A visit to the new Thos. H. Ince Studios Inc. opened in 1919, on Washington Boulevard in Culver City, California.Comprises staged scenes as well documentary footage, the film is as much a promo as it is a documentary. ~Personalities shown include Thomas H. Ince (1882-1924), seen doing his morning exercises, boxing with his trainer, swimming in his pool, bidding his wife and children farewell as he heaves for work, and conferring with his staff at the studio; actor Lloyd Hughes with his brother and chauffeur driven car; actress Enid Bennett; actress Louise Glaum and producer J. Parker Read Jr. out riding; actor Douglas MacLean, shown in a staged chase by a motor cycle cop - the crew filming the chase and the crew filming the first crew are shown. The house in the bungalow complex he is seen leaving is that at 404 Alvarado Street in which director William Desmond Taylor was murdered on the evening of February 1, 1922. Actor Hobard Bosworth (seen painting); scenarists Joseph Franklin Poland and Agnes Christine Johston; King Albert I of Belgium and Queen Elisabeth visiting the studios (they are received by Ince); child star Peggy Cartwright; film editor Ralph Dixon at work; Margaret Livingston, shown riding a bicycle down the steps in front of the main building. Shown are exterior and interior views of the vast new facility, including two large glass topped stages. Activities and locations shown include: the setting up of spotlights and the decoration of interior sets; the carpenter plant; the design and building of sets; the mail room; the makeup department; the scenario department with readers at work (a typical scenario record is shown along with scenario editor John H. Blackwood); extras in the casting office with various humorous types in evidence; shooting on the set of LOVE (released December 1920) with Louise Glaum and James Kirkwood (director Wesley Ruggles and cameraman Charles Stumer are seen); shooting on the set of HIS OWN LAW (released October 1920) with Hobart Bosworth (producer J. Parker Read Jr. is seen directing with two cameramen, one presumably J. O. Taylor); shooting on the set of the Ince production BEAU REVEL (released March 1921) with Florence Vidor and Lewis Stone being directed by John Griffith Wray (with two cameramen, one presumably Henry Sharp); a double exposure scene from BEAU REVEL is shown; the wardrobe department; the modist shop with models (manikins according to the title) displaying the latest creations to be used in upcoming society dramas; the plaster shop; a portable electric power plant for lighting interiors and exteriors (described as the world’s largest); cars leaving for location shooting; shooting and lunch on location; an explosion on location with a reaction shot; the laboratories showing the negative developing room, checking density and tinting, film transferred from developing racks to drying drums, splicing (called patching here) prints by hand, women preparing the film for shipping, title card backgrounds in the art department; the stills department; the Ince private fire brigade doing its daily practice; the studio swimming pool with various actors including House Peters; the screening room, with Ince viewing rushes. ~Personalities shown include Thomas H. Ince (1882-1924), seen doing his morning exercises, boxing with his trainer, swimming in his pool, bidding his wife and children farewell as he leaves for work, and conferring with his staff at the studio; actor Lloyd Hughes with his brother and chauffeur driven car; actress Enid Bennett; actress Louise Glaum and producer J. Parker Read Jr. out riding; actor Douglas MacLean, shown in a staged chase by a motor cycle cop - the crew filming the chase and the crew filming the first crew are shown. ~The house in the bungalow complex he is seen leaving is that at 404 Alvarado Street in which director William Desmond Taylor was murdered on the evening of February 1, 1922. Actor Hobart Bosworth (seen painting); scenarists Joseph Franklin Poland and Agnes Christine Johnston; King Albert I of Belgium and Queen Elisabeth visiting the studios (this took place on October 17, 1919: they are received by Ince); child star Peggy Cartwright; film editor Ralph Dixon at work; Margaret Livingston, shown riding a bicycle down the steps in front of the main building. <35mn 33s>
