From the Archives: Fort Lee Flickers – The Fort Lee Film Commission Unveils A New Clip Reel

We often discuss the film history of Fort Lee via this archive piece and at times we include photos and video clips. However, this week’s column is a premiere of sorts.  Not to fear, no need to search through your closet for a spectacular gown or spiffy tux for this premiere can be enjoyed from your comfortable Fort Lee home not so very far away from where this history was born.

The Fort Lee Film Commission this week unveiled a video history of the film industry in Fort Lee from our days as the first American film town at the dawn of the 20th century through our 21^st century efforts to bring some of this film history alive again through new productions such as NBC/Universal’s Law & Order SVU and other productions using Fort Lee as a location. 

We will screen this clip reel as part of the opening night program Friday, April 5^th at the annual Garden State Film Festival in Asbury Park. This, the largest film festival in the state where the American film industry was born, is a perfect venue, as we will screen the clip reel at the historic Paramount Theatre on the Asbury Park boardwalk. 

Following this clip reel we will screen the 1917 Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle film A Reckless Romeo shot on Fort Lee’s Main Street and Palisades Amusement Park.  There will be a new score for this film created and performed by The Red Hook Ramblers from the stage of the Paramount. So, if you want to experience a classic silent film as it was seen back in the day come to the Garden State Film Festival – the fest runs from April 5-7  - visit www.gsff.org for further info.

The Fort Lee Film Commission web site (www.fortleefilm.org) is the venue for our cyber premiere and each time you log on to our site you will see our graphic theatre curtains part and you will be witness to a short yet vital part of American and world cinema history.

It is no coincidence that this clip reel is out as members of the Fort Lee Film Commission, the Fort Lee Historical Society and other organizations and individuals petition for the saving of the 1867 built historic structure of Rambo’s Saloon.

This building, as discussed in previous archive pieces, is the last living link to our unique and important film heritage. The Fort Lee Historical Society has a petition you can sign at www.thefortleehistoricalsociety.org. The petition also appears on the Fort Lee Film Commission site.

Among the signatures are of course local Fort Lee residents and former residents who share our concern for the future of this historic building. But we also have many signatures and comments from those around the globe who are helping in this struggle to save this little building which holds such a great deal of world cinematic history. 

A resident of the United Kingdom says, “Fort Lee was before Hollywood, and this building should be saved.” Eileen Bowser on the petition writes “Save our film history. 

As a film historian, I have visited this historic site many times. It has a special place in our American film history. So little is left of Fort Lee’s large role in the early days of movies.” 

Mr. Arthur Wehrhahn writes on the petition “I know this building as we stored our film collection at Fort Lee for 25 years, before building the Film Preservation Center. It’s important to the history of early film in America, and more so on the East coast.” 

Dr. Richard Ward says, “As a film historian and writer ("A History of the Hal Roach Studios," numerous academic journal articles), I can tell you that the survival rate of early film history sites has been dismal. I sincerely hope that this highly significant site from America's first film production center can be preserved.” 

Nick James of the United Kingdom writes “As the editor of the British Film Institute's film magazine I would urge you to save this important building.”  

Another United Kingdom resident, Catherine Surowiec says, “It is vital that such an important (and rare) survivor of America's cinema history be preserved for future generations. Ft. Lee was the cradle of the American film industry, and Rambo's was a focal point for its creators and personalities, both on- and off-screen.” 

These comments are literally the tip of the iceberg. And to hint at the scope of support on an international level - other nations represented on this petition include Germany, Israel, Belgium, the United Arab Emirates, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and France. 

The clip reel features images of sites in Fort Lee related to film history that no longer exist – I have included some photos of these sites then and now in this week’s archive piece. You will notice we did include a production still from a film shot outside Rambo’s Saloon in the clip reel. 

Our fervent hope is that with your help we will need not add this last physical connection to this important chapter in world cinema history to the category of lost sites because I for one would not want to have to show this archival image alongside a future image of a 2-family duplex which in fact is planned to replace this important and historic structure. Please if you care about this Fort Lee history, this American history, this world cinema history, visit www.thefortleehistoricalsociety.org or www.thefortleefilmcommisison.org and sign the petition to save Rambo’s today before it is in fact too late. We will keep you updated on these efforts which this week will lead us to an April 4th Fort Lee Mayor and Council work session at 7PM on the second floor of Fort Lee’s Borough Hall.