History: Possibly First Movie Filmed in Wyoming was in 1912

October 19, 2025

News – Sheridan Media

Wyoming is not known as place where a lot of movies are made, but there have been several movies filmed in the Cowboy State, taking advantage of the majestic scenery. Some movies that have scenes filmed in Wyoming include Any Which Way You Can, with Clint Eastwood, had many scenes filmed in Jackson. Flicka, with Tim McGraw, was filmed around Sheridan, as was the Kenny Rodgers movie Wild Horses. Shane, with Alan Ladd, was filmed around Jackson. Several other movies have some footage that was filmed in Wyoming as well.

But one of the earliest movies, if not the first movie ever filmed in Wyoming was The Charge of the Light Brigade in 1912. Based on Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem, written in 1874, a few weeks after the event, the Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge by the British light cavalry against Russian forces during the Crimean War.

Cheyenne State Leader, July 31, 1912 talked about the movie. – Edison To Use Ft. Russell Soldiers In Picture Films. A moving picture, “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” the scenario of which is being written in Cheyenne, and to be manufactured at a cost of over $30,000, is to be produced on the government reservation at Fort D. A. Russell. J. Searle Dawley, head producer and manager of the No.1company, of the Thomas A. Edison Moving Picture Company, Ins., with the members of the troupe, is at the Plains Hotel.

Plains Hotel in Cheyenne. Vannoy photo

This morning the first rehearsal for the picture will be held on the reservation. “This will be one of the best pictures ever done by the company,” said Mr. Dawley, when seen in his apartments at the hotel yesterday afternoon.

He was seated at a large desk before a large painting of”The Charge of the Light Brigade,”working out the details of the scenario. “When we left New York for Cheyenne, the heads of the company entrustedme to spare no expense in making the picture the best ever manufactured by them.”

“The best actors and actresses from the various Edison companies have been cast for this production. Tomorrows shipment of five hundred uniforms, manufactured at a cost of several thousand dollars, expressly for this purpose, will arrive. The uniforms, the most minute detail, are exact to those worn by Napoleon’s crack regiment when the Duke of Wellington directed the most destructive defeat ever administered against the greatest general the world has over known.’

This, you know, was the result of Napoleon’s surrender and is considered, on this account, one of the few greatest battles fought In the history of the world.

On account of this event being such an important one in the world’s history of battles, and because one of the most beautiful poems ever written resulted from it, the company has resolved to reproduce it in moving pictures.”

The Edison company in the past several years has produced, in cooperation with the government, several wonderful productions, portraying true army and naval life. The company in producing these pictures have done them more than justice, and their merit has been deeply appreciated by the government. The war department will again co-operate with the company in producing this picture. The troops to be used in manufacturing “The Change of the Light Brigade” will be trained by many rehearsals, which will be directed by Mr. Dawley. The exact date for the taking of the picture, as yet, has not been designated by Mr. Dawley.

The Laramie Boomerang October 20, 1917 had this, which mentioned the numbers killed in the Charge.

Of course, any movies using horse might be subject to horses spooking, especially at cannon and guns. So it was during the filming of the Charge of the Light Brigade.

Cheyenne State Leader, August 6 1912 – Soldier Hurt in Mimic Battle. After being dragged over rough ground and struck by the hoofs of a galloping horse, Emil Busch, of the Signal Corps, was picked up unconscious after the charge at Pole Mountain in front of the camera of the Edison Motion Picture, company. The charge was enacted as a part of the film, “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” and to add realism to the scene, several bombs ‘were exploded in the midst of the group of men and horses. The horses be came-unmanageable, and many threw their riders, Busch was one of the unfortunate ones, falling beneath the hoofs of one of his friend’s horses. tie is suffering from contusions about the head and shoulders.

The movie was shown in several theaters in Wyoming. This from the Cheyenne State Leader, October 18, 1912

Last Half Bill at Atlas Good The offering at the Atlas theater, starting last night, made favorable impression on the two audiences which witnessed the show. The bill is comprised of four act, two reels of pictures and selection by the orchestra. The Edison picture, ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade,’ has been kept over for the remainder of the week by Manager Heaney, Jr This picture was produced near Cheyenne several weeks ago. Many of the Fort D.A. Russell troops participated in the picture.

Mitchell and Grant offer a musical act which is a treat. The two are excellent horn players and aside from playing, sing several popular many clever jokes.