-
The Bet
It all began with a $25000 bet, between Eadweard Muybridge and Leland Stanford, to prove if a horse has all feet in the air when they run. Eadweard Muybridge decided to make a device to prove what he said. When he took the pictures and showed it to his friend they noticed that it it looked the horse was actually moving in the rapid series of photos. -
The Zoopraxiscope is invented
In 1879 Eadweard Muybridge invented the Zoopraxiscope, a device with counter-rotating discs that projected the images sequentially. He showed it to the public in San Fransisco using a series of images of a horse galloping. A reporter after watching it had this to say "Nothing was wanting, but the clatter of hoofs upon the turf and the occasional breath of steam to make the spectator believe he had before him the flesh and blood steeds." -
The Peephole Kinetoscope
In 1891 the peephole kinetoscope was invented by Thomas A. Edison and William Dickson. The device was basically a strip of film that was passed rapidly between a lens and an electric light bulb while the viewer peered through a peephole. These films were usually 20-130 seconds long. -
Cinematographe
Invented by the Auguste and Louis Lumière in 1895. The Cinématographe was a camera, printer and projector. Was shown at a scientific meeting in March 1895. -
Vaudevilles
First created in France in the late 1700's which are basically a comedy skit, they changed dramatically near the end of the 19th century. Film was used along with them and bought popularity to the idea of it. The would later evolve into Nickelodeons. -
L'Arrivée d'un train en gare de La Ciotat
Directed by the Lumiere brothers. Was one of the first projected films created and one of the first instances of a paying audience coming together to watch a moving picture. Caused a stampede because many in the audience thought a train was actually coming at them. -
The Great Train Robbery
Written, produced, and directed by Edwin S. Porter, a former employee of Thomas Edison. It was the first silent short western film. It was 12 minutes long and inspired the creation of longer movies. -
Nickelodeons
A type of theater that had an admission fee of one nickel. These stemmed from Vaudevilles and became extremely popular from 1905-1915. These would use piano accompaniment and show 1-2 vaudevilles. -
Motion Picture Patents Company
Otherwise known as the MPPC. It was created by Thomas Edison and other companies to get a monopoly on film. Regardless of how rough they were with independent companies they created a internationally competitive film industry. -
Charlie Chaplin
A comic genius and one of the first superstars in film. He used his films as a way to subtly communicate about good and evil in our society. He also influenced how actors work in the film industry and influences how some of them act directly. First movie he got recognition from was "The Tramp" in 1914. -
Technicolor
Originally films could only use 2 strips of color in film which gave a limit on what colors they could use. Technicolor which was 3 strips offered a much wider range of color and was popular for its saturation was created in 1916. First used in the Wizard of Oz(1939) it influenced how movies would appear later. -
Sound in movies
Originally called talkies these first appeared in the late 1920's. The first made was "The Jazz Singer" starring Al Jolson. Introduced the concept of sound in films and would go on to become the standard.
