by Sandra Brennan
biography
Filmmaker Sidney Olcott, born John S. Alcott in Toronto, Canada, was one of the more prolific directors in Hollywood during the silent era, known for his highly energetic style. He began his career in 1904 as an actor with Mutoscope, but soon became a general manager at Biograph. He then became the first director at Kalem Studios in 1907. Olcott was the first Hollywood director to make his feature films on location, and frequently traveled to such places as Ireland and Palestine for added realism. Later he became known as an innovator in the direction of Westerns. Olcott joined Famous Players in 1915 where he directed many of Mary Pickford's films.
