Earl Owensby Studios
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film and television production |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Founder | Ernest Earl Owensby |
| Headquarters | Shelby, North Carolina , United States |
| Products | Low-budget action movies |
| Website | earlowensbystudios |
Earl Owensby Studios (E.O. Studios) is a film and television production company based in the United States, established in 1974 by producer and actor Ernest Earl Owensby. The company focused on producing low-budget action movies, which were mainly distributed through outdoor drive-in theaters and grindhouse cinemas. Although these films did not achieve widespread mainstream success, they attracted international viewers drawn to Owensby’s unique filmmaking approach.
Noteworthy productions
The studio’s journey began in 1973 with the release of Frank Challenge: Manhunter, an action revenge movie featuring Owensby as a Senate candidate seeking retribution for his family’s murder. This film was distributed across more than 130 markets in 1974, and its financial success led to the creation of E.O. Studios, situated on a 200-acre site in Shelby, North Carolina.
The follow-up, The Brass Ring (1975), later renamed Manhunter for television broadcasts, continued the Frank Challenge narrative. From 1976 through 1979, Owensby starred in yearly film releases such as Dark Sunday, Death Driver, Buckstone County Prison, and Wolfman- A Lycanthrope. Of particular note, Dark Sunday initially received an X rating from the MPAA but was later reclassified to an R rating following an appeal.
In 1980, two music-themed movies were produced by E.O. Studios featuring Ginger Alden, known as the former fiancée of a friend of Elvis Presley: Lady Grey, which starred country musician David Allan Coe, and Living Legend: The King of Rock and Roll, with Owensby portraying a character reminiscent of Elvis. During this period, Roy Orbison contributed to the soundtrack while living in North Carolina.
Owensby credited the studio’s ongoing success to keeping production budgets below one million dollars per film and securing distribution agreements that guaranteed returns of at least eight million dollars. This business model ensured profitability throughout the 1980s with titles including A Day of Judgment (1981), Rottweiler: Dogs of Hell (1982), Hit the Road Running (1983), Chain Gang (1984), Hyperspace (1985), and Order of the Black Eagle (1987). Distribution efforts were largely concentrated on drive-in theaters across the Southeastern United States, which limited wider audience reach but provided consistent revenue.
Collaboration with James Cameron
In 1988, E.O. Studios acquired the incomplete Cherokee Nuclear Power Plant near Gaffney, South Carolina, intending to transform it into a filming facility. This location was utilized in partnership with director James Cameron, who filmed his science fiction blockbuster The Abyss (1989) inside one of the plant’s water-filled reactors, creating what was then the largest underwater sound stage globally.
Notable performers
Although E.O. Studios typically employed lesser-known actors, several recognized performers appeared in their projects. The 1984 film Hyperspace, co-produced alongside Regency Productions, featured comedians Paula Poundstone and Chris Elliott. The 1977 action movie Hooch starred Gil Gerard, famous for his role in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, as well as Danny Aiello. Additionally, the Oscar-nominated film Reuben, Reuben (1984), starring Tom Conti and Kelly McGillis, was shot on E.O.’s studio grounds, as was the 1987 film Florida Straits, featuring Raul Julia and Fred Ward. Director Worth Keeter, who directed eight films for E.O., later became a frequent director for the Power Rangers series.