Selig Zoo (From John Goodall)

SELIG ZOO Selig, William (1864-1948), U.S. motion picture pioneer, born in Chicago, Ill.; actor, theatrical manager 1888-99; improved early motion picture camera; produced first long historical motion picture (Coming of Columbus'). Selig Polyscope Co. American film pioneer William N. Selig was the first producer to build a studio in Hollywood, California. A former magician and owner of a successful minstrel show, Selig became interested in film after seeing the Edison Kinetoscope demonstrated in Dallas in 1895. The following year, Selig decided to enter the industry himself by creating a projection device. When he couldn't, he simply had technicians copy the Lumière Cinématographe. He added a couple of changes and called it the Selig Standard Camera. He also devised the Selig Polyscope projector. In 1913, he purchased 32 acres of land next to Eastlake Park (now known as Lincoln Park) at a reported cost of $1 million. The property was turned into a zoo for the animals that he used in his films. By 1915, 700 animal species were residing at the Selig Zoo. In 1916, he sold the Edendale property to William Fox and moved his studio onto the zoo property. Even though his studio folded in 1917, he maintained the zoo at least to the mid 1930's. From Mark Rosenthal Cy DeVry first director of the Lincoln Park Zoo, left the zoo to work for Selig as director of his zoo. In 1916, when the zoo director's salary was $3500, Col. William Selig offered Cy the sum of $7,800 to take charge of his zoo. Cy talked with the Lincoln Park commissioners about giving him a raise. He was willing to stay and split the difference for a salary increase to $5,650. The commissioners only offered $500 more, which Cy felt was an insult. Cy threatened to resign. The commissioners finally offered $5,000 which Cy accepted. But, in 1919, Cy ran afoul of the commissioners and was fired. He then took the offer of Col. Selig. Selig reportedly paid him double his Lincoln Park Zoo salary. Just a little cultural note: Mark