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Poverty Row Studios, 1929-1940
An Illustrated History of 55 Independent Film Companies, with a Filmography for Each
Michael R. Pitts

ISBN 978-0-7864-2319-4
98 photos, index
542pp. softcover 2005 [1997]

Description
From the beginning of the sound era until the end of the 1930s, independent movie-making thrived. Many of the independent studios were headquartered in a section of Hollywood called "Poverty Row." Here the independents made movies on the cheap, usually at rented facilities where shooting was limited to only a few days.

From Allied Pictures Corporation to Willis Kent Production, 55 Poverty Row Studios are given histories in this book. Some of the studios, such as Diversion Pictures and Cresent Pictures, came into existence for the sole purpose of releasing movies by established stars. Others, for example J.D. Kendis, were early exploitation filmmakers under the guise of sex education. The histories include critical commentary on the studio’s output and a filmography of all titles released from 1929 through 1940.

About the Author
Michael R. Pitts is the author of more than thirty books on film and has compiled numerous volumes about geneology and local history. He lives in Chesterfield, Indiana.

Other Book(s) by Michael R. Pitts Available from McFarland:

Western Movies

Horror Film Stars, 3d ed.

Charles Bronson

Western Film Series of the Sound Era



Table of Contents & Excerpts

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