Birthplace of American cinema " film trope was popularized with the use of the
cliffs of the Palisades overlooking the
Hudson River as a 'perilous' filming location, as seen above in
The House of Hate (1918). Fort Lee is home to
America's first motion picture industry.
A large number of early films, many silent, were shot at studios and on location in and around the town. With the first constructed in 1909, there were 11
major studios in Fort Lee by 1918. That year a number of factors affected film production: the
"Spanish flu" influenza pandemic, a
World War I coal shortage and rationing, and a record-breaking cold winter. The
Hudson River froze and service on the
125th Street ferry to
Manhattan was curtailed. Activity at the studios was suspended and most operations shifted to California. Much of it did not return, but the presence of facilities saw continued shooting and created opportunities for independent filmmakers into the 1920s and 1930s.
The Barrymores The center is named for the
Barrymore family, the British-American acting dynasty.
Maurice Barrymore lived in the Coytesville section of Fort Lee from 1890 until his death in 1905. The actor volunteered as a firefighter for the local
fire department, and helped to fund a firehouse and obtain uniforms for its members. His son,
John Barrymore, one of the most famous and well-regarded actors of his generation, made his acting debut at age 18 in a short play,
Man of the World, directed by Maurice in 1900 in a fundraiser for the firehouse. He, along with Maurice's other two children,
Lionel and
Ethel, also worked as actors in Fort Lee's motion picture industry. Prior to the opening of the BFC, it worked with the
Fort Lee Museum and the city's Office of Film and Heritage & Cultural Affairs to maintain film archives and memorabilia, place historical markers, and present exhibitions, events, and film screenings. It has been making attempts to find and save film-era landmarks. In 2006,
Arcadia Publishing published the book
Fort Lee Birthplace of the Motion Picture Industry compiled by the commission. ==Programming==