• Collection ID 1990.0826
  • Creator Names Freuler, John R., 1872-1958.
  • Title John R. Freuler film companies collection of visual materials [graphic].
  • Dates [ca. 1910-1930]
  • Physical description
    • 5550 photographic prints : b&w ; 14 x 22 in. and smaller.
    • 26 photomechanical prints : col. ; 11 x 14 in. and smaller.
    • 2 photomechanical prints : b&w ; various sizes.
    • 6 negatives : b&w ; 8 x 10 in.
    • 20 negatives : nitrate ; 8 x 10 in.
  • Access and usage restrictions
    • Nitrate negatives restricted from access, see reference copies instead.
    • Advance appointment required to view color material in cold storage or negatives in cool storage; please email research@chicagohistory.org.
  • Collection summary
    • Visual materials pertaining to John Freuler, the American Film Manufacturing Company, the Mutual Film Corporation, and other Freuler companies based in Chicago, Illinois, with production studios in Chicago and later in Santa Barbara, California. Primarily still images relating to 339 motion picture films. Most images are believed to be movie stills (copies of frames from the moving picture films) but may include some photographs shot on the sets during production. Especially well represented in the collection are the actresses Margarita Fisher and Mary Miles Minter, and the films: The Blue Moon, Easy Millions, Fighting Gentlemen, A Light Woman, Love Past Thirty, and Payment Guaranteed. Other image materials include promotional materials such as color lobby cards, marketing booklets, and advertising broadsides. Also included are several drawings, including a pen and ink cartoon drawing of John Freuler, and copies of silent film title cards and typewritten pages detailing a portion of the collection's contents.
    • The collection also includes photographs of company buildings, studio grounds, production and shooting, post production and film processing, as well as actor portraits and portraits of Freuler. A photograph of Charlie Chaplin with Mr. Freuler signing their 670,000 dollar production contract in 1916 is in Box 3, Folder 4.
  • Biographical or Historical Note John Rudolph Freuler (1872-1958), a Wisconsin native, was one of the founders of the American Film Manufacturing Company, which later became the American Film Company (popularly known as the Flying A Studio), and subsequently, the Mutual Film Corporation. Based in Chicago, the company was a major production studio in the late 1910s and early 1920s. Chicago was the location of film production as well as business and administrative functions until 1913, when production moved to the company's new facilities in Santa Barbara, California, and administrative and distribution offices remained in Chicago.
  • Acquisition information Gift of Jessie Walker Griggs in August 1990 (1990.0826).
  • Finding Aids Note Finding aid available online.
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the John Rudolph Freuler papers. Chicago History Museum also holds some related artifacts.
  • Names
    • Freuler, John R., 1872-1958.
    • Chaplin, Charlie, 1889-1977
    • American Film Manufacturing Company
    • Mutual Film Corporation
    • Chaplin, Charlie, 1889-1977
    • American Film Manufacturing Company
    • Mutual Film Corporation
  • Subjects
    • Actors 1910-1929. lctgm
    • Actresses 1910-1929. lctgm
    • Motion picture actors and actresses 1910-1929. lctgm
    • Motion picture industry Illinois Chicago 1910-1929. lctgm
    • Motion picture studios California Santa Barbara 1910-1929. lctgm
    • Motion pictures Production and direction 1910-1929. lctgm
  • Geographic coverage
    • Chicago (Ill.) Commerce 1910-1929.
    • Santa Barbara (Calif.) Commerce 1910-1929.
  • Genre
    • Advertisements. gmgpc
    • Cartoons. gmgpc
    • Cellulose nitrate negatives. gmgpc
    • Drawings. gmgpc
    • Film negatives. gmgpc
    • Film stills. gmgpc
    • Photographic prints. gmgpc
    • Photographic prints Color. gmgpc
    • Photomechanical prints. gmgpc
    • Photomechanical prints Color. gmgpc
    • Portrait photographs. gmgpc
    • Posters. gmgpc
    • Gelatin silver prints. gmgpc
  • Geographic name
    • United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.
    • United States California Santa Barbara.
  • Finding aid URL