Part 2/11:
Born in 1869 in rural Pennsylvania, Frank Marion entered adulthood as the silent film era blossomed. After graduating from Syracuse University in 1890, he ventured into the burgeoning film industry, initially working at Biograph Studios, one of America's earliest motion picture companies. By 1907, Marion identified an opportunity to establish his own production company alongside partners George Klein and Samuel Long, founding Kalem Company.
Leveraging his marketing acumen and industry insight, Marion propelled Kalem to produce captivating short films—dramas and comedies—that captivated audiences in Nickelodeon theaters nationwide. These silent, often just a few minutes long, became hugely popular, positioning Kalem as a leading studio of the silent film era.