Triangle Film Corporation

Triangle Film Corporation
Company type	Private
Industry	Film production and distribution
Founded	July 1, 1915; 111 years ago in Culver City, California, United States
Founder	Harry Aitken, Roy Aitken
Defunct	1922
Fate	Assets acquired by Adolph Zukor; film distribution sold to W.W. Hodkinson company; studios acquired by Goldwyn Pictures
Headquarters	Culver City, United States
Area served	United States
Key people	Harry Aitken, Roy Aitken, D. W. Griffith, Thomas Ince, Mack Sennett
Products	Films (silent era)

Triangle Film Corporation, also referred to as the Triangle Motion Picture Company, was a prominent American film studio established in July 1915 in Culver City, California and ceased operations in 1922.

History

The studio was created by the Aitken brothers, Harry and Roy Aitken, who were instrumental figures in the early development of Hollywood's studio framework. Triangle capitalized on the creative leadership of acclaimed filmmakers D. W. Griffith, Thomas Ince, and Mack Sennett. Prior to founding Triangle, Harry Aitken had collaborated with Griffith at Reliance-Majestic Studios but departed from Mutual Film Corporation following the commercial triumph of The Birth of a Nation that same year. The company’s objective was to position itself as a high-caliber production house.

Initially, Triangle intended to operate eight flagship theaters; however, only three venues—located in New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago—were opened between 1915 and 1916. All these theaters were shut down within twelve months due to financial underperformance.

By 1917, the company faced financial strain and overextension. Producer Adolph Zukor acquired its holdings, while Ince and Sennett divested their stakes in June of that year. Additionally, Triangle’s film distribution division was sold to the W.W. Hodkinson company for $600,000 during 1917. The following year, Goldwyn Pictures took ownership of the Triangle Studios located in Culver City.

Although Triangle continued producing films until 1919, it halted further production afterward. Nevertheless, movies under the Triangle banner continued to be distributed until 1923.

Selected filmography

Except for Oh, Mabel Behave (1922), Triangle’s film releases primarily occurred between 1915 and 1919. The majority of these productions took place on the West Coast, with some filmed in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

1915

1916

Fatty and Mabel Adrift
Peggy
He Did and He Didn't
His Hereafter
Bright Lights
Cinders of Love
Hell's Hinges
The Flying Torpedo
Hoodoo Ann
Mad Maid
The Raiders
His Wife's Mistakes
Bucking Society
His Bread and Butter
The Other Man
The Stepping Stone
Civilization
Rough Knight
A Dash of Courage
The Primal Lure
The Bugle Call
Going Straight
The Mystery of the Leaping Fish
The Dividend
His First False Step
An Innocent Magdalene
Flirting with Fate
Our American Boys in the European War
Courtin' of Caliope Clew
The Winning Punch
Nell Dale's Men Folks
The French Milliner
The Patriot
Intolerance
The Dawn Maker
His Last Scent
The Return of Draw Egan
Pathways of Life
His Busted Trust
The Devil's Double
A Bachelor's Finish'

1917

Heart Strategy
His Deadly Undertaking
When Hearts Collide
Done in Oil
Villa of the Movies
Dodging His Dream
Hobbled Hearts
A Self-Made Hero
His Rise and Tumble
Her Candy Kid
A Finished Product
Innocent Sinners
A Berth Scandal
Her Nature Dance
Her Finishing Touch
Her Birthday Knight
A Dog's Own Tale
Skirt Strategy
A Dishonest Burglar
His Criminal Career
Happiness
Her Torpedoed Love
His One Night Stand
A Laundry Clean-Up
The Little Yank
The Man Who Made Good
The Camera Cure
Twin Troubles
American – That's All
A Strange Transgressor
Dad's Downfall
Her Excellency, the Governor
The Flame of the Yukon

1918

[Noteworthy selections:]

Without Honor, Betty Takes a Hand, His Hidden Shame, The Man Above the Law, I Love You, The Law's Outlaw, The Argument, The Flames of Chance, The Gun Woman, Her American Husband, Limousine Life, Captain of His Soul, Real Folks, Keith of the Border, Heiress for a Day, The Shoes That Danced, The Hard Rock Breed, The Sea Panther, Caught with the Goods, Faith Endurin', Innocent's Progress, Nancy Comes Home, The Love Brokers, The Vortex, The Boss of the Lazy Y, Who Killed Walton?, Society for Sale, Paying His Debt, An Honest Man, High Stakes, Her Decision, Wolves of the Border, Station Content, Closin' In, You Can't Believe Everything, Everywoman's Husband, Hell's End, Marked Cards, By Proxy, False Ambition, Beyond the Shadows.

1919

[Selected highlights:]

Restless Souls, Secret Marriage, Child of M'sieu, A Wild Goose Chase, It's a Bear, The Little Rowdy, Toton the Apache, A Royal Democrat, A Regular Fellow, Taxi, The Water Lily, The Mayor of Filbert, The Root of Evil, Love's Prisoner, Prudence on Broadway, Muggsy, Little Miss Deputy.

References

Sources

Frederic Lombardi. Allan Dwan and the Rise and Decline of the Hollywood Studios. McFarland, 2013.

External links