At its inception, the company set out to provide "the finest and best class of picture entertainment" available in Australia, emphasizing superior productions that included original Australian dramas alongside premier international stories. Creative direction was led by writer-director W. J. Lincoln and cinematographer Orrie Perry. Additionally, the company owned a number of theatres, facilitating both distribution and exhibition channels.
Filming was mainly conducted at their studio located on Fitzroy Street in St Kilda, Victoria, with on-location shoots taking place in Melbourne suburbs such as Healesville and Sandringham. During its most active period, Amalgamated employed between 80 and 90 personnel. The majority of their features were adaptations derived from novels, songs, narratives, or theatrical works, with acting talent recruited primarily from the stage.
In 1912, Amalgamated combined forces with West's Pictures and Spencer's Pictures to establish the General Film Company of Australasia. Later that same year, this organization merged with Greater J. D. Williams Amusement Co., forming the influential Union Theatres and Australasian Films "combine." Following these mergers, Amalgamated Pictures discontinued film production but remained a corporate entity within the larger group.
Filmography
- After Sundown (1911)
- The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (1911)
- The Luck of Roaring Camp (1911)
- Called Back (1911)
- The Lost Chord (1911)
- The Bells (1911)
- The Double Event (1911)
- Breaking the News (1912)
- Rip Van Winkle (1912)
- His Only Chance (1918)