Conquest Pictures was a film production unit launched in 1917 as part of Thomas A. Edison Inc. It produced films for young people and families including subjects from popular children's authors such as Robert Louis Stevenson, Richard Harding Davis, Ralph Henry Barbour, and Mary Shipman Andrews. Anna M. Callan was in charge of the division. Its films were distributed through the George Kleine System.[1] It closed in 1918 and its films were sold off as Edison exited the film production business.
Conquest's first release was July 14, 1917.[2]
The Conquest Pictures plan included weekly releases of 7 reels of film including varying content such as a main 4-reel film, a 1-reel comedy, a 1-reel travel feature, and magazine style news reel. The films could also be ordered individually. The programs were intended to be promoted by involvement from women's clubs who advocated for wholesome fare and marketed to educators and families.[3]
In February 1918, an advertisement touting Conquest Pictures programs ran in the Boy Scouts of America publication Boys Life. The ad compared the film programs to the Every Boy's Library calling them the "Every Boy's Library of the Motion Picture World".[4]
Edison's movie division faced stiff competition and difficult times in the World War I era.[5] In 1918 the Lincoln and Parker Film CompanyofWorcester, Massachusetts acquired Edison film company assets and equipment as well as some of its film footage including Conquest's programs.[6]
Willis O'Brien created at least 3 stop motion shorts that were released as part of Conquest Pictures film packages:
An advertisement seeking stories that were wholesome and not wishy washy described the type Conquest was looking for and gave as examples stories the film company had already used for its adaptations:
An advertisement for libraries with film equipment or that can show films through partnerships with cinemas notes other Conquest films as:
{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
