Silent-Era Filmmaking in Santa Barbara

Birchard presents a pictorial account of the American Film Manufacturing Company's 11-year life and stills from its films, drawing b&w photos from his personal collection. He traces the Flying A's origins in Chicago in 1910 to its move to Santa Barbara and decline in 1921. Other photos, of actors and behind the scenes at the studio, are integrated. Birchard is a film and video editor and a guest curator for an exhibit on the studio at the Santa Barbara Historical Society Museum. Annotation 穢2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)