In 1910, the Essanay silent movie studio spent several months filming in Santa Barbara. A number of misunderstandings startled local residents who were not used to such goings on. The first incident occurred during the filming of “The Mexican’s Faith.”
“The Essanay company boldly held up the Southern Pacific train at Miramar this morning, tumbled out a few of the passengers who happened to be in the company’s pay, enacted a most blood-curdling and realistic scene, much to the wide-eyed curiosity of such passengers who had not been let in on the deal.” – Santa Barbara Independent, January 5, 1910.
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