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Wilding Picture Productions

Wilding Picture Productions helped lead Chicago as the film capital of the world in the manufacturing of 16mm film projectors which produced 57,000 units in 1949. A lot of these films were Hollywood length feature films in full color. Many well known stars, such as Charlie Chaplin, made pictures with this studio.

History (add photo)

1914–1936: Detroit period

Executive vice President was H. Fish Scene since 1914 who ran a number of studios and offices in Grand Rapids, MI. After Wilding’s death, C.H. Bradfield Jr. became President of the corporation.

1937–1966: Chicago Essanay Studio period

Outside of Hollywood, one of the biggest motion picture plants was Wilding Picture Productions. They accounted for 3 total movie sets across the 2½ acre, 60,000 square feet location. Wilding had their own sound stages, editorial offices, its own equipment, carpentry shop, prop room and set storage, screening rooms and more.

Wilding also made commercial films to advertise and plug products. Companies would seek out Essanay Studios if they wanted to popularize their product through a moral or historical narrative theme of a film advertisement. Often, these advertisements would end in statements that would say something like “this film is a public service sponsored by…”

1967–Now: Closure

A portion of Wilding’s studio was offered to Columbia College Chicago for a dollar however there was a refusal to take action and the offer expired. Then it was given to a non-profit television corporation which then sold it and one office was the office of Technicolor.

Sources:

file:///Users/sraol/Downloads/islandora_2518669_PDF.pdf

https://chicagology.com/silentmovies/

https://chicagology.com/silentmovies/essanay/

https://www.chicagofilmsociety.org/preservation/the-editors-notebook/