Al Christie

IMDB profile

Add to favorites

Edit page

Search at Amazon

Stats

Birth Name: Alfred Ernest Christie

Born: 24 November 1881 Died: 14 April 1951

Country of origin: Canada

Relationship Status: Married

Partner: Nora Leadbitter

Lists

3 votes

Hollywood Walk of Fame - C (177 items)
list by filmbuilder

Published 10 years, 5 months ago

1 comment

View all Al Christie lists

Photos

View all Al Christie pictures

Description: Al Christie (November 24, 1881 – April 14, 1951) was a Canadian-born motion picture director, producer and screenwriter. Born Alfred Ernest Christie, in London, Ontario, Canada, he was one of a number of Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood who made their way to Hollywood, California, attracted by the newly developing motion picture business. Al Christie began his career in 1909 working for David Horsley's Nestor film company in Bayonne, New Jersey. In 1910, at Horsley's Centaur Film Company, Christie began turning out one single reel of a Mutt and Jeff comedy picture every week. The following year, Al went to the West Coas Al Christie (November 24, 1881 – April 14, 1951) was a Canadian-born motion picture director, producer and screenwriter.

Born Alfred Ernest Christie, in London, Ontario, Canada, he was one of a number of Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood who made their way to Hollywood, California, attracted by the newly developing motion picture business. Al Christie began his career in 1909 working for David Horsley's Nestor film company in Bayonne, New Jersey. In 1910, at Horsley's Centaur Film Company, Christie began turning out one single reel of a Mutt and Jeff comedy picture every week. The following year, Al went to the West Coast to head up Nestor Studios for Horsley. This operation was the first ever movie studio to be built in Hollywood It opened October 27, 1911. Al Christie then formed a partnership with his brother Charles to form Christie Film Company which lasted until 1933 when the company went into receivership.

Christie died after a lengthy illness. He is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Hollywood, California. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6771 Hollywood Boulevard.

"Al Christie made the whole world laugh for a generation. He was credited with being the first to produce comedies in Hollywood.

He came to Hollywood in 1911 for Nestor Comedies with a stock company of then unknown actors. Among them were Dorothy Davenport, who later became Mrs. Wallace Reid, and Victoria Ford. Christie produced his first comedies with Nestor, which starred Eddie Lyons and Lee Moran.

Several years later, he and his brother, Charles, H. Christie, organized their own film company. They brought to the silent screen stars such as Betty Compson, Fay Tincher, Billy Rhodes, Ethel Lynn and Dorothy Devore.

Christie Film Co. was at Sunset and Gower, out of which came hits such as the first silent version of “Charley’s Aunt,” starring Syd Chaplin. When sound came to films, the Christies spent about $500,000 re-equipping their studios and were the first to produce comedy “talkies.”

Largely wiped out by the Great Depression and going into bankruptcy in 1932, Christie continued to produce in his later years but mainly in New York for Education Film Corp., which was then released through 20th Century Fox. In all, he produced more than 700 films before retiring in 1942."

— Los Angeles Times April 15, 1951
... (more)

Tags: Christie Comedies (1)

My tags:

Add tags

Movies directed by

Movies

1. Days of Thrills and Laughter (1961)

0 want to see

Movies written by

1. Seminary Scandal (1916)

0 want to see


Condition
Added date
Private notes Only visible to you
or cancel