Editing Florence Lawrence (section)

===Victor Film Company===
[[File:After All 1912.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Scene of Lawrence (far right) in 1912 [[Victor Studios|Victor]] production ''After All''; other cast are (from left) [[Owen Moore]], [[Victory Bateman]] on step, and [[Gladden James]].]]
In 1912, Lawrence and Solter made a deal with Carl Laemmle, forming their own company. Laemmle gave them complete artistic freedom in the company, named [[Victor Studios|Victor Film Company]], and paid Lawrence $500 per week as the leading lady, and Solter $200 per week as director. They established a film studio in [[Fort Lee, New Jersey]] and made a number of films starring Lawrence and [[Owen Moore]], then sold to [[Universal Pictures]] in 1913. With this new prosperity, Florence was able to realize a 'lifelong dream,' buying a {{convert|50|acre|ha|adj=on}} estate in River Vale, New Jersey.<ref>[https://wfpp.cdrs.columbia.edu/pioneer/ccp-florence-lawrence/ Florence Lawrence] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922121611/https://wfpp.cdrs.columbia.edu/pioneer/ccp-florence-lawrence/ |date=September 22, 2015 }}, Women Film Pioneers Project; accessed September 23, 2015. "Florence Lawrence intended her last Victor photoplay to be her second two-reel film ''The Lady Leone'' (1912), and after its completion, she and Solter retired to their home in River Vale, New Jersey."</ref><ref>[http://www.pascackhistoricalsociety.org/educators-corner/qa PHS Answer Girl & Curator] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204164050/http://www.pascackhistoricalsociety.org/educators-corner/qa |date=February 4, 2015}}, Pascack Historical Society; accessed September 23, 2015; "Florence Lawrence was America's first movie star according to movie historians. She lived at 565 Rivervale Road in River Vale from 1913 through 1916."</ref> In August 1912, she had a fight with her husband, in which he "made cruel remarks about his mother-in-law". He left and went to Europe. However, he wrote "sad" letters to her every day, telling her of his plans to commit suicide. His letters "softened her feelings", and they were re-united in November 1912. Lawrence announced her intention to retire.{{Citation needed |date=August 2024}}

[[File:Owen Moore Florence Lawrence 1912.jpg|thumb|left|[[Owen Moore]] talks to Florence Lawrence in the silent drama, ''The Redemption of Riverton'' (1912)]]
She was persuaded to return to work in 1914 for her company (Victor Film Company), which had been acquired by [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]]. During the filming of ''Pawns of Destiny'' in 1915, a staged fire got out of control. Lawrence was burned, her hair was singed, and she suffered a serious fall which fractured her spine.<ref name=reading/> She went into shock for months. She returned to work, but collapsed after the film was completed. To add to her problems, Universal refused to pay her medical expenses, leaving Lawrence feeling betrayed. In mid-1916, she returned to work for Universal and completed ''[[Elusive Isabel]]''. However, the strain of working took its toll on her, and she suffered a serious relapse. She was completely paralyzed for four months. In 1921, she traveled to Hollywood to attempt a comeback, but had little success. She received a leading role in a minor melodrama (''[[The Unfoldment]]''), and then two supporting roles. All her film work after 1924 was in uncredited bit parts.{{Citation needed |date=August 2024}}