Albert Edward SMITH^[1]

1874 - 1958  (84 years)

• Name	Albert Edward SMITH
  Born	4 Jun 1874	Faversham, Kent, England
  Gender	Male
  Died	1 Aug 1958	Hollywood, California, U.S.A.
  Person ID	I10455	Young Kent Ancestors
  Last Modified	13 Oct 2020

  
  

  Father	Stephen William SMITH,   b. 20 Jul 1836, Faversham, Kent, England ,   d. 21 Feb 1932, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA  (Age 95 years)
  Mother	Emma Frances PILCHER,   b. 1844, Elham, Kent, England ,   d. 14 Oct 1907, New York City, New York, U.S.A.  (Age 63 years)
  Married	31 Jan 1864	Faversham, Kent, England   [2, 3]
  Family ID	F1077	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Jean PAIGE,   b. 3 Jul 1895, Paris, Illinois, USA ,   d. 15 Dec 1990, Los Angeles, California, USA  (Age 95 years)
  Married	14 Dec 1920	California, USA
  Divorced	Yes, date unknown
  Notes	Divorced 1958
  Children	1. Audrey S. SMITH,   b. 17 Dec 1913,   d. 26 Jun 2010, Pleasant Bay Nursing Home, Brewster, Massachusetts, USA  (Age 96 years)   2. James G. SMITH   3. Living   4. Child Four SMITH   5. Child Five SMITH   6. Child Six SMITH
  Last Modified	20 Mar 2022
  Family ID	F4940	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Hazel NEASON,   d. 24 Jan 1920, California, USA
  Married	Jan 1913
  Last Modified	20 Mar 2022
  Family ID	F4943	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 3	Mary MAY
  Married	1897
  Divorced	Yes, date unknown
  Notes	Divorced 1912
  Last Modified	20 Mar 2022
  Family ID	F4944	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Birth Name Albert Edward Smith Nickname A.E. Born June 4, 1875 in Faversham, Kent, England, UK Died August 1, 1958 in Hollywood, California, USA Mini Bio (1) Pioneering film producer and studio executive Albert E. Smith was born in Favershem, County Kent, England, on June 4, 1875, the son of a gardener. There were 9 children in the Smith family--Albert, seven brothers and a sister--and when he was three years old the entire family emigrated to the US, eventually settling in Santa Barbara, California. After a series of uneventful jobs, he took up a career as an illusionist, calling himself "The King of Entertainers". He eventually hooked up with another expatriate Brit, J. Stuart Blackton, and they formed an act and took it on the road. It was somewhat successful, but didn't offer quite the rewards they had envisioned. He and Blackton saw the potential in the burgeoning motion-picture business, and together with William T. Rock they formed the Vitagraph Company of America to produce and distribute films. While Blackton was the production head--involving himself in casting, writing, producing, directing, and pretty much every aspect of filmmaking--Smith largely confined himself to the financial end of the company, although he did on occasion assist Blackton in the actual filmmaking process. It was as a financial wizard that Smith was of greatest help to Vitagraph, however, and he developed a reputation as a savvy--some even described him as ruthless--businessman (Mary Pickford once met with Smith to discuss the possibility of her signing with Vitagraph, but she took such a dislike to him that she stormed out of the meeting shortly after it began). Smith's foresight and business acumen helped build Vitagraph into the premier motion-picture studio of the early silent era. In 1925 Vitagraph was sold to Warner Brothers and, for all practical purposes, Smith retired. Married three times--the last to actress Jean Paige--Smith died in Hollywood on August 1, 1958. He is buried in Forest Lawn cemetery. With J. Stuart Blackton and William T. Rock, formed pioneering production company Vitagraph Company of America. Before he entered the film business, he fought in the British army in the Boer War in South Africa and was with Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders at the Battle of San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War of 1898. Brother of David Smith. He had a reputation as a brusque, no-nonsense businessman, never letting sentiment or emotion get in the way of a deal. On at least one occasion, though, that backfired on him. In 1916, as the head of Vitagraph Studios, he was about to sign Mary Pickford to a $10,000-a-week contract. Pickford, who adored children, asked if she could see Smith's new baby. Smith curtly replied, "Let's get this business off our minds first." Pickford, outraged at his putting business matters ahead of his own child, answered, "Well, then, I'll never see it!" and stormed out without signing the contract. Shortly afterwards she signed with Famous Players-Lasky, and was on her way to superstardom. Brother of W. Steve Smith Jr.. In his autobiography, "Two Reels and a Crank" (1952), he claimed to have secured a close-up view of President William McKinley at the moment he was shot by assassin Leon Czolgosz on 6 September, 1901. He claimed, by the time of that writing, that the original strip of film had deteriorated to only a few frames. Traveled to South Africa to shoot scenes of real battles of the Second Boer War, 1899. In 1915 was a founding partner of V-L-S-E, a film distribution company. Personal Quotes (2) [in 1919, about the early days of the motion picture industry] It was the struggle in the early days of the industry that taught me the value of studying the public wants and cooperating with the exhibitor. [about John Bunny and Flora Finch, who made many films for him at Vitagraph as a comedy team and who many filmgoers mistakenly believed were husband and wife] They cordially hated each other. - IMDb Mini Biography By: frankfob2@yahoo.com [Source: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0807236/bio] ============================================================================================= March, 1948, Smith received an Oscar Award at the 20th annual awards ceremony. It was presented by Jean Hersholt. The inscription on the base of the Oscar reads: "One of the small group of pioneers whose belief in a new medium, and whose contributions to its development, blazed the trail along which the motion picture has progressed, in their lifetime, from obscurity to world-wide acclaim." After early legal issues with the Edison company, Vitagraph Studios was very successful in the early silent era, moving to the Flatbush area of Brooklyn in 1905. However, it became financially unstable during World War I and in 1925, Smith sold the company to Warner Brothers and retired. [Source: https://upclosed.com/people/albert-e-smith/] ========================================================================================== <http://coalsmovi6e.blogspot.com/2009/09/movie-hidden-dangers-1920.html> Albert E. Smith (writer)Articles: "New York Times" (USA), 3 August 1958, pg. 80:3, "Albert Smith, 83, Film Pioneer Dies; Inventor of Vitagraph Was Co-Founder of Firm that Achieved Early Success", "Variety" (USA), 6 April 1958, pg. 80:3, "Albert E. Smith", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 11 April 1925, pg. 587, "Vitagraph to Release 30 Productions, President Albert E. Smith Announces", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 14 February 1925, pg. 654, "M.P.T.O.A. Congratulates Albert Smith and Vitagraph", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 7 February 1925, pg. 547, "Vitagraph Quits Hays Organization, Quoting 'Live and Let Live' Belief", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 24 January 1925, pg. 379, "President Albert E. Smith Reviews Vitagraph's Record", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 13 December 1924, pg. 655, "Vitagraph Exchanges Receive a Wire from President Smith", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 30 April 1924, pg. 725, "Vitagraph Head Personally Editing 'Captain Blood'", "Motion Picture World" (MSA), 29 December 1923, pg. 798, "A Christmas Warning Against Pessimism and Extravagance", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 15 December 1923, pg. 634, "'Captain Blood' Screen Rights Bought by Smith", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 27 October 1923, pg. 725, "Albert E. Smith Goes to Look Over Conditions in Europe", "Photoplay" (USA), March 1921, pg. 8, by: Cal York, "Plays and Players [Paige/Smith wedding]", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 25 December 1920, pg. 1008, "Albert E. Smith Says 1921 Is to Be a Very Successful Year for Vitagraph", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 25 December 1920, pg. 989, "Albert E. Smith, Vitagraph President, Weds Jean Paige, Popular Screen Star", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 2 October 1920, pg. 681, "Albert E. Smith Returns East After Trip to Vitagraph's Western Studio", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 7 February 1920, pg. 914, "Mrs. Albert Smith Dies [24 Jan. 1920, pneumonia]", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 26 April 1919, pg. 535, "Albert E. Smith Reviews Trade History", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 19 April 1919, pg. 359, "Entire Vitagraph Plant Will Move to Los Angeles", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 22 March 1919, pg. 1624, "Albert E. Smith Goes West to Attend Family Reunion", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 1 February 1919, pg. 603-04, by: A.E. Smith, "Screen Set for Photoplay's Ibsen", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 23 November 1918, pg. 824, "School of Pantomime for Screen Aspirants Planned", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 1 July 1916, pg. 64, "General Film Company in No Danger of Receiver", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 4 December 1915, pg. 1802, "Vitagraph Plans", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 1 May 1915, pg. 703-04, "Scope of the 'V-L-S-E'", "New York Dramatic Mirror" (USA), 21 April 1915, pg. 24:2, "'Big Four' [Smith, W.N. Selig, Ira Lowry, George K. Spoor] Surprises Film Men; Vitagraph-Lubin-Selig-Essanay Combination Means Radical Departure by Motion Picture Pioneers--Exchange Managers Appointed and Preparations Under Way for Flying Start", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 8 February 1908, pg. 95, "Interviews with Manufacturers"He is buried in Forest Lawn cemetery., He was a co-founder, with 'J. Stuart Blackton' (qv), and treasurer of the Vitagraph Corporation of America., Before he entered the film business, he fought in the British army in the Boer War in South Africa and was with 'Theodore Roosevelt' (qv)'s Rough Riders at the Battle of San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War of 1898., Brother of 'David Smith (I)' (qv)., He had a reputation as a brusque, no-nonsense businessman, never letting sentiment or emotion get in the way of a deal. On at least one occasion, though, that backfired on him. In 1916, as the head of Vitagraph Studios, he was about to sign 'Mary Pickford' (qv) to a $10,000-a-week contract. Pickford, who adored children, asked if she could see Smith's new baby. Smith curtly replied, "Let's get this business off our minds first." Pickford, outraged at his putting business matters ahead of his own child, answered, "Well, then, I'll never see it!" and stormed out without signing the contract. Shortly afterwards she signed with Famous Players-Lasky, and was on her way to superstardom., Brother of 'W. Steve Smith Jr.' (qv).Death Notes: Hollywood, California, USAQuotes: [in 1919, nearly the untimely days of the motion see industry] It be the grapple inside the babyhood of the industry that qualified me the plus point of study the local wishes and cooperate near the exhibitor."Birth Notes: Faversham, Kent, England, UKBooks: Albert E. Smith. _Two Reels and a Crank._ Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1952.Birth Name: Smith, Albert EdwardSpouse: 'Hazel Neason' (qv) (January 1913 - 24 January 1920) (her death), 'May' (? - 1912) (divorced), 'Jean Paige' (qv) (14 December 1920 - 1 August 1958) (his death); 6 childrenDeath Date: 1 August 1958Birth Date: 4 June 1875 Jean Paige (actress)Articles: "Photoplay" (USA), March 1921, pg. 88, by: Cal York, "Plays and Players [Paige weds Smith]", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 25 December 1920, pg. 989, "Albert E. Smith, Vitagraph President, Weds Jean Paige, Popular Screen Star", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 11 September 1920, pg. 240, "Vitagraph Will Star Jean Paige in 'Black Beauty'", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 3 January 1920, pg. 105, "Joe Ryan and Jen Paige Will Be Co-Starred in New Vitagraph Serial", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 12 July 1919, pg. 236, "Jean Paige Signs a New Contract with Vitagraph", "Motion Picture World" (USA), 13 July 1918, pg. 216, "Jean Paige Signs Vitagraph Contract"Death Notes: Los Angeles, California, USABirth Notes: Paris, Illinois, USABirth Name: O'Hair, Lucile BeatriceSpouse: 'Albert E. Smith' (qv) (1920 - ?)Death Date: 15 December 1990Birth Date: 3 July 1895 ----------------------------------- <http://www.cagenweb.com/santabarbara/sbarbqur.htm> Santa Barbara County, California Queries From 1996 to 2003 DATE: 12/30/96NAME: Chet Burgraff SURNAMES: SMITH ENG>NYC>SANTA BARBARA CA, ca.1880/90Looking for information on the ROBERT SMITH family, who located in the Santa Barbara area at the end of the 19th century. Parents: Robert and Emma SMITH Children: Henry David (NYC), ALBERT E. (NYC), George, Steven, Victor and Emma (all born in Santa Barbara, CA), and William S. (NYC or SB). The family was prominent in the pioneer motion picture business, both in the NYC area and in So. California. Albert E. SMITH supposedly build the Flying "A" studios (1910-1921) in Santa Barbara and was one of the owners of Vitagraph Studios (1897). HENRY DAVID SMITH was a motion picture director in the Vitagraph Studios.(Revised 1/13/97) ================================================================== Producer, cameraman, magician Smith was born on 4 June 1874 in Faversham, Kent, the son of a market gardener. When Albert was in his mid-teens the Smith family emigrated to the United States. While the family journeyed to California, Albert stayed in New York to try his fortune as a performer. The young Smith had a natural aptitude for mechanics, which led to his perfecting and patenting a loose-leaf ledger system, developing early automobile parts, but also to a gift for magic and sleight-of-hand. It was this latter talent that led him to team up with a talented cartoonist from England, J. Stuart Blackton, and another Englishman Ronald Reader to form a touring trio, presenting magic, magic lanterns, drawings, ventriloquism and recitations. Blackton found a small fame through being filmed for Edison as a cartoonist in August 1896, and early in 1897 they acquired an Edison projector and began exhibiting films as part of their act. Their partnership of March 1897 was initally called Edison Vitagraph, a title deliberately close to the Edison Vitascope. Still continuing with their magic show (as they would do until July 1898), Smith and Blackton started producing advertising slides and the occasional advertising film under the title the Commercial Advertising Bureau. Smith converted the projector into a camera and the American Vitagraph began film production in late 1897, first simple actualities, then their first fiction film, The Burglar on the Roof (1898), with Blackton acting and Smith operating the camera. The company found also success with Tearing Down the Spanish Flag (1898), a simple symbolic drama capitalising on the Spanish-American war. The partnership was founded on Blackton's dramatic flair and Smith's technical know-how, which included a vital reframing device for the Vitagraph projector. They also soon found themselves battling against the Edison company, over patent infringement and violation of copyright - they had been duplicating some of William Paley's Spanish-American War films - then with exhibitor William Rock which, however, resulted in alliance and Rock joining Blackton and Smith as the third member of Vitagraph in August/September 1898. 'Pop' Rock brought experience and stability to the company, though his presence did not prevent Smith getting into scrapes such as the Jeffries v Sharkey boxing match on 3 November 1899, when Smith pirated film of the fight under the bright lights set up by William Brady and the Biograph camera team. Following the Edison law suit Vitagraph had been operating under licence, passing on their negatives to Edison after a period of months, and when this agreement was terminated in 1900, for a period 1901-02 Vitagraph did not produce films at all. After such rocky beginnings, with 1905 and the arrival of the Nickelodeon period Vitagraph began to flourish, becoming incorporated as the Vitagraph Company of America, and rapidly turning into a major producer and soon with Biograph the pre-eminent American film company in the pre-First World War period. A studio was opened in California in 1911, and a stock company developed that included such internationally popular actors as Florence Turner, Maurice Costello, John Bunny, Flora Finch and Clara Kimball Young. From being the technical genius of the partnership Smith became the financial brains behind Vitagraph, running the company with a somewhat cold-hearted efficiency while Rock died and Blackton departed. Vitagraph ceased to be the power it had once been after the war, and the company was purchased by Warner Bros. in 1925. On his retirement Smith indulged in his favourite occupation, yachting, and wrote a singularly inaccurate autobiography, which includes an entirely imaginary visit to the Boer War. He gave employment to many siblings (he was one of eight children), including George who managed Vitagraph's London office, Stephen the studio manager, and David a director. Two of his three wives were film actresses: Hazel Neason and Jean Paige. In 1947 he was one of a small group of American pioneers (George K. Spoor, William Selig and Thomas Armat) given a special Academy Award for their contributions to the development of motion pictures. Luke McKernan (1996, updated 2014) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mini Bio (1) Pioneering film producer and studio executive Albert E. Smith was born in Favershem, County Kent, England, on June 4, 1875, the son of a gardener. There were 9 children in the Smith family--Albert, seven brothers and a sister--and when he was three years old the entire family emigrated to the US, eventually settling in Santa Barbara, California. After a series of uneventful jobs, he took up a career as an illusionist, calling himself "The King of Entertainers". He eventually hooked up with another expatriate Brit, J. Stuart Blackton, and they formed an act and took it on the road. It was somewhat successful, but didn't offer quite the rewards they had envisioned. He and Blackton saw the potential in the burgeoning motion-picture business, and together with William T. Rock they formed the Vitagraph Company of America to produce and distribute films. While Blackton was the production head--involving himself in casting, writing, producing, directing, and pretty much every aspect of filmmaking--Smith largely confined himself to the financial end of the company, although he did on occasion assist Blackton in the actual filmmaking process. It was as a financial wizard that Smith was of greatest help to Vitagraph, however, and he developed a reputation as a savvy--some even described him as ruthless--businessman (Mary Pickford once met with Smith to discuss the possibility of her signing with Vitagraph, but she took such a dislike to him that she stormed out of the meeting shortly after it began). Smith's foresight and business acumen helped build Vitagraph into the premier motion-picture studio of the early silent era. In 1925 Vitagraph was sold to Warner Brothers and, for all practical purposes, Smith retired. Married three times--the last to actress Jean Paige--Smith died in Hollywood on August 1, 1958. - IMDb Mini Biography By: frankfob2@yahoo.com Spouse (3) Jean Paige (14 December 1920 - 1 August 1958) (his death) (6 children) Hazel Neason (January 1913 - 24 January 1920) (her death) Mary May (1897 - 1912) (divorced) Trivia (10) He is buried in Forest Lawn cemetery. With J. Stuart Blackton and William T. Rock, formed pioneering production company Vitagraph Company of America. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0807236/bio ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date of Birth 4 June 1875, Faversham, Kent, England, UK Date of Death 1 August 1958, Hollywood, California, USA Birth Name Albert Edward Smith Nickname A.E. Mini Bio (1) Pioneering film producer and studio executive Albert E. Smith was born in Favershem, County Kent, England, on June 4, 1875, the son of a gardener. There were 9 children in the Smith family--Albert, seven brothers and a sister--and when he was three years old the entire family emigrated to the US, eventually settling in Santa Barbara, California. After a series of uneventful jobs, he took up a career as an illusionist, calling himself "The King of Entertainers". He eventually hooked up with another expatriate Brit, J. Stuart Blackton, and they formed an act and took it on the road. It was somewhat successful, but didn't offer quite the rewards they had envisioned. He and Blackton saw the potential in the burgeoning motion-picture business, and together with William T. Rock they formed the Vitagraph Company of America to produce and distribute films. While Blackton was the production head--involving himself in casting, writing, producing, directing, and pretty much every aspect of filmmaking--Smith largely confined himself to the financial end of the company, although he did on occasion assist Blackton in the actual filmmaking process. It was as a financial wizard that Smith was of greatest help to Vitagraph, however, and he developed a reputation as a savvy--some even described him as ruthless--businessman (Mary Pickford once met with Smith to discuss the possibility of her signing with Vitagraph, but she took such a dislike to him that she stormed out of the meeting shortly after it began). Smith's foresight and business acumen helped build Vitagraph into the premier motion-picture studio of the early silent era. In 1925 Vitagraph was sold to Warner Brothers and, for all practical purposes, Smith retired. Married three times--the last to actress Jean Paige--Smith died in Hollywood on August 1, 1958. - IMDb Mini Biography By: frankfob2@yahoo.com Spouse (3) Jean Paige (14 December 1920 - 1 August 1958) (his death) (6 children) Hazel Neason (January 1913 - 24 January 1920) (her death) Mary May (1897 - 1912) (divorced) Trivia (10) He is buried in Forest Lawn cemetery. With J. Stuart Blackton and William T. Rock, formed pioneering production company Vitagraph Company of America. Before he entered the film business, he fought in the British army in the Boer War in South Africa and was with Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders at the Battle of San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War of 1898. Brother of David Smith. He had a reputation as a brusque, no-nonsense businessman, never letting sentiment or emotion get in the way of a deal. On at least one occasion, though, that backfired on him. In 1916, as the head of Vitagraph Studios, he was about to sign Mary Pickford to a $10,000-a-week contract. Pickford, who adored children, asked if she could see Smith's new baby. Smith curtly replied, "Let's get this business off our minds first." Pickford, outraged at his putting business matters ahead of his own child, answered, "Well, then, I'll never see it!" and stormed out without signing the contract. Shortly afterwards she signed with Famous Players-Lasky, and was on her way to superstardom. Brother of W. Steve Smith Jr.. Followed Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders into battle at San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War, 1 July 1898. In his autobiography, "Two Reels and a Crank" (1952), he claimed to have secured a close-up view of President William McKinley at the moment he was shot by assassin Leon Czolgosz on 6 September, 1901. He claimed, by the time of that writing, that the original strip of film had deteriorated to only a few frames. Traveled to South Africa to shoot scenes of real battles of the Second Boer War, 1899. In 1915 was a founding partner of V-L-S-E, a film distribution company. Personal Quotes (2) [in 1919, about the early days of the motion picture industry] It was the struggle in the early days of the industry that taught me the value of studying the public wants and cooperating with the exhibitor. [about John Bunny and Flora Finch, who made many films for him at Vitagraph as a comedy team and who many filmgoers mistakenly believed were husband and wife] They cordially hated each other. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0807236/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  
  

• Sources

  [S132] Newspaper, Various, (Various), East Kent Gazette, p. 6, 1 Nov 1924. A MILLIONAIRE'S VISIT. - Mr. Albert Edward Smith, the President of the Vitagraph Film Co., a millionaire, who is an old Faversham boy, and is on a short visit to the old country, spent the weekend with his brother, Mr. George Smith, who resides at Boughton House, near Faversham. Mr. Smither was delighted to renew acquaintance on Saturday with the scenes of his boyhood. He was accompanied by his wife, who is known on the screen as Jean Paige. [S132] Newspaper, Various, (Various), East Kent Gazette, p. 5, 13 Feb 1864. Jan. 31, at Faversham Church, Mr. Stephen William Smith to Miss Emma Frances Pilcher, both of Faversham. [S34] Parish Register, England, Kent: Church of England, Canterbury Cathedral Archives, (U.S.A., Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah), Faversham, Kent, England, Marriage Register, 1864, 31 Jan 1864. PARENTS/SPOUSE he bachelor, 23, mariner, residing West Street, father Stephen William Smith, mariner and she spinster, 20, in service, residing Church Street, father William Pilcher, labourer. Wit: Walter Clark