James Young Deer (1911) 🇺🇸
The picture personality presented herewith is that of James Young Deer, director and general manager of the Pathé West Coast Studio. Although an old-timer in the moving picture field, Mr. Young Deer, as will be seen from his photograph, is still a comparatively young man in point of years.
Young Deer was born in Dakota City, Neb. Ever since childhood his life has run in amusement channels. For many years he trouped all over the country with the circuses of the period, among them being Barnum & Bailey, and 101 Ranch. Early in the ‘90’s when the moving picture industry began to forge to the front, Young Deer left the lure of the circus for the spotlight of the moving picture camera.
Although he little realized it at the time, the moving picture field was destined to provide the medium for the outlet of his dramatic instincts. His first experience in the pictures occurred under Kalem management, where his past experience stood him in good stead. It was at this period that the popular Western and Indian pictures came into vogue. Young Deer then left the Kalem Company and joined the Lubin forces, where he helped to put on The Falling Arrow, and other Lubin films. Beside assisting in the production of the films, he wrote many of the scenarios on which they were based, and oftimes played the leading roles or important character parts.
His work in Western pictures attracted the attention of the Biograph management, who engaged his services in The Mended Lute, a beautiful Biograph production. From the Biograph he joined the Vitagraph and helped to produce the Vitagraph film Red Wing’s Gratitude.
When Pathé Frères began producing in this country he affiliated himself with that company, being one of their first American producers. Among the films that he produced for them in the East were: A Cheyenne Brave, The Red Girl and the Child, and a War drama, Under Both Flags.
Shortly afterward he returned to Los Angeles to establish the Pathé West Coast Studio. His locally produced Western pictures have been very successful and are much in demand.
Young Deer has gathered about him a competent organization of professional men and women, and is sparing neither effort nor expense to make the Pathé Frères productions topnotchers in the film market.
Among his productions so far have been the films: The Yaqui Girl, A Cowboy’s Devotedness, Lieutenant Scott’s Narrow Escape, Red Deer’s Devotion, A Western Courtship, and others.
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Collection: Moving Picture World, May 1911
The Falling Arrow * 09
The Mended Lute * 09
Red Wing’s Gratitude * 09
A Cheyenne Brave * 10
The Red Girl and the Child * 10
Under Both Flags * 10
The Yaqui Girl * 10
Lieutenant Scott’s Narrow Escape * 11
Red Deer’s Devotion * 11
A Western Courtship * 11