When film narrative became more complex with time, the necessity for actors became apparent, and producers looked to famous stage actors for their skills. Although these actors were staring in these films their names were deliberately concealed from the movie going public. “According to some film scholars, the studio’s policy of anonymity was designed to control their employees.” (Kent, 16) The men who were in charge of these early production companies were afraid, and with good reason, that their lead actors would demand a higher salary once they knew what they were worth. Instead of top billing, they were known by their company affiliation – ‘The Biograph Girl,’ or ‘The Vitagraph Girl’ were common names. But the attempts to brand- name the movies this way was short lived, significantly because of a man named Carl Laemmle.

Some topics in this essay:
Griffith’s Biograph, Picture World, Sid Grauman, Burglar Roof, Clara Bow, , Fatty Arbuckle, Douglas Fairbanks, Girl’ Soon, Star System, star system, motion picture, production companies, ‘the biograph girl’, florence lawrence, douglas fairbanks, ‘the biograph, motion pictures, actors acting, mary pickford, actors actresses, picture star system, twenties studios caught, motion picture star, star” kent 96,