Guide to the Joel Conway / Flying A Studio photograph collection SBHC Mss 78

Arrangement and description by D. Tambo, 2011; latest revision by Zachary Liebhaber, 2020.

UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections

University of California, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara 93106-9010

special@library.ucsb.edu

URL: http://www.library.ucsb.edu/special-collections

2011, 2020

Title: Joel Conway / Flying A Studio photograph collection

Identifier/Call Number: SBHC Mss 78

Contributing Institution: UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections

Language of Material: English

Physical Description: 18 linear feet (33 document and shoeboxes, 3 flat oversize boxes, 1 album, 1 audiocassette)

Creator: Conway, Joel

source: American Film Manufacturing Company

Date (inclusive): approximately 1910-1997

Date (bulk): 1910-1919

Abstract: The collection mainly contains black-and-white prints and negatives relating to the Flying A Studios (aka American Film Manufacturing Company), a film company that operated in Santa Barbara (1912-1920), as well as supporting documentation.

Physical Location: Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Research Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Research Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Research Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of Item], Joel Conway / Flying A Studio photograph collection, SBHC Mss 78. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Acquisition Information

Gift from Pat Eagle-Schnetzer and Ronald Conway, and purchase from Joan Cota (Conway children), 2009.

Scope and Content

The collection mainly contains black-and-white prints and negatives relating to the Flying A Studios (aka American Film Manufacturing Company), a film company that operated in Santa Barbara (1912-1920), as well as supporting documentation. The collection materials were acquired by Joel Conway from various sources, including the abandoned studio. Conway was a photographer who had come from Chicago and who collected a large number of photographs over the years, including many with a Santa Barbara focus. He also took photographs and made large numbers of copy negatives and prints. He sold enlargements of Santa Barbara images to local customers and some of those enlargements can be found on the walls of places like Harry's Plaza Café in Loreto Plaza Shopping Center, Santa Barbara.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into the following series: Series 1. General. Includes documentation by and about Flying A Studio (Boxes 1-2). Series 2. Original Photographic Prints (Boxes 3-4). Series 3. Copy Prints and Other (Boxes 5-7). Series 4. Glass Negatives (Boxes 8-33). Series 5. Film Negatives. Original and copy negatives (Boxes 34-36). Series 6. Audiovisual.

Related Archival Material at UCSB

Joel Conway / Early California Aviation Photograph Collection, SBHC Mss 79. About 400 separate images (many copy negatives and copy prints) compiled by Santa Barbara photographer Joel Conway, the bulk relating to the aviation activities of the Christofferson brothers and the Loughead (Lockheed) Aviation Company (headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA for a time in the 1910s), most depicting early California aviation history, many related to Santa Barbara. Includes images of Flying A Studio actresses Mary Miles Minter and Audrey Munson.

Joel Conway oral history, OH 30.

Joel Conway society photographs, SC 1163. Eleven negatives and one print of society photographs taken by Joel Conway Studios, Santa Barbara, California (1945).

The Flying A [Studio], SC 984. Circular for the American Film Manufacturing Co. (Chicago), distributed by Film Supply Company of America, [1912]. Includes: "Daughters of Señor Lopaz," "The Power of Love," "Nell of the Pampas," and "The Heart of a Soldier." [4] p.

Walter A. Tompkins collection, SBHC Mss 18 (in Oversize Photographs - Panoramas). Santa Barbara National Guard, in old Flying A Studio, 1936 (1 item).

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Motion picture industry -- California -- Santa Barbara -- History

Audiovisual materials

Black-and-white negatives

Black-and-white photographs

Copy prints

Glass plate negatives

Conway, Joel -- Archives

American Film Manufacturing Company

Series 1. General

Scope and Content

Includes documentation by and about Flying A Studio.

box 1

Baker, George Clinton - 13 pp. typescript scenario for one-reel, 24 scene drama, "The Rivals" - not produced under this title, n.d.

box 1

Captions - photocopies of well-known Flying A photos, with captions

box 1

Conway, Joel - research on Flying A, incl. corr. from others about using Conway's Flying A materials, and newspaper articles about Flying A

box 1

Conway, Joel - talk about Flying A and Lockheed Aircraft Corp. 1971

box 1

Cool, Margaret - "Flying 'A' Day: With a Little (Bad) luck, Santa Barbara Could Have Been Hollywood," Santa Barbara Magazine Fall 1977

box 1

Grabowski, Stan - list of actors, actresses, and other personnel associated with the American Film Co., with addresses and titles, compiled for Joel Conway [compiled from SB city directories?]

box 1

Lawton, Stephen - Santa Barbara's Flying A. Studio (Santa Barbara: Fithian 1997)

box 1

Ledger Book - mainly typewritten entries on pre-printed forms, with prepared fields to check, such as Copy Delivered, Case, Synopsis Ready, ... Field work, Plates ready, Plates shipped, Stills made; Records number of feet of film shot, feet kept after editing, feet sent to Chicago; some notes in ink 1915-1916

box 1

Letterhead stationery, envelope, and purchasing department requisition form

box 1

"Notes from the Flying A Studio" - column in the Morning Press, [Santa Barbara] Jan. 29, 1914 [see column in other issues of the SBMP, Microfilm Area AN5.S425]

box 1

Obern, George A. - "The American Film Company: The 'Flying A," mimeo typescript of history of Flying A, with partial list of Flying A films, and copies of b/w prints of the studio and people associated with it (UCLA Motion Picture Division, Dec. 12 1966)

box 2

Record Book - typewritten entries, with blue pencil marks indicating payment, adding machine tapes as inserts, includes names of personnel connected with the company, Jan. 4-Feb. 12, 1916 [oversize box]

Series 2. Original Photographic Prints

box 3

Set Book - photos mounted in a re-used catalog binder, most images of interior sets, seldom with people [unboxed]

Loose Photos

box 4

Studio Sets - approx 200 8x10 b/w prints, incl. studio overhead-staging (for lighting); freq. name of cameraman in the image, one is Joe Morgan; prints are works-driven, not people driven (used by director, for example, interested in certain kinds of shots, like railroad depot office)

box 4

Unsorted

Series 3. Copy Prints and Other

Scope and Content

Includes numerous duplicates, some with different exposures. Mainly 8x10s.

Loose Photos

box 5

Automobiles

box 5

Ballroom

box 5

Bennett - Richard, Constance, and Joan

box 5

Cummings, Irving - actor

box 5

"Diamond from the Sky"

box 5

Film Crew

box 5

Flying A Studio

box 5

Kane, Gail

box 5

Little People

box 5

Middleton - Flying A Cameraman

box 5

Minter, Mary Miles - Flying A actress

box 5

Nudes

box 5

Radiance Display - color prints of Flying A display mounted by Joel Conway

box 5

Russell, William - producer, animal act

box 5

Sets

box 5

Stagecoach

box 5

Westerns

box 5

Women

box 5

Unidentified/Unsorted

Oversize

box 6

Disbound Album - probably prints from Conway 1945 negs, mainly showing deserted Flying A Studio property

box 6

Framed Photographs - two copy prints of "Diamond from the Sky," a Flying A serial, shot at Oak Park, co-starring Lottie Pickford (sister of Mary Pickford) and Irving Cummings 1915

box 7

Loose Photographs - copy prints by Conway, some mounted

Mounted Photographs

box 7

Flying A Studio Motor Pool, with names and vehicles listed

box 7

Two consecutive frames of a Flying A Western 1914

box 7

Other - dups of loose prints

Series 4. Glass Negatives

Series 4: Glass Negatives

view online item

5x7 Glass Originals

box 8-10

Locations

Backdrops / Background Paintings

Buildings

Churches

Gardens

Storefronts

People - includes actors (some identified), children, staff, etc.

Actors and Other Identified People

box 11

Acord, [Art]

Art Acord and unknown male

Art Acord on bronco at rodeo

[Art Acord] riding horse

"Art Acord: Champion stear [sic] Bulldogger of the world. Pendleton 'Round-up' 1912"

Art Acord with horse in field

Art Acord on horseback

Art Acord sitting in cowboy outfit

Art Acord and suited unknown male

Art Acord on horse at ranch

Art Acord on jumping horse

Art Acord on horse in field

box 11

Burton, [Charlotte]

Charlotte Burton, studio portrait

Miss Charlotte Burton with dog

box 11

Burton, Clarence

Clarence Burton at the studio with two dogs

box 11

Carpenter, Gerald

Gerald Carpenter walking across studio driveway

Gerald Carpenter at studio

Gerald Carpenter walking on studio lot

Effects test shot of "giant" man superimposed under studio pergola

[Gerald Carpenter] and unidentified man in Flying A. Studios

[Gerald Carpenter] and unidentified woman on Flying A. Studios lot

box 11

Christie, Nan

Nan Christie, portrait

Miss Christie, portrait

[Nan Christie, portrait]

box 11

Coxen, Ed

Ed Coxen, portrait

box 11

Cummings, Irving

Irving Cummings dressed in tuxedo

Irving Cummings, portrait

Irving Cummings, profile portrait

box 11

Day, Juliette

Juliette Day at studio in car

Juliette Day in car in front of studio

Juliette Day with two unidentified men

[Juliette Day] and unidentified group outside

[Juliette Day] and unidentified group of actors in Santa Barbara, California

[Juliette Day] and unidentified group seated

[Juliette Day] and unidentified man in front of building

[Juliette Day] and unidentified group in open-bed truck

box 11

[Eason] - Baby Eason

Baby Eason crying

[Baby Eason] laying on fur rug

box 11

Faxon, Dean

Dean Faxon

box 12

Field, George

George Field, portrait

Winnifred Greenwood, George Field and 2 Unknowns

George Field and unknown female

George Field profile shot

George Field with missing emulsion

George Field profile shot with cowboy hat

box 12

Fischer, Margarita

Margarita Fischer and unknown woman

[Margarita Fischer] and unidentified actress in courtyard of the Flying A. Studios lot

[Margarita Fischer] and unidentified woman by the gate of Flying A. Studios

[Margarita Fischer] and unidentified woman on the Flying A. Studios lot

[Margarita Fischer] and unidentified woman in front of a car

[Margarita Fischer] and unidentified woman in courtyard at Flying A. Studios

box 12

Frank, Mrs. [?]

Articles of clothing pinned to wall

box 12

Gamble, Fred

Fred Gamble, portrait

Fred Gamble, studio portrait

Fred Gamble, portrait

box 12

Greenwood, [Winnifred]

Winnifred Greenwood with man in film scene

[Winnifred Greenwood], portrait

[Winnifred Greenwood]

[Winnifred Greenwood], portrait

box 12

Heimerl, Al

Alois Heimerl and unknown man clowning around

Alois Heimerl clowning around in the street

Alois Heimerl

box 12

Holloway, [Carol]

Carol Holloway, portrait

[Carol Holloway on globe draped in United States flag]

box 12

Humphrey, Orral

Orral Humphrey, portrait

Orral Humphrey doing a stunt

Hutchinson, Samuel

Samuel S. Hutchinson with two unidentified people

box 13

King, Henry

Henry King

box 13

Lester, Louise

Louise Lester in costume

Louise Lester, portrait

Louise Lester, profile portrait

Louise Lester, portrait with fan

box 13

Little, Ann

Ann Little, Art Acord, and unknown gentleman standing by barn

Ann Little standing with a horse

Ann Little on a horse

Ann Little on horseback (highly damaged)

Ann Little standing next to a horse

Ann Little in western attire on horseback

box 13

Lythgoe, David

David Lythgoe, portrait

box 13

McCardell, Roy

Mr. McCardell with his secretary

Roy McCardell on horseback

box 13

Minter, Mary Miles

Mary Miles Minter in a car

Mary Miles Minter standing in a car during a parade

Mary Miles Minter standing on a swing

Mary Miles Minter sitting on a swing

Mary Miles Minter standing on steps

Mary Miles Minter with umbrella

Mary Miles Minter standing next to car

Mary Miles Minter getting into a car

Mary Miles Minter walking with magazines

Mary Miles Minter and two unknown gentlemen

Mary Miles Minter in parade (double exposure)

[Mary Miles Minter reading outside]

[Mary Miles Minter sitting on horse]

[Mary Miles Minter]

Mary Miles Minter and unknown woman standing outside glass studio

Mary Miles Minter and family

Mary Miles Minter and her family

Mary Miles Minter and family

Mary Miles Minter with her mother and grandmother

[Mary Miles Minter] sitting on rafter

box 14

Montana, Bull

Bull Montana holding hat over ledge

Bull Montana wearing hat and coat

Bull Montana standing against wall

Bull Montana holding a cigar

Bull Montana, portrait

Bull Montana smirking at the camera

Bull Montana reading

box 14

Munson, Audrey

Audrey Munson, nude

Audrey Munson in film "Purity," nude

box 14

Peyton

Miss Peyton, portrait

Miss Payton, portrait

box 14

Richardson, Jack

Jack Richardson standing next to horse

Jack Richardson next to door

Jack Richardson, portrait

Jack Richardson

box 14

Ricketts, Tom

Tom Ricketts picture of a picture

box 14

Rosson, Helene

Helene Rosson standing behind chair

Helene Rosson, portrait

Helene Rosson, portrait with chair

box 14

Russell, Bill

William Russell napping

William Russell at the beach

William Russell jumping off studio pergola

William Russell with lieutenant

William Russell and officer doing squats in the studio driveway

Bill Russell doing a stunt on studio roof

William Russell, portrait

Bill Russell and Bond looking at a booklet

William Russell climbing the studio

box 15

Russell, William (cont.)

William Russell and four unknown men walking on a fence

William Russell in fight scene on stairway

William Russell and unknown man in ocean

William Russell leaving a home

[William Russell] and unidentified man on Flying A. Studios lot

[William Russell] and woman eating ice cream

William Russell on studio wall

William Russell's company working on Woodlands project

[William Russell?] wearing headdress

box 15

Santell, Al

Al Santell

box 15

Shafer, Mrs. [Molly]

Molly Shafer, portrait

box 15

Sloman, [Edward]

Edward Sloman and unknown man talking

Edward Sloman talking to an officer

Edward Sloman and unknown man looking at a script

Edward Sloman, director

box 15

Thorne, Lizette

Lizette Thorne, portrait

box 15

Vaughan, Mr. [William]

William H. Vaughn, portrait

box 15

Van Meter, Harry

Harry Van Meter

Harry Van Meter, studio portrait

box 15

Ward, Mrs. [Lucille]

Lucille Ward in character costume

Lucille Ward, portrait

box 15

Children - in costume - some noted as S.B. children (as extras)

Child actress, portrait

Child actress wearing a bonnet

Child actor in costume

Group of children in costume

Child actors on set

Children in costumes, double exposure

Group of children in costume

Group of children in costume with a dog

Child actors in costume

Child actress in dress and bonnet

box 16

Couples / Duos

Unidentified woman and soldier in courtyard on Flying A. Studios lot

Unidentified soldier and man on Flying A. Studios lot

Unidentified actresses in costume

Unknown actresses in costume

Two unidentified men exercising

Unidentified man and woman in courtyard of Flying A. Studios lot

Unidentified actor and actress, portrait

Two unidentified men sitting on a tree stump with dog

Two actors on set

Unidentified man and woman standing outside of Flying A. Studios

Unidentified man and woman walking on lawn at Flying A. Studios

Two unidentified women standing in a garden

Unidentified woman with infant

Unidentified soldier and actress kissing

Unidentified woman with infant

Unidentified man and woman shaking hands

Unidentified actor and actress

Unidentified man and woman on Flying A. Studios lot

Unidentified film editors

Unidentified man and woman drinking soft drinks

Unidentified soldiers on Flying A. Studios lot

Unidentified actor and actress in costume

Unidentified man and woman sitting with dogs

Unidentified men swimming by a canoe

Unidentified man and woman walking on the Flying A. Studios lot

Officer and unidentified man walking together at studio

Unidentified man and woman walking by glass stage on the Flying A. Studios lot

Soldier and unidentified woman in walkway of the studio

box 16

Cowboys

Unidentified cowboy by horse

Unidentified cowboy, portrait

Unidentified cowboy with horse

Unidentified cowboy laughing and standing next to horse

Unidentified cowboy standing next to bowing horse

Unidentified cowboy jumping over fountain

box 17

Groups

Five unidentified women in front of a house in Santa Barbara, California

Unidentified men fighting next to woman holding crutch

Two unidentified men and women on lawn

Unidentified man, woman, and boy with a dog

Three unidentified actors on a set

Unidentified group of men in a bar

Group shot including director Henry King, actress Gail Kane and director Ed Sloman

Henry King and Gail Kane with unidentified man

Directors Henry King and Ed Sloman with actress Gail Kane

Unidentified men in crowd

Studio group shot including directors Edward Sloman and Henry King and actress Gail Kane

Unknown boy and two unknown girls standing side by side

Unidentified group of people in costume by fountain

Unidentified boy and two girls

Unidentified men and woman walking on Flying A. Studio lot

Unidentified group of people

Six unidentified men standing by an airplane

Three unidentified men and an officer standing on lawn

Firing squad scene in unidentified film

Double exposure of unidentified group at the beach and unidentified man in an airplane

Unidentified band on set with a crowd

Vivian Rich and Joseph Galbraith in wedding scene from "Peggy Lynn, Burglar" (1915)

Double exposure of unidentified woman with young child and baby

Double exposure of unidentified men in front of glass studio

Director Henry Otto's unit sitting at outdoor table, including actress Winifred Greenwood and actors Edward Coxen and George Field

Group shot including director Henry King, actress Gail Kane and director Ed Sloman

Unidentified group standing in line

Unidentified young man and two unidentified young women dancing

Edward Coxen, Winifred Greenwood and George Field on set

William Russell and Mary Miles Minter with unidentified group near Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara

Unidentified group at the beach

Unidentified group of two men and three women at the beach

Group of unidentified men with flags

Unidentified man and two unidentified women in crowd on set or location for a film

Unidentified group set or location for a film

box 17

Men

Unidentified man sitting on chair

Two unknown men eating chicken at picnic table

Soldier at studio

Soldier and unidentified man walking outside studio

Unidentified man standing in studio driveway

Unidentified group of three men

Unidentified man in cap

Unidentified youth, portrait

Unidentified man with three goats

Unidentified man falling through trap door

box 18

Men (cont.)

Unknown man next to fountain

Unidentified man in American Film Company garden

Unidentified man in front of studio

Unidentified man in office

Unidentified actor, portrait

Unidentified man on set

Unidentified actor, portrait

Unidentified man on set

Unidentified man on Flying A. Studios lot

Actor dressed as USR officer on Flying A. Studio lot

Unidentified actor, portrait

Unidentified actor on set

Unidentified actor, portrait

Unidentified man on Flying A. Studios lot

box 19

Women

Unidentified woman

Unidentified woman standing by house in Santa Barbara, California

Unidentified actress on set

Unidentified woman sitting on rafter

Unidentified woman on Flying A. Studio lot