Did you know the first dog to star in movies came from Maine? Long before Air Bud, Lassie and even Toto, there was Jean, the Vitagraph Dog! Jean, a Collie from Eastport, Maine, was the first dog to have a leading role in a US motion picture during the silent film era. Not only that, she was the first dog to have her name in the title of a film, and went on to star in over two dozen movies.
It all started back in 1909 when her owner, Lawrence Trimble, an aspiring writer and film director, visited Vitagraph Studios in New York while doing research for a series of articles called “How Movies Are Made.” At the time, Vitagraph Studios was one of the most prolific American silent film production companies. During that visit, Trimble learned of a script that required a dog that not only could do tricks, but could act naturally on command in front of the camera. Trimble, instantly knew Jean was the right dog for the part, and a star was born!
Jean went on to star in more than two dozen one and two reel dog adventure silent films between 1910 and 1915. In fact, Trimble filmed more than a half dozen of these movies right here in Maine, including Jean and the Waif and Jean Goes Fishing. Although today most people associate Hollywood, California with the golden age of the silent film era, Maine was actually a popular place to make movies prior to the 1920s. According to Northeast Historic Film Archives director, Karan Sheldon, Maine was an ideal location for filmmaking, not only because of it’s scenic locations, but because the local residents eagerly would get involved with the set-building, lodging the stars and crew, and even acting.
As Jean’s costar from Jean and the Calico Doll, Helen Hayes, reminisced, “Making pictures was a lark and the most vagabond existence. We’d all get into a long line of automobiles with tripods, cameras, props, and lunches. Then we’d drive until we saw a lovely estate that might serve as a setting for the company. If the house and surrounding land seemed right, an official hand would wave the caravan to stop and out we’d jump, to steal the view as a background to our plot.”
Despite being at the height of her career, and beloved by fans everywhere, Jean took some time off from acting in 1912 to have a family of her own. These six puppies soon followed in Mom’s paw steps, starring in Jean and Her Family. In total Jean was featured in approximately 25 films between 1910 and 1915, and passed away in 1916 at the age of 14.
Sadly though, most of these movies have been lost to time with the exception of Jean the Match-Maker (1910), Jean Rescues (1911), and Playmates (1912). However, you’re in luck! In partnership with the Maine Film Center, the Maine Historical Society will be showing six screening of Jean the Match-Maker, on Friday, March 6, 2020, at their museum in Portland. For more information, including screening times for this 13 minute film, please visit Maine in the Movies: Jean the Match-Maker.
