The Ries Brothers, their own fame in World War 1, Hollywood and their famous wooden tripods. These four brothers are steeped in a very rich history of early Hollywood as the industry was just beginning.
When you buy a Ries wooden tripod, you are buying the tradition of lightweight and durable wooden legs, easy-to-use hardware, and built-in quality that started in 1936.
Paul , Park, Ray and Irving Ries were in Hollywood when the motion picture industry was born. They saw the need for a sturdy, durable tripod mounted with a still camera on it for every motion picture set. This camera recorded movie scenes with the succinct clarity and immediate availability only a still camera could offer. The people in wardrobe relied on those photographs to ensure that the cast was properly attired and made-up from one shot to the next. And some of Hollywood’s classic publicity photos were shot on movie sets from atop the Ries brothers’ tripods.
While the movie industry was booming, the fine art of still photography was reaching new heights as well. Much of the time-honored work of such photographic greats as Ansel Adams and Edward Weston were shot from a Ries wooden tripod. And top large format photographers around the world today still regard Ries as “simply the best there is!”
Though the Ries wooden tripod has changed little in appearance over the years, the quality of each component is being constantly improved, using the most advanced computer technology available. The result is a blend of the classic charm and durability of the old wooden Ries with the superior quality of design, manufacture, and finish afforded by today’s technology. And all Ries products are still “Made in USA”, in our own factory in Washington State.
To read more of the amazing history of the Ries Brothers Click Here Ries Brothers History
Park Ries 1915 with Ries Wooden Tripod
Irving Ries, after returning from filming
Early in 1915, twenty-five-year-old Irving was selected for an
assignment with a level of responsibility well beyond his years, filming
On the Firing Line with the Germans, 1915
View of an outdoor set at Universal Studios in 1925, with Park Ries cranking the camera.