Rosie O'Grady was the second of eight films made by the short-lived Apollo Pictures in 1917. Apollo was one of several companies supplying motion pictures to Art Dramas, Inc.
       The 3 Feb 1917 Motography announced the upcoming film as actress Viola Dana’s first release through distributor Art Dramas, Inc. That same day, Motion Picture News implied that production company Apollo Pictures had allocated an uncharacteristically high budget for the film, adding that the prestige would likely to justify the company’s expense. The story was set on the Lower East Side of New York City’s Manhattan Island, although it was not confirmed as an actual shooting location.
       Rosie O’Grady opened 1 Feb 1917 to fairly positive reviews, such as in the 17 Feb 1917 Motion Picture News, which described the use of “cut-backs” or flashbacks as distinguishing an otherwise “commonplace” story. The 9 Feb 1917 Var, however, stated that the film was better suited to “cheaper” theaters. In a letter to the 3 Mar 1917 Motography, theater manager George D. Hopkinson complained that a prize fight sequence had been deleted by Chicago, IL, censors.
       An item in the 12 May 1917 Moving Picture World listed a San Francisco, CA, opening during the week of 6 May 1917 at the Tivoli Theatre.
       On 1 Sep 1917, Motography reported that Apollo president Harry R. Raver had arranged with Felipe Palenque of the Compania to release the film in Mexico.
       The working title of this film was His Sister's Champion, under which it was copyrighted. ...