George Kleine

George Kleine
Kleine c. 1914
Born	1864 New York, US
Died	June 8, 1931(1931-06-08) (aged 66–67) Los Angeles, California, US
Occupation	Film producer
Years active	1893-1928

George Kleine (1864 – June 8, 1931) was an American film producer and distributor and cinema pioneer.

Biography

Klein's father, Charles, was a New York optician who sold optical devices and stereopticons.^[1] Klein joined the family firm, moving to Chicago in 1893 where he set up the Kleine Optical Company. In 1896, the company started selling film-making equipment, and in 1899, the company obtained an exclusive arrangement with Thomas Edison to sell his film and equipment in the Chicago area.^[1]

In 1903, Kleine started distributing Biograph films as well as European films and was a pioneer in renting films to theatres. He became involved in patent disputes with Thomas Edison in 1908, causing members of the industry to establish the Motion Picture Patents Company. He founded Kalem Company, an American film studio in New York City in 1907 with Samuel Long,^[2] and Frank J. Marion. The company was named for their initials, K, L, and M. Kleine. Klein was involved in the company for only a short period of time; however, it was a profitable investment for him, as his partners were soon successful enough to buy out his shares at a considerable premium.

Kleine was a national distributor of silent movies in the 1910s, a notable example being Essanay Studios 1918 film, “Men Who Have Made Love to Me” starring Mary MacLane.

Kleine retired in 1928^[1] and died in Los Angeles, California, in 1931.

His papers are retained by the Library of Congress.^[3]

Filmography

• Buggins (1920)
• Lucky Hoodoo (1920)
• Snakes (1920)
• Where Are Your Husbands? (1920)
• The Lonesome Girl (1918)
• The Starter (1918)
• The Good Sport (1918)
• The Stenog (1918)
• The Man-Eater (1918)
• The Artist's Model (1918)
• The Unbeliever (1918)
• The Superstitious Girl (1918)
• The Bride (1918)
• The Screen Fan (1918)
• One Touch of Nature (1917)
• Gloria's Romance (1916)
• Hold Fast! (1916)
• The Law of Blood (1916)
• The Danger Signal (1915)
• The Politicians (1915)
• The Money Master (1915)
• Who's Who in Society (1915)
• Stop Thief! (1915)
• DuBarry (1915)
• Naidra, the Dream Woman (1914)
• After Death (1913) (writer)
• The Last Days of Pompeii (1913) (Presented By)
• On the Coast of the Bay of Biscay, France (1911) ^[4]
• Christopher Columbus (1910) ^[5]
• The Golden Lily (1910) ^[6]
• Buying A Cow (1908) ^[7]
• Indians and Cow-Boys (1904) ^[8]

References

1. McKernan, Luke. "George Kleine". Who's Who in Victorian Cinema. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
2. "Samuel Long Dead. President of Kalem Company Entered Film Business 18 Years Ago". New York Times. July 29, 1915. p. 9. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
3. "George Kleine papers, 1886-1946". Library of Congress. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
4. "On the coast of the Bay of Biscay, France". Library of Congress. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
5. "Christopher Columbus". Library of Congress. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
6. "The golden lily". Library of Congress. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
7. "Buying a cow". Library of Congress. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
8. "Indians and cow-boys". Library of Congress. Retrieved February 9, 2021.

External links

• George Kleine at IMDb
• "The Lost Tycoon: George Kleine" on YouTube, a lecture by Joel Frykholm, Kluge Fellow, The John W. Kluge Center, Library of Congress, February 14, 2013.