Wharton Studio
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Silent film production |
| Founded | 1914 |
| Founder | Theodore Wharton, Leopold Wharton |
| Defunct | 1919 |
| Headquarters | Ithaca , United States |
| Products | Silent films, serials, feature-length films |
Wharton, Inc. was a pioneering silent film production company located in Ithaca, New York that operated from 1914 until 1919. Established by the brothers Theodore and Leopold Wharton, their studio was situated along the shore of Cayuga Lake at what is currently known as Stewart Park. Initiatives are currently in progress to create a silent film museum within the original Wharton studio facility.
Ithaca Era (1912-1920)
In late 1912, Theodore captured footage of a football game between Cornell and Penn for the Chicago-based Essanay, where he served as director. Attracted by Ithaca’s picturesque environment, he obtained approval to shoot films there in 1913, featuring notable actors such as Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne.
By 1914, Leopold joined Theodore after departing from Pathé, and together they launched their Ithaca-based production company. Their output included shorts, serials, and feature-length films. Utilizing their industry contacts, they secured prominent talent who traveled overnight from New York City. The productions utilized both elaborate studio-built sets and natural surroundings around Ithaca, including Cornell University’s gorges, frequently involving local residents and students as extras.
Subsequent Developments (1920-1931)
Although the Whartons initially achieved success with serial films, financial challenges by late 1919 compelled them to surrender control of their studio. The facility was then leased to Grossman Pictures followed by Cayuga Pictures. Professionally separated, Leopold relocated to Texas to collaborate with Macklyn Arbuckle at San Antonio Motion Pictures, producing modest films starring Arbuckle. Meanwhile, Theodore moved to Santa Cruz, California, attracted by Mayor Fred Swanton’s incentives aimed at filmmakers in hopes of establishing a rival studio to their former Ithaca operation. However, he left without completing any productions there and subsequently moved to Hollywood where he took on minor roles in screenwriting and assistant directing.
Leopold passed away in New York City in 1927; Theodore died in Los Angeles in 1931. By that time, their serial films had lost popularity, and much of their work was destroyed in a 1929 fire triggered by the spontaneous combustion of nitrate film reels stored by their attorney. The Wharton brothers are honored as trailblazing independent filmmakers who owned and operated their own studio. In 1994, their celebrated serial The Exploits of Elaine was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry due to its cultural and historical importance.
Films produced at Ithaca Studios
- The Crooked Dagger (1919)
- The Red Peril (1919)
- A Romance of the Air (1918)
- April Fool (1918)
- The Eagle's Eye (1918)
- Mission of the War Chest (1918)
- The Candidate (1918)
- The Missionary (1918)
- Below Zero (1917)
- The Great White Trail (1917)
- The Black Stork (1917)
- Patria (1917)
- The Crusher (1917)
- Beatrice Fairfax (1916)
- The Lottery Man (1916)
- The Mysteries of Myra (1916)
- Hazel Kirke (1916)
- The City (1916)
- The New Adventures of J. Rufus Wallingford (1915)
- The Romance of Elaine (1915)
- The New Exploits of Elaine (1915)
- The Stolen Birthright (1914)
- The Exploits of Elaine (1914)
- The Fireman and the Girl (1914)
- A Prince of India (1914)
- The Pawn of Fortune (1914)
- The Warning (1914)
- The Boundary Rider (1914)
External links
- Comprehensive list of Wharton Studio productions on IMDB
- Wharton Film Studio Promotional Brochure, circa 1927 – Overview of Mr. Wharton's professional achievements
- "Silent Film Industry Blossoms in Ithaca," Cornell Daily Sun. Accessible online
- History of Ithaca Made Movies
- Ithaca Silent Movies Facebook Page
- Wharton Studio Museum – A nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving Ithaca’s cinematic heritage and transforming the historic Wharton Studio Building into a museum, community park, and café.