Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List

Silent Era Home Page > PSFL > Companies > I > Independent Moving Pictures Company, Incorporated

A growing source of silent era film information.
This listing is from The Progressive Silent Film List by Carl Bennett.
Copyright © 1999-2025 by Carl Bennett and the Silent Era Company.
All Rights Reserved.

About This Listing

Report Omissions or Errors
in This Listing

Independent Moving Pictures Company, Incorporated
Type of Company	Production company
Country of Origination	United States of America
Years of Operation	Formed May 1909 Active 1909 through circa 1915
Company Principals	Carl Laemmle T.D. Cochrane, general manager (circa 1910)
Company Offices	111 East 14th Street, New York, New York, USA (circa 1909) 573 11th Avenue, New York, New York, USA
Company Studios	Fort Lee, New Jersey, USA
Independent Moving Pictures Company, Incorporated [IMP] became a production unit for The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, in June 1912. The company is also listed in industry publications and company advertising as Independent Moving Picture Company of America and as IMP Films Company. References: MovPicWorld-19100108 pp. 15, 20 : Website-Wikipedia.

[The Moving Picture World, 8 January 1910, page 15] The “Imps” Have a Jollification / At the invitation of T.D. Cochrane, the general manager of the Independent Moving Pictures Company, manufacturers of the “Imp” films, the employees of that concern, met at the Cafe Boulevard on Christmas Eve and spent a jolly time together. L.J. Rubenstein, who has been elected toastmaster, sprung a genuine surprise on Mr. Cochrane by presenting him with a handsome silver-handled umbrella as a token of the apprciation of his subordinates. Mr. Cochrane feelingly replied and spoke on the necessity of the spirit of good-fellowship existing among all the members of any company if that company was to be successful, and he believed in having the employees consider him as a “pal” instead of the august, austere manager. “Bill” Ranous told some of his remininscences of moving picture making. “Silent” Harry Solter told in his peculiar way how glad he was to be there, and “Doc” Willard also waxed eloquent under the influence of the wine and cigars. The health of their absent host, Carl Laemmle, was toasted in the spirit that showed the good feeling among the members of the “Imp” company extended even above the general manager. / With the mention of this little love feast it is opportune to drag into the limelight a little more the man who is responsible for the phenominal strides amde by this new manufacturing company. T.D. Cochrane entered the moving picture business a few months ago with no previous knowledge of the business. A newspaper and commercial training, a level head and untiring energy, fitted him for the organization of a film producing company. Within a short time he marshalled his company and procured temporary questers, where in the intervals of overseeing the production of several films a week, he designed the layout of a complete studio and plant in a large building in the upper West Side of New York City. This plant is now almost completed and will be in full swing in another week. There is not, to our knowledge, in the whole history of film making a similar case where a company has been organized and made such great strides in such a short space of time. Thee good team work of every employee was no small help toward success, but if the autobiography of the “Imp” is ever written by another besides Cochrane himself, and credit is given to whom credit is due, we will learn something more of the man whose hard work, long hours, and indominable energy is very largely responsible for the present position of the Independent Moving Pictures Company.

[The Moving Picture World, 8 January 1910, page 20] The Laemmle Company Establishes a Record. “The best picture we have ever had,” said Mr. Rosenquest, of the Fourteenth Street Theater, when we inquired of him as to the reception of the December 27 released of the Independent Moving Pictures Company of America, otherwise the “Imp.” This is called “The Awakening of Bess,” and so popular was it amongst the Independent theaters that within a few hours of its release we were unable to see a copy of it in New York City. So that, without warning, we sought the opinion of Mr. Rosenquest, who was good enough to tell us, though he was full of business and his house was crowded in the afternoon. He gave us this opinion voluntarily and we pass it on to our readers with regard to the Laemmle picture. / We have all along taken a very great interest in the progress of the “Imp” pictures, because the Independent Moving Pictures Company of America, of which Carl Laemmle is president, have to our mind established a record. Though only working for a few months, they have got down to the production of the moving picture in its best technical aspects. They are making good photographs, which many of their Independent competitors are not. Hence, in this respect they earn the approbiation of The Moving Picture World, which always puts in the forefront of its criticisms the photographic qualities of the pictures. It is really wonderful to reflect that a year ago there was no such company as the “Imp” in existence, and now that company is a strong factor in the American moving picture field.