Wharton Studio Silent Film Tour

Take a tour of Ithaca’s silent movie history!

The Wharton Studio Silent Film Tour has been created by Wharton Studio Museum.

Visit the historic Wharton, Inc. Studio where, from 1915-1921, silent movies were directed and produced, starring some of the best known actors of the day, as well as other locations featured in the Wharton Studio films. When filmmaker Theodore (Ted) Wharton first came to Ithaca in 1912 on an assignment from the Essanay Film Co. in Chicago, he was struck by the area's abounding natural beauty: Cayuga Lake, gorges, and Cornell University's bucolic campus. Ted left Ithaca, but returned a few years later, and, with his brother Leopold, rented 50 acres of Renwick Park -- now Stewart Park-- to establish their production studio. Wharton, Inc. Studios produced hundreds of silent films and notable episodic serials such as "Patria", "Beatrice Fairfax", and "The Great White Trail", starring actors such as Irene Castle, Lionel Barrymore, and a young Oliver Hardy. Ted and Leo used, to full-effect, the dramatic backdrops the area offered, including Cayuga Lake, striking gorges, Cornell University's campus, and downtown Ithaca.

Enjoy the experience of discovering Ithaca's unique contribution to American movie history brought to you by Wharton Studio Museum, a local arts and education nonprofit organization committed to preserving and celebrating Ithaca's silent movie history. Wharton Studio Museum is working in partnership with the City of Ithaca (which owns Stewart Park)) and Friends of Stewart Park, to transform the lakefacing side of the the former movie studio into the Wharton Studio & Cafe, a year-round destination with exhibits on Ithaca's motion picture history, a cafe and terraces overlooking Cayuka Lake.

For more information, please visit whartonstudiomuseum.or or https://www.facebook.com/whartonstudiomuseum/