The Sun Valley neighborhood of San Rafael, Ca. was the location of the California Motion Picture Company (CMPC), a pioneer of feature-length films specializing in films about the early history of California. The studio complex was built in 1912 by George E. Middleton, a prominent San Francisco automobile dealer for the purpose of shooting promotional footage of the automobiles he was selling. He determined that his pretty wife, actress/singer Beatriz Michelena could star in movies made by his company and Middleton starred Michelena in 11 features for the San Rafael studio between 1914 and 1917. Michelena was talented but her demands for star treatment brought heavy expense to productions that continued to lose money and in 1916 CMPC filed for bankruptcy. Middleton and Michelena bought out the company in 1917 and renamed it Michelena Studios, finally closing for good around 1920 due to lack of profits and the rise of Hollywood. Today, almost 100 years later, the studio site where there once were cowboys and stagecoaches is now a quiet residential neighborhood with houses and trees.
3 Comments
Linda W.
3/18/2014 06:38:52 pm
Delightful info on California Motion Picture Company, and thanks for posting the historical photo of the studio, as well as what has replace it in modern times. It's a shame when historical buildings are completely razed, leaving not even a marker. Beyond 2 generations, previous local lives are forgotten. Movie pictures were not, exciting and popular. Were there many "home grown studios" here and there? I assume Chaplin's Essanay Studios down in Niles was a direct competitor to San Rafael's CMPC. I look forward to seeing San Rafael's showing of CMPC's 1914 "Salomy Jane" this coming October (2014). I wonder if there are additional photographs of the old studio?
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Joseph Greco
3/18/2014 11:53:24 pm
Thanks for visiting. There was a fire in 1931 that destroyed what was left of the CMPC vacant studio. I haven't been able to locate any other photos of the studio itself. Besides the Niles location Essanay also was located in San Rafael at one time.
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Alex Blendl
4/10/2015 03:42:29 pm
I have a collection of glass negatives showing the studio (CMPC) and some of the actors. I believe I have images of Beatriz in a gypsy costume. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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