JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – These days, Hollywood is the movie-making capital of the world. But had Los Angeles not lured filmmakers to go west, we might be hearing “Lights, Camera, Action!” in Jacksonville, and the River City could have been the film-making capital of the world.
We know what our modern-day Jacksonville skyline looks like. Let your mind wander a bit and travel back in time. In the early 1900s, there were movie production studios right here in the River City.
Back in the day, silent film stars could be seen strolling down Main Street in Springfield. Suddenly, crowds would gather to watch. They would encounter stars, including Babe Hardy. He started his motion picture career in Jacksonville in 1914…