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Eadweard Muybridge
In 1880, a bet was made to prove whether a horses hooves are all in mid air whilst running at full speed. With Muybridge and a couple of friends agreed on a $25,000 bet, and lined up multiple cameras on the side of the track, and took consecutive photos one after another to get each moment of the horse's movement. Muybridge, along with winning the bet, discovered the illusion of motion in single pictures going at a very fast speed. -
Thomas Edison and the Kinetiscope
Also known as a "peep hole viewer," the Kinetoscope was invented and patented by American entrepreneur and inventor Thomas Edison in 1891. These stations were used to show short, and very simple motion pictures for one person at a time. Edison decided not to unveil his projector in fear of not making enough money. -
1895-1900, France and the Cinemotographe Lumiere
In 1895, France developed their own projector with small, simple 10-30 second motion pictures, one being a moving train. So many people injured themselves trying to get away, and all of Europe was amazed at the technology. This later evolved into Vaudeville, small theatres for drama, comedy, skits, and most popular, motion pictures. As film got more popular, they eventually turned into Nickelodeons, theatres specifically for motion pictures. -
First documentary
A employee of Thomas Edison, Edward Porter, decided motion pictures should be more than just simple animations, and filmed the first motion picture with a plot and a defined cast of characters. Only being 14 clips for a 12 minute show, he became a instant success and a major historical figure for cinema. -
1910-1915, The success of film
In 1910, Nickelodeons were attracting 26 million viewers a week, and five years later, it nearly doubled. With investors knowing the potential of motion pictures, began to try to monopolize the industry. -
The MPPC
Led by the infamous Thomas Edison, a trust called the Motion Picture Patents Company. This group of business men and officials aimed to control the production of raw film, projecors, cameras, almost everything in the whole industry to gain the monopoly and make a portion of the multimillion dollar culture. -
Shift from the East
Soon after the formation of the MPPC, filming took its locations elsewhere in the west. The reasons mainly being the east was cloudy and dark, and needed more light. Along with that, they were farther away from the MPPA's control, therefor able to profit off the films made. The MPPA also didn't credit actors for their performances, fearing they would become rich and famous and gain more profit. The studios on the west coast disagreed, and knew people would love to see the same actors again. -
Fame through film
Actors such as Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin were proven to make the industry boom and become a very profitable business, and crediting the actors made both the producers, and actors famous in the process. Chaplin becoming a millionaire, communicated good and evil through silent films and what society should do.
