Anthony J. Xydias

Who was Anthony J. Xydias?

Anthony J. Xydias was a film producer for such films as Heroes of the Alamo, Devil's Canyon, and Five Bad Men. His career took off after he opened a theater in Dallas, Texas in 1906. From this came a chain of successful theaters.

A former exhibitor, Greek-born American film executive Anthony J. Xydias founded Sunset Pictures in 1922. He wanted to produce inexpensive Westerns starring former rodeo rider Jack Hoxie. Despite their meager budgets, the Hoxie oaters proved well above par for the period, but Xydias found himself without a star when Hoxie left in favor of Universal. Kenneth MacDonald, whom Xydias chose from the ranks of supporting players, did not fill the bill and was quickly replaced by J.B. Warner, a lanky cowboy from Nebraska. Warner died of tuberculosis after only six Westerns.

Xydias then turned his attention to saluting the country that had received him so warmly by producing a series of historical melodramas featuring heroes from America's past. In short order, Sunset released Kit Carson Over the Great Divide, Buffalo Bill on the U.P.