Film History 

POVERTY ROW - a phrase significant to a young and struggling Hollywood - is a story of profound importance, yet one seldom singled out for attention by historians of the film. This is surprising when one considers the astonishing number of feature pictures produced by the POVERTY ROW studios - particularly during the two decades - 1930-1950. Some of today's best known actors of Hollywood were quite active on the rosters of these frayed-cuff film organizations down on POVERTY ROW, while others slipped away into oblivion. Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Huntz Hall and Leo Gorcey (two members of Monogram's "Bowery Boys"), Bob Steele, Frankie Darro, Kane Richmond and many other players owed all, or much of their fame -- and employment as actors - to . the film companies who were denizens of Gower Gulch. As for the ladies . . . well there was Ellen Drew and Rita Hayworth - to mention just a few - who made the big time.