Charles Belden

Charles Josiah Belden (November 16, 1887, San Francisco, California – February 1, 1966, St. Petersburg, Florida) was a photographer and rancher who was famous for his visceral photographs of the area around Meetseetse, Wyoming.

Belden was born in San Francisco into a wealthy California family. His grandfather, Josiah Belden, was an early California pioneer who made millions in San Francisco real estate and was the first Mayor of San Jose. After graduating from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Charles Belden bought his first camera to record a European tour with his school friend, Eugene Phelps. The highlight of the tour was a journey through Russia in Belden's 1908 Packard, the first automobile to make such a trip in the country. After the trip, Belden went to work as a cowboy on the Phelps (Pitchfork) Ranch in Wyoming. In 1912, Belden married Eugene's sister, Frances. The couple had three children, Annice, Margot, and Mary Elizabeth, who died while still a toddler. Eugene's father died in 1922, leaving Eugene and Charles to take over management of the Pitchfork Ranch. Belden's 1921–1940 photographs of the Pitchfork Ranch were widely published, including in ''The Saturday Evening Post'', ''National Geographic'', and on the cover of ''Life'' magazine.

Airplanes became a fascination for Belden. In the late 1920s, Charles became involved in raising antelope and sending them by airplane to zoos around the world, including some to Germany in the Hindenburg. He helped to pioneer the process of planting fish from the air and filmed the experience for future reference. In addition, he helped the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission conduct a census of wildlife herd populations using aerial photographs.

Estate taxes, mismanagement, and an agricultural depression that began in 1921 took their toll on the Pitchfork and the ranch fell into decline. To meet expenses, in the 1930s the family turned their home into a dude ranch, but this response did not stop the financial drain. After many years of strained relations, Charles divorced Frances in 1940 and moved to Florida with a new wife, Verna Steele Belden. Charles Belden died in 1966 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in St. Petersburg, Florida. Provided by Wikipedia
Showing 1 - 20 results of 31 for search 'Belden, Charles, 1904-1954', query time: 0.08s Refine Results
  1. 1

    Kid nightingale

    [United States] : Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, 2018
    Other Authors: “…Belden, Charles, 1904-1954…”
    Format: DVD


  2. 2

    House of wax

    Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, 2009
    Standard version
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    Format: Video


  3. 3

    Charlie Chan at the opera by Biggers, Earl Derr, 1884-1933

    Beverly Hills, CA : 20th Century Fox, 2018
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    Format: DVD


  4. 4

    Torchy Blane...playing with dynamite

    Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video : Turner Entertainment Co., 2010
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    Format: DVD


  5. 5

    Charlie Chan on Broadway

    Beverly Hills, Calif. : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2007
    Full screen edition
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    Format: Video


  6. 6

    Charlie Chan at the opera

    Beverly Hills, CA. : Twentieth Century Fox, 2006
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    Format: Video


  7. 7

    Charlie Chan in Honolulu by Biggers, Earl Derr, 1884-1933

    Beverly Hills, California : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2007
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    Format: DVD


  8. 8

    Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo

    Beverly Hills, Calif. : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2007
    Full screen edition
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    Format: Book


  9. 9

    Charlie Chan in Honolulu

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    Format: Video


  10. 10

    Charlie Chan in Honolulu

    Beverly Hills, Calif. : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2007
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    Format: Video


  11. 11

    Charlie Chan in Honolulu

    Beverly Hills, Calif. : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2007
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    Format: Video


  12. 12

    Charlie Chan in Honolulu

    Beverly Hills, Calif. : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2007
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    Format: Video


  13. 13

    Charlie Chan in Honolulu

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    Format: DVD


  14. 14

    Charlie Chan at the opera by Biggers, Earl Derr, 1884-1933

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    Format: Audio


  15. 15

    Charlie Chan at the opera by Biggers, Earl Derr, 1884-1933

    Other Authors:
    Format: Book


  16. 16

    House of wax

    Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, 2005
    Full-screen ed.
    Other Authors:
    Format: DVD


  17. 17

    Charlie Chan at the opera

    Beverly Hills, Calif. : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2006
    Other Authors:
    Format: Video


  18. 18

    Charlie Chan at the opera

    Beverly Hills, Calif. : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2006
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    Format: DVD


  19. 19

    Charlie Chan on Broadway

    Beverly Hills, Calif. : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2007
    Other Authors: “…Belden, Charles, 1904-1954…”
    Format: DVD


  20. 20

    Mr. Moto's gamble

    Burbank, CA : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2006
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    Format: DVD