Astra Film Corp Explained

Industry:	Silent films
Fate:	The company became Louis J. Gasnier Productions from 1920-1940, then Monogram Pictures acquired the studio in 1941.
Founded:	in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States
Hq Location Country:	United States

Astra Film Corp was an American film production company that produced silent films.^[1] Louis J. Gasnier was the company's president. George B. Seitz co-founded it. It was making films by 1916. It became Louis J. Gasnier Productions after Seitz left.^[2]

The studio operated in Jersey City, New Jersey before expanding to Fort Lee, New Jersey.^[3]

The Fort Lee studio site at 1 Congress Street was acquired from Pathé in 1916.^[4] The company distributed its films with Pathé. Rolin Studio in Los Angeles also worked with Pathé.^[5]

The company's Hands Up serial included a storyline featuring the Inca.^[6]

The studio produced Pathé's photoplay films including Stranded in Arcady. It was an adaptation of a story by Francis Lynde and starred Irene Castle. It was directed by Frank Hall Crane.^[5]

The company also produced The Fatal Ring and The Seven Pearls serials.^[5]

Arthur Miller worked for the company. Grace Darmond left Selig to work for the company.

Filmography

• At Bay (1915)
• Via Wireless (1915)^[4]
• Pearl of the Army (1916), a serial
• The Shielding Shadow (1916)
• The Romantic Journey (1916)
• The Black Orchid (1916), starring Grace Darmond
• Arms and the Woman (1916)
• May Blossom (1917)^[7]
• The Seven Pearls (1917), a serial
• The Fatal Ring (1917), a 19-chapter serial
• The Hidden Hand (1917), a serial
• Kick In (1917)
• The Cigarette Girl (1917)
• The Mystery of the Double Cross (1917)
• Caleb Piper's Girl (1917), starring Helene Chadwick^[8]
• The Hunting of the Hawk (1917)
• Vengeance Is Mine (1917)
• Stranded in Arcady (1917)^[9]
• Hands Up (1918), a serial
• The Yellow Ticket (1918)
• The House of Hate (1918)
• The Honest Thief (1918)
• The Mystery of the Doublecross (1918)
• The Naulahka (1918)
• The Hillcrest Mystery (1918)
• The House of Hate (1918), a serial
• A Japanese Nightingale (1918)
• The Adventures of Ruth (1919)
• The Cry of the Weak (1919)
• Out Better Selves (1919)
• The Tiger's Trail (1919), a serial
• The Lightning Raider (1919)
• The Pleasant Devil (1919)
• Daredevil Jack (1920)
• The Phantom Foe (1920)
• Pirate Gold (1920), a serial
• The Third Eye (1920), a serial
• Trailed by Three (1920)

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Moving Picture World. November 7, 1916. World Photographic Publishing Company. Google Books.
2. Web site: Silent Wierdness. silentwierdness.blogspot.com.
3. Book: Koszarski, Richard. Fort Lee: The Film Town (1904-2004). March 2, 2005. Indiana University Press. 9780861969425. Google Books.
4. Web site: Pathé Fort Lee – The Movie Studios. themoviestudios.com.
5. Web site: Motography. August 17, 1917.
6. Web site: Motography. November 7, 1918. Google Books.
7. Web site: Catalogue of Copyright Entries: Pamphlets, leaflets, contributions to newspapers or periodicals, etc.; lectures, sermons, addresses for oral delivery; dramatic compositions; maps; motion pictures. November 7, 1917. U.S. Government Printing Office. Google Books.
8. Web site: Caleb Piper's Girl. cplorg.contentdm.oclc.org.
9. Web site: Irene Castle and Frank Hall Crane on a film set. | Photograph. December 1, 2003. Wisconsin Historical Society.