by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
By 1908 Jacksonville was the Southern silent film capital of the United States. Records from our area mention as many as thirty-seven major studios that made their home here. Just eight years later, in 1916, the local telephone directory listed more than 100 motion picture companies. City fathers such as Mayor J.E.T. Bowden welcomed the studios to Jacksonville because of the money and status they brought to the city.
Year round warm weather, a variety of settings and abundant sunlight kept the studios coming. Inexpensive labor and relatively cheap land was also a plus that couldn’t be had in other locations.
For about fifteen to twenty years, Jacksonville reigned as a silent film capital. But local politicians focusing on cleaning up the city began to make it less attractive to film studios. Post-World War, Jacksonville experienced a severe drop in studio companies. The studio our area is most famous for, however, was established in 1920.
Eagle Studios built their complex in 1916 in Arlington. In 1920 the property was purchased by Norman Laboratories, which was working on new methods to produce “talkies.” Between 1920 and 1928 Richard Norman made scores of shorts and six feature films. He left his mark in history by being one of the few filmmakers who produced all-black films that were not degrading to the race, but were instead more realistic depictions, often taking a standard movie plot and casting black actors.
“My father was disheartened about the state of race relations at the time, both in real life and in the movies,” says Captain Richard Norman, Jr. “And he saw an untapped market. So, he set out to help give the black community a stronger place on film, behind the cameras and in the theatres.”
Norman was one of the first, along with Oscar Micheaux and the Lincoln Motion Picture Co., to make what were dubbed as “race films.” These movies resisted the conventions of the day by casting black actors in positive, starring roles and hiring black crewmembers. Black characters were the heroes and heroines, the lovers and fighters, not the stereotypical, degraded black characters presented in white-centric films of the period.
The Norman complex included several buildings: wardrobe, film processing, a generator room, prop storage and studio filming space. There was also an onsite swimming pool, used for water shots and other effects. The pool is still there, though it’s been filled in with dirt. One building has been converted into a church, one is the former dance studio run by Mrs. Norman and the rest were used for storage and other things.
As of today, Norman Studios is the only Silent Film Complex in the country left standing. All five buildings are still intact. Old Arlington, Inc, a non-profit preservation society, has taken on the task of helping to restore the site and raise awareness.
There have already been fundraisers to that end, such as the Silent Sundays, held at the Pharcyde Dance Center (6354 Arlington Road) across from the complex. During the September Silent Sunday, they debuted the film series with “The Son of the Sheik,” starring the enigmatic Rudolf Valentino. Before the film, patrons could take a tour of the old film complex and listen to a talk about its history. Live dancing, entertainment and drinks were part of the post-party fun. Proceeds will be used to restore the interiors of the four buildings owned by the City of Jacksonville and for the possible purchase of the remaining building, which is currently being used as a church.
At present, exterior renovations are in progress on four of the complex’s five buildings, funded by $681,000 in grants from State of Florida Division of Historical Resources, America’s Treasures and the City of Jacksonville.
Organizers aim to reopen the complex as a silent film museum and community center. Plans include workshops, indie film screenings and summer camps to teach underprivileged children about careers in the film and television industries.
“My father would be proud, and my family is deeply honored to see his legacy… not only preserved but furthered,” Captain Norman says, “A whole new generation of young filmmakers stands to benefit from the efforts of the Norman Studios Silent Film Museum.”
For more information on the restoration project, history and Silent Sundays, visit NormanStudios.org or oldarlington.org/home.php.
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