Uptown in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Essanay Studios

Built 1908-15

— Chicago Landmark —

Essanay Studios Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 5, 2021

1. Essanay Studios Marker

Inscription. This is the most important structure connected to the city’s role in the history of motion pictures. Essanay produced hundreds of early movies, featuring such stars as Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson, and cinema’s first cowboy hero, G.M. “Bronco Billy” Anderson. Changes in the movie industry led to the collapse of the company in 1917. The terra-cotta Indian heads flanking the entrance were Essany’s trademarks.

Designated March 26, 1996
Richard M. Daley, Mayor

Erected by Commission on Chicago Landmarks.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Illinois, Chicago Landmarks Commission series list.

Location. 41° 58.349′ N, 87° 39.827′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Uptown. Marker is on West Argyle Street east of North Glenwood Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1336 West Argyle Street, Chicago IL 60640, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. St. Boniface Union Soldiers Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away); Andersonville (approx. 0.3 miles away); Andersonville School (approx. 0.3 miles away);

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First Telephone System (approx. 0.4 miles away); Carl Sandburg (approx. 0.6 miles away); Margaret Anderson (approx. 0.6 miles away); Getty Tomb (approx. 0.8 miles away); John Peter Altgeld (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Also see . . . Essanay Studios (Atlas Obscura). (Submitted on December 5, 2021.)

Essanay Studios Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 5, 2021

2. Essanay Studios Marker - wide view

Essanay Studios Marker - wider view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 5, 2021

3. Essanay Studios Marker - wider view

Bronco Billy on set… image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of the Chicago History Museum, circa 1910

4. Bronco Billy on set…

…for a silent western at the Essanay Studio in Chicago.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 147 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 5, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.