On this day in 1905 , the Western stage play “The Squaw Man” opened at Wallack’s Theatre on Broadway starring British actor William Faversham and William S. Hart. Hart went on to become America’s first great Western film star.
Hart (left and Faversham
Despite its culturally and politically unsavory title the play written by Edwin Milton Royle made history on both coasts. Crically acclaimed on the stage, it ran for 222 performances, enjoyed four Broadway revivals and was the basis for three movies, the 1914 version winning the first ever Acadamy Award for Best Picture.
The tale centers on the perils of Capt. James Wynnegate, a British peer falsely accused of embezzlement. Exiled and shipwrecked, he eventually ends up in the American West only to rescue and fall in love with beautiful native American woman Nat-U-Rich.
As popular as “The Squaw Man” was as play, the Broadway version was eclipsed three fold by its success as a movie. Its journey to the Silver Screen was nearly as improbable as Wynnegate’s. Early in 1913, impresario Jessie Lasky,(right) reportedly sought to enlist well known playwright, William C. DeMille, older brother 
of soon-to-be legendary film maker Cecil B. DeMille (left) to produce the play as an operetta. DeMille’s mother, a theatrical agent herself, recommended her aspiring but not yet established younger son instead.
But wait, there’s more improbability yet. Laskey’s sister, Blanche, married Samual Goldwin that same year and the powerful Hollywood trio of Laskey, Goldwin and DeMille was born.
Gambling $26,500 on the future of cinema, the three rented a barn in Hollywood for $200 a month, acquired the rights to “The Squaw Man” and along with with director Oscar Apfel, produced the world’s first feature length Western movie. While there is some dispute, it was also arguably the first feature film shot in Hollywood.
St. Cyr and Farnum
Well known stage actor Dustin Farnum was hired for $5,000 to play Capt. Wyngate. He had starred in the 1911 version on Broadway and went on to act in Westerns the remainder of his career. Starring in the Nat-U-Rich role was the beautiful Winnebego actress, Lillian St. Cyr, also known as Red Wing.
While a number of movies had already been filmed outdoors, DeMille and Apfel, were seeking more sweeping vistas. They took the train to Flagstaff, Arizona only to find their destination less picturesque than its name promised. Heading west again, they landed in Los Angeles and the sleepy town of Hollywood. To add authenticity to the film, DeMille constructed the movie’s depot and general store near a working railroad track where actual steam engines became part of the scenery.
Dexter and Little
DeMille also directed a 1917 “The Squaw Man” remake, starring the suave stage actor Elliot Dexter and Ann Little, who often played Native American 
Baxter and Valez
characters. Another DeMille remake in 1931 starred former vaudvillian Warner Baxter and Mexican actress Lupe Valez.
Sets for “The Squaw Man”and the rented barn were the beginning of today’s sprawling Paramount Studies. The barn was moved from it’s orginal location at Selma and Vine Streets to 21 North Highland, is a museum and a monumnent to the early days of film.
The Hollywood Heritage Museum, 21 No. Highland, is its new permanent location directly across from the Hollywood Bowl. Known as the Lasky-Demille Barn, it was sceduled for demolition before it was rescued in 1982. 
The musuem is home to the largest public display of props, memorabilia and rare photograhs of early films anywhere in the world. Open the the public five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday, 12 noon to 4 and group tour arrangements can be made by calling (323) 465-6716. Admission is $7 for adults and children under 12 are free. For more information go to hollywoodheritage.org, call (323) 874-2276 or (323) 874-4005.
© Text Only – 2017 – Headin’ West LLC – All photos – public domain.