bjgreen
By Betsy J. Green
Lots of movies have been filmed in and around Santa Barbara. But did you ever wonder what was the first movie ever filmed in Santa Barbara? According to the local paper, this happened in 1904, and starred the local fire department.
“This morning at 10 o’clock, the local fire department will be photographed by a moving picture camera while it makes a dash from the City Hall down State Street as far as Cota.” – Santa Barbara Morning Press, December 22, 1904
The film was shown here in January 1905 – “At the opera house [now the Lobero Theater], Monday, January 23rd. Don’t fail to see the Santa Barbara fire department run, taken by the Bioscope company, the first and only moving picture ever taken here. Prices 10, 25, 35.” – Santa Barbara Morning Press, January 3, 1905
