KLEINE COMPANY

Charles Kleine ran a small optical store in New York, manufacturing and selling stereopticons and other optical devices.

The Kleine family moved to Chicago in 1893 and set up Kleine Optical Company. The company sold stereopticons, magic lantern slides and, starting in 1896 onwards, motion picture equipment.

George, his son, became general manager sometime around 1899. Kleine Optical Company, specializing in magic lantern goods, became an Edison selling agent in 1899 and featured Edison films and equipment exclusively in their catalogs.

In 1901, Kleine began renting films to exhibitors.

From 1903 he began dealing in Biograph and European films as well, to Edison's annoyance, and he was one of those instrumental in establishing the film rental system in the United States.

In 1907, George moved into production with the formation of the Kalem Company.

In 1908, George formed Kleine Company primarily to distribute films from abroad and became a part of a bitter battle with Edison.

In 1909, Kleine was asked to join Edison in forming the Motion Picture Patents Company to try to shut out smaller studios. The MPPC was formed by Edison, Biograph, Essanay, Kalem, Kleine, Lubin, Melies, Pathe, Selig and Vitagraph. This formation basically set the standards for movie paper. They also formed the General Film Company to distribute their films to theaters. This group would become known as 'the Trust'.

Kleine continued to derive his greatest prestige from importing European films until World War I. After that he turned primarily to educational films until he retired in 1928.