Balboa Amusement Producing Company

Balboa Amusement Producing Company

Company type	Private
Industry	Motion picture production
Founded	1913
Defunct	1918
Headquarters	Long Beach, California , United States
Products	Films

The Balboa Amusement Producing Company, also referred to as Balboa Studios or the Balboa Feature Film Company, was a motion picture production firm located in Long Beach, California. It operated between 1913 and 1918, during which it created more than 1,000 films, with roughly 90% now considered lost. This company held a prominent position in the silent film era and employed notable performers like Fatty Arbuckle and Buster Keaton. Furthermore, Charlie Chaplin visited Balboa Studios to study their production processes and studio management methods for application in his own company, United Artists.

History

The first film studio established in Long Beach was built in 1910 by the California Motion Picture Manufacturing Company, representing the earliest studio west of Chicago at a time when New York was the primary hub for film production. In April 1913, brothers H. M. Horkheimer and Elwood utilized their inheritance to purchase this facility located at 6th Street and Alamitos Avenue. They then founded the Balboa Amusement Producing Company, which became an influential entity during the early growth of the West Coast film industry.

Jack London

On April 28, 1913, Balboa secured an agreement with Jack London to adapt his novels into films. Soon thereafter, Variety reported that the Bosworth Company had also entered into a similar contract with London, releasing The Sea Wolf as its initial production. Both studios claimed exclusive adaptation rights to London's works, resulting in competing versions of The Sea Wolf. Hobart Bosworth anticipated completing production by October 1; however, London communicated via telegram that Balboa's contract had expired because they failed to produce four films by the agreed deadline, and their first film remained unfinished.

This dispute led to legal proceedings: a federal judge in Los Angeles refused to grant an injunction against Balboa’s three-reel adaptation. Meanwhile, H. M. Horkheimer contemplated pursuing damages from Bosworth. The case was reopened with involvement from the Authors' League of America, which was prepared to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court if necessary. Ultimately, London prevailed in the lawsuit, prompting Congress to revise copyright legislation to better protect authors.

Filmography

• The Sea Wolf (1913), withdrawn following London's legal victory
• St. Elmo (1914)
• Joy and the Dragon (1916)
• Little Mary Sunshine (1916)
• The Sultana (1916)
• The Stolen Play (1917)
• The Devil's Bait (1917)
• Alien Blood (1917)
• The Wildcat (1917)
• The Neglected Wife (1917)
• Vengeance of the Dead (1917)

See also

• Henry King (director)
• The Sea Wolf (1913 film), produced by Lubin Manufacturing Company