bjgreen
By Betsy J. Green
Some scenes from the 1916 silent movie version of “Ramona” were said to be filmed in Santa Barbara, and it sure looks like the Mission in the photos above, but apparently not. The photo with the two men was identified in a movie magazine as located on a set at the Clune Studio in Hollywood.
However, it does seem certain that Santa Barbara artist Alexander F. Harmer was involved. According to the local paper:
“The scenes of the dedication of the bells at the Santa Barbara Mission and other views, as well as the fact that the entire picture was technically directed by Mr. Harmer, the well-known local artist, makes it exceptionally interesting to the residents of the city … Mr. Harmer was designer of the costumes and properties in the moving picture … and has for years been known as an authority on the Spanish period.” – Daily News & Independent, August 21, 1916
There is a copy of this film in the Library of Congress archive.
