George Kleine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Kleine
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Kleine c. 1914
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| Born | 1864 New York, US
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| Died | June 8, 1931 (aged 66–67) Los Angeles, California, US
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| Occupation | Film producer |
| Years active | 1893-1928 |
George Kleine (born 1864, died 1931) was an important American film producer and a true pioneer in the early days of cinema. He helped shape how movies were made and shared with audiences when films were just starting out.
Contents
Early Life and Business Beginnings
George Kleine's father, Charles, was an optician in New York. An optician is someone who makes or sells glasses and other optical devices. His father also sold "stereopticons," which were like early slide projectors used to show pictures.
George joined his family's business. In 1893, he moved to Chicago and started his own company, the Kleine Optical Company.
Getting into Movies
By 1896, his company began selling equipment used to make films. This was a big step towards his future in movies! In 1899, George Kleine made a special deal with the famous inventor Thomas Edison. This deal meant Kleine's company was the only one allowed to sell Edison's films and movie equipment in the Chicago area.
In 1903, Kleine started sharing films from other companies, like Biograph Studios, and even movies from Europe. He was one of the first people to rent films to movie theaters, which was a new idea at the time.
Forming the Motion Picture Patents Company
George Kleine became involved in some disagreements over film patents with Thomas Edison in 1908. Patents are legal rights that protect inventions. These disputes led many people in the film industry to create the Motion Picture Patents Company. This company aimed to control who could make and show movies using certain technologies.
In 1907, Kleine helped start an American film studio called Kalem Company in New York City. He founded it with Samuel Long and Frank J. Marion. The company's name, Kalem, came from the first letters of their last names: K (Kleine), L (Long), and M (Marion). George Kleine was only with the company for a short time. However, it was a very good investment for him. His partners became so successful that they bought his shares for a lot of money.
Later Career and Retirement
In the 1910s, George Kleine was a major distributor of silent movies across the country. This means he helped get these films from the filmmakers to the theaters where people could watch them.
George Kleine retired from the film business in 1928. He passed away in Los Angeles, California, in 1931.
Filmography Highlights
George Kleine was involved in producing and presenting many films during his career. Here are a few examples:
- Buggins (1920)
- Lucky Hoodoo (1920)
- The Lonesome Girl (1918)
- The Unbeliever (1918)
- One Touch of Nature (1917)
- Gloria's Romance (1916)
- The Danger Signal (1915)
- The Money Master (1915)
- DuBarry (1915)
- The Last Days of Pompeii (1913) (Presented By)
- Christopher Columbus (1910)
- Buying A Cow (1908)
