Watch This Paper -- July 5, 2018

Moving Picture World, 20-July-1918

Gilbert M Anderson, Broncho Billy, was the first western star. With George K Spoor, he had founded Essanay (S and A). In 1918, Essanay began rereleasing his one-reel westerns. The reissues were doing well; Essanay was releasing a third block of ten one-reel films.

Moving Picture World, 20-July-1918

At the same time, Anderson was planning to make a series of features.

Film Daily, 21-July-1918

"In a new series of Western five reel superproductions."