FIRST MOVIE IN HOLLYWOOD HAS HISPANIC THEME

THE FIRST MOVIE EVER MADE IN HOLLYWOOD DISCOVRED, AND HONORED

A monument to commemorate the first movie in Hollywood is to be placed on Hollywood Boulevard.

It was made in 1910 by the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, which is also the oldest movie company in America. The film was made 3 years prior to the movie the "Squaw Man" made by Cecil B. DeMille. The film is significant because of it being Hollywoods first film, and the subject matter is about the Hispanic settlers in California. The monument is scheduled to be placed on Hollywood Boulevard in 2003. The monument is being made and donated by Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Following the monument dedication will be a gala event and screening of the film will take place. This is the first time the film has been seen by the public since 1910.

Thomas Bond II, President/CEO of Biograph says, We are very happy to have the support for the monument from Congressman Henry Waxman and L.A. Mayor Jim Hahn. This will help bring awareness to Hollywoods history and the Hispanic contribution to Hollywood in its early days."

The film is a drama of Mexico-owned California, and is an insight into the life and times of the history of Mexico and Mexican Americans in California. Since this was the subject matter chose for the first movie in Hollywood, it also shows the importance Mexican-Americans played in the beginning of Hollywood and the movie industry.

It directed by movie pioneer D. W. Griffith, who was location scouting from New York for Biograph. He discovered this lovely village with beautiful scenery, flower gardens and friendly people, and decided to film many of Biographs films there, this one being the first.

The film once thought lost is in its restoration. It was discovered a few years ago and is in the process undergoing digital remastering.

Along with this, Biograph is establishing its permanent corporate headquarters and future studios in Hollywood, because of the new revitalization there.

Biograph's plans for the near future are to utilize Hollywood for the majority of all its feature film production, to have a New York style commercial production studio where the public can view actual productions being made through large windows facing Hollywood Blvd.

Other plans are to have a Biograph Theatre showing silent movies, independent films, and even live vaudeville shows, and a nickelodeon parlor where tourists can go back in time the very beginning of movies and see peep shows from the early 1900's.

Bond adds, We are very proud of the incredible history of Hollywood, and this is where we belong".

For interview bookings, or more information and/or photos call or e-mail:

Franks Marks
Publicity/V.P.
Office: 323 390-9345
Direct line:619 933-2983
E-Mail: biograph@biographcompany.com