bjgreen
By Betsy J. Green
One of the reasons why the “Flying A” studio, and other movies companies, located to the West Coast was to take advantage of the abundant sunshine here.
Natural lighting was easier and cheaper than using electrical lighting, especially in early times in film history. The “Flying A” outgrew their original glass studio, and a new one was built in 1915. It measured 120 by 170 feet. The glass was textured to soften the light and avoid harsh shadows.
In January of 1916, the “Flying A” held a dance for Santa Barbara residents on the studio’s new maple floor under a glass ceiling three stories high. “Festoons of electrically-lighted Japanese lanterns will form the main lighting scheme in the decorations,” wrote the local paper. An original ragtime tune was composed by local musicians.
