Astra Film Corp

Not to be confused with British film company Astra Films.
Astra Film Corp
IndustrySilent films
Founded1916; 108 years ago (1916) in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States
Founder
DefunctMarch 1920 (March 1920)
FateThe company became Louis J. Gasnier Productions from 1920-1940, then Monogram Pictures acquired the studio in 1941.
Successor
    • Louis J. Gasnier Productions (1920-1940)
Headquarters
United States
The Naulahka poster
Ad for The Hunting of the Hawk

Astra Film Corp was an American film production company that produced silent films.[1] Louis J. Gasnier was the company's president. George B. Seitz co-founded it. It was making films by 1916. It became Louis J. Gasnier Productions after Seitz left.[2]

The studio operated in Jersey City, New Jersey before expanding to Fort Lee, New Jersey.[3]

The Fort Lee studio site at 1 Congress Street was acquired from Pathé in 1916.[4] The company distributed its films with Pathé. Rolin Studio in Los Angeles also worked with Pathé.[5]

The company's Hands Up serial included a storyline featuring the Inca.[6]

The studio produced Pathé's photoplay films including Stranded in Arcady. It was an adaptation of a story by Francis Lynde and starred Irene Castle. It was directed by Frank Hall Crane.[5]

The company also produced The Fatal Ring and The Seven Pearls serials.[5]

Arthur Miller worked for the company.[when?] Grace Darmond left Selig to work for the company.[when?]

  1. ^ "The Moving Picture World". World Photographic Publishing Company. November 7, 1916 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Silent Wierdness". silentwierdness.blogspot.com.
  3. ^ Koszarski, Richard (March 2, 2005). Fort Lee: The Film Town (1904-2004). Indiana University Press. ISBN 9780861969425 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "Pathé Fort Lee – The Movie Studios". themoviestudios.com.
  5. ^ a b c "Motography". August 17, 1917.
  6. ^ "Motography". November 7, 1918 – via Google Books.