How Arizona Unintentionally Created The Modern Film Industry

Arizona has a bustling film industry. From filming locations to up-and-coming filmmakers, the Grand Canyon State has a fair claim to calling themselves a "film state".

We pale in comparison to, of course, Hollywood, California. The star studded streets have housed cinema's elite for over a century, but you may not know that the mere existence of Arizona caused Hollywood to erupt.

Meet Cecil B DeMille

There's one man who can be attributed to the rise of Hollywood in filmmaking circles, and that is Mr. DeMille. Born in 1881, DeMille had a massive interest in Theatre, leading him to act, produce, and direct stage plays through his youth.

Many of the plays under his supervision were seen as flops, which led to a waning interest in the stage. Still bursting with creative energy, DeMille focused on the new art form rapidly gaining traction through the early 20th century: filmmaking.

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How DeMille Used Arizona to Create Hollywood

DeMille began working on his craft, founding a production company, and standing in for directors on certain scenes. He had larger aspirations, though, so when he received the go-ahead to adapt Edwin Milton Royle's The Squaw Man, he jumped at the chance.

Filming was supposed to begin in Flagstaff, AZ in late 1913, but a problem soon arose. When the crew arrived, they deemed the area not western-y enough. What to do? Well, DeMille had heard about other filmmakers finding success in Los Angeles, specifically Edendale.

DeMille decided instead on a little spot just outside of L.A. called "Hollywood". The Squaw Man became the first major-motion picture filmed in Hollywood, and the rest is history.

[Cecil B. DeMille via Wikipedia]