So, after looking at the previous post on the history of her life, how can we travel in the footsteps of Alice Guy? Much of her working life has been lost to cinema’s forgotten history. The advent of the talkies and the later dominance of Hollywood as a production centre in the USA can often obliterate the early years of cinema. Much of it is not preserved and, much like the old nitrate films themselves, seems to have gone up in smoke. But, let’s have a peek at what we might find. For a few moments, let me be your travel guide in space and time 😉
Alice Guy in Paris
Gaumont Film Company’s first studio
In 1888 Léon Gaumont married Camille Maillard, whose family owned land on the Rue des Alouettes in Buttes-Chaumont (now in the 19th arrondissement). Léon Gaumont’s Théâtre Cinématographique – and later Cité Elgé – was established here, in 1905. This is where Alice Guy worked on her early films in the daytime before heading to the Gaumont office by night. Whilst there is no longer a physical sign of the studios, there are nods to France’s cinema history in this area.
The films made at Gaumont by Alice Guy and her peers have many scenes filmed with local streets as a backdrop. Check out the website here for a thorough investigation into these early films and their real locations.
There is a School of Cinema here named Ecole de 7ieme Art (the School of the 7th Art), France’s nickname for cinema. Cours du 7ieme Art street marks the site of the Gaumont studios. Look for nearby Auchan Supermarket along the Rue des Alouettes to find the private street within a modern residential development.
Le Bar Fleuri
And while we’re on the Rue des Alouettes, if you are looking for a coffee or some lunch, give Le Bar Fleuri bistro a try. At almost 100 years old, this was a hangout for cast and crew at the Gaumont studios throughout the 20th century and still retains its vintage charm – run by brother and sister team Joëlle and Martial. Take a look at the interior here. It’s on the corner at Rue du Plateau. Sit and imagine these streets as the backdrop to scenes dreamt up by Alice Guy in these early films.
Place Alice Guy
Away from Buttes-Chaumont, head south-west to the 14th arrondissement, there is a small street in Paris (named after Alice in 2013) called Place Alice Guy on Rue Didot. It forms the outside forecourt of the MPAA cultural centre which has both outdoor and indoor performance/exhibition space. Sit down here a while and give thanks to Alice for her contribution to cinema history.
Alice Guy in New Jersey
Fort Lee
At the beginning of 20th century, Fort Lee was a rural village with a history dating back to the Americal Civil War, surrounded by green wooded hills, forests and farms and the New Jersey Palisades cliffs by the Hudson River. This versatile landscape was the birthplace of silent cinema and the perfect exteriors backdrop before sunny Hollywood got in there. The area was perfect for filming on location – just a ferry ride from Manhattan attracting the Broadway actors and creative pioneers. Varied rural spots such as cliffs, trees, dirt roads, stone walls, a river and a creek were in close proximity to urban structures and residential areas. You can imagine the buzz of having all these wonderful sets landscaping a new type of theatrical storytelling.
The Palisades
These were the cliffs that gave rise to the term ‘cliffhanger’, first made popular by the serial Perils of Pauline. To see the cliffs where the early movies were shot, go to Allison Park or access the Long Path from George Washington Bridge. Watch your step though, you might not be as lucky as Pauline.
Solax Studios
Alice Guy launched her own studio on an acre of land now known as Lemoine Avenue in 1912. It became a major film centre in cinema’s early days. But, sadly, it was destroyed by fire in 1929. The whole site was redeveloped to make way for a supermarket in 1965. Just north of the George Washington Bridge, the current location is an Acme supermarket next to Fort Lee High School. A historical signpost marker stands in memory of the studio between the school and the entrance to the Acme retail park at 2160 Lemoine Avenue. Linger in front of the sign and beg for it to reveal a secret time travel portal back to 1912.
Fort Lee Museum
At 1588 Palisade Avenue – entrance at 1589 Parker Avenue (Monument Park) – Judge Moor House dates back to 1922. Here you’ll find the Fort Lee Museum with permanent displays of film stills and movie memorabilia. Tom Meyers, Executive Director of the Fort Lee Film Commission (behind the soon to be opened Barrymore Film Center), runs the museum and the Cliffhanger Film Festival held twice a year. His grandparents both worked in the Fort Lee film industry. Tom Meyers is a film history superhero.
Barrymore Film Center
In 2020, Fort Lee was set to open the Barrymore Film Center in Lemoine Avenue, a 260-seat cinema and film museum that will pay homage to Solax, among other local studios of the era. Meyers plans a film festival dedicated to Alice Guy. However, the opening has been postponed until 2021. Read the inaugural Cliffhanger magazine online at https://www.barrymorefilmcenter.com/the-cliffhanger
Rambo’s Hotel and Bar
Rambo’s on 2423 1st Street is a landmark of the early movie-making days. Built in 1867 with a wooden front porch. The Rambo family ran it as a hotel and bar in the early 20th century. But it soon became a film industry hub, used as a film location, dressing room, lunchtime feeding spot and meeting place for cast and crew of early cinema.
According to the historic marker sign, the building was saved from destruction at the final stage before demolition in 2014 by Fort Lee Housing Authority and is now affordable residential housing for military veteran families. Following a successful petition to save the building, Fort Lee Film Commission found a trunk full of silent film costumes on the top floor, which was used as a dressing room. If you’re going to stand on the street corner gaping open-mouthed at history, remember that this is someone’s private home.
Alice Guy’s Fort Lee grave
In 1965 Alice and her daughter Simone move to Wayne, New Jersey. Alice lived her final years there and in Mahwah, New Jersey. She is buried at the Maryrest cemetery in Mahwah, 770 Darlington Ave. A new gravestone marker was erected there in 2012 to mark her legacy. It reads:
First Woman Motion Picture Director, First Woman Studio Head, President of the Solax Company, Fort Lee, N.J.
The Fort Lee Film Commission has a brief ceremony at the gravesite every year on her birthday (1st July). I wonder if they’ll be able to do it this year?
Alice Guy in France
Alice’s father had a bookstore and publishing company in Chile and returned with his children after bankruptcy. Alice and her younger sister Rose attended a convent school in Ferney, France near the Swiss border. This school was in the Château de Voltaire at Ferney – the famous writer rebuilt the castle in 1758. He lived there until his death 20 years later. The French state acquired the property in 1999 but it is open to the public. Drop by the chateau if you’re in the neighbourhood.
If you live in any of these locations and have some local insight, updates or time travelling stories to tell, please do comment below. If you enjoyed this info and think it might be useful, please share it with your pals.
