Hiya Myss-
I've got to get my kiddo to bed, but here is a discussion thread so we can share info on Essanay a little easier. :) I'll add the article I found from 1916 which got me from Rochester/Syracuse to Chicago when I get a chance.
here's a funny bit I found on Google books : quote "These subtitles must be crisp and concise and absolutely boiled down, so there will not be one superfluous word. There should be no straining for comedy effects. Mr. (Richard Foster) Baker tried to improve my text, and very often the sub-titles would become involved and all together too long...." end quote. From "Letters of George Ade".
George Ade was a popular humorist for a while I read some of his writings when I was a tadpole, time to look them up again. The Studio used some of his fables as film subjects. Heh heh, every creative profession has to watch the toes of adjoining ones!