Fun Fact #446

 Fun Fact #446

The Centaur Advance

In 1907, David and WIlliam Horsely used their funds from their successful bicycle company to start a film company with Charles Gorman (Known Screenwriter) called “Centaur Productions” 

While it was slow going at first, once they bought a small shop and filled it with bathtubs –notably confusing their landlord– for film development they began being able to produce up to three films a week.  This fast turn around allowed them to even make short films about the very first comic strip ever invented “Mutt and Jeff” –quickly becoming a hit. 

The only issue was their improvised camera, which violated MPPC copyright, and in response the MPPC (Or “Edison Trust”) decided to protect their monopoly by shutting down the only film producer not owned by them. When that failed they sent thugs scaring away Gorman. However the Horsleys continued on figuring that they had survived threats (Including a fire by overturning a bathtub in their development room), and bankruptcy. What else could MPPC do, get the government involved? 

Thus MPPC got the government involved, suing Centaur productions. Seeking help, Centaur reached out to other small film companies, merging and pooling their resources to fight MPPC  in the Lawsuit that eventually ended in MPPC being broken up and Centaur becoming the first officially independent Film company. Afterwards Centaur’s studio was renamed Universal Studios, the 5th oldest Film studio in the world (and owners of the largest portion of Holiday movies made). 

(P.S. Mutt and Jeff is the oldest comic owned by DC Comics, It also happens to be what my father Jeff is named after. My brother Jeff is named after my father.)