When the Thomas A. Edison Moving Picture Company arrived in Cheyenne in July 1912, the city became the birthplace of Wyoming’s film industry. The company set up a full‑scale production of the silent epic The Charge of the Light Brigade on the government reservation at Fort D.A. Russell, using Wyoming soldiers as extras and recreating the famous 1854 cavalry charge that inspired Lord Tennyson’s poem.
Local preparation and ambitious spending
According to a July 31, 1912 article in the Cheyenne State Leader, the picture was to cost more than $30,000 – a massive budget for the era. Producer J. Searle Dawley, head of the Edison company’s No. 1 unit, oversaw rehearsals at the Plains Hotel and insisted that no expense be spared. Uniforms were ordered in a shipment of five hundred, each crafted to match the historic attire of the British Light Cavalry, and elaborate sets were built to simulate the Crimean battlefield.
Challenges on the frontier set
The production was not without mishap. An August 6 report described how Signal Corps member Emil Busch was knocked unconscious when a horse’s hoof struck him during a staged charge at Pole Mountain. Explosive charges were detonated to add realism, causing horses to become unmanageable and several riders to be thrown. Despite the injuries, the crew praised the authenticity the stunt work added to the film.
Premiere and community response
After filming wrapped, the finished reel was shown at Cheyenne’s Atlas Theater. A October 15 article lauded the picture as a “magnificent photoplay” and highlighted the accompanying vaudeville program, which featured acts such as the Somboras’ “Fun In a Hat Shop,” the Bernards’ singing and dancing specialty, and Bell’s comedy impersonation of a child. Local audiences were treated to a full evening of entertainment, underscoring how the production turned a historic European battle into a community event.
Historical significance
While the story of the Light Brigade is rooted in the Crimean War, the 1912 film linked Wyoming’s early 20th‑century frontier life to a globally recognized episode of bravery. The production also demonstrated the cooperation between the U.S. War Department and a private film company, a partnership that would continue in later military‑themed pictures.
Legacy
Although the original reels are long gone, an 11‑minute excerpt of the film was re‑released in 1916 and is now available on YouTube, allowing modern viewers to glimpse Wyoming’s first foray into motion‑picture history. The event remains a point of pride for Cheyenne and the state, illustrating how local resources and patriotism helped bring a world‑famous story to the silver screen.
Today, the Atlas Theater still stands as a reminder of that early cinematic adventure, and the story of the 1912 production continues to inspire local historians and film enthusiasts alike.
Original reporting: Sheridan Media (Sheridan WY) — read the source article.
