Film Makers

A fact little known to most Philadelphia region residents is that Montgomery County and the Valley Forge area played a starring role in the early years of motion pictures and the coming of the silver screen.

In 1921, optician Siegmund Lubin established the Betzwood Motion Picture Studio across the Schuylkill River from what is today Valley Forge National Historical Park and made more than 100 films at the premier facility. But by 1921 the party was over and the movie industry had gone west.

Today the Greater Philadelphia Film Office has helped challenge Hollywood’s hold on the film business through aggressive promotion of the region as a filming site, lobbying and awareness strategies. New state tax incentives have also enticed even more production of shorts, independent films and big budget blockbusters in the region, and development of production facilities in Montgomery County.