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The Bet
Filmmaking wasn't intended as a way to entertain. The invention of film was a result of a bet between a wealthy englishman Eadweard Muybridge and his friends. Muybridge claimed that during horse races, at some point all four of the horse's feet were off the ground. His friends challenged him to this and to prove he was right, Muybridge lined up several cameras by the track to take pictures of the horse's movement. He won the bet and the first discovery of film was made. -
The Invention of the Kinetoscope
The kinetoscope was invented by Thomas Edison. He contributed these machines to the new kinetoscope parlors. Through his invention, viewers were able to watch the moving pictures created by early filmmakers of that era. The kinetoscope displayed a view of the pictures through a peephole capable of the access of one eye. -
1st Theater
During the year of 1895, films were experimented with. These "films" were only known as "moving pictures", because at the time, that was all they were. The first theater was called a Kinetoscope Parlor intended for a one person audience that provided a peephole for one eye of the viewer. -
The Projector
Originally, Thomas Edison had the idea of the projector but he kept it to himself to continue charging one person at a time for the kinetoscope. In France, the Lumiere Brothers had the same idea and proceeded to go through with it. The Lumieres created a projector that showed moving pictures to larger audiences and they named it "cinematographe". These films that developed from the concept of kinectoscope lasted between 30 and 60 seconds. -
Films Introduced to Vaudevilles
Short films transitioned into shows called vaudevilles. After the short film ended, quick comedies and song and dance were performed. Performers each had a chance to keep the crowd entertained and if not they were moved off stage and another act took place. -
Nickelodeon
About five years later, vaudevilles expanded into nickelodeons. These new shows gained their name from the cost of each show, a nickel. Nickelodeons were small theaters that played short films followed by one or two vaudevilles afterwards. The short films included in nickelodeons were silent and usually had a live piano player and people creating sound effects through the duration of the film. -
The Great Train Robbery
Edwin Porter, an employee of Thomas Edison, created the first film with an actual story. The film lasted 12 minutes which was pretty long compared to the 30 second pictures. The film, "The Great Train Robbery" consisted of 14 scenes. DIfferent angles of a camera were portrayed through the production and went down in history as the first "epic". -
Big Money
Nickelodeon theaters were swarming with popularity raking in around 26 million viewers per week. The amount of watchers doubled by 1915. These films attracted the attention of potential companies interested in profiting these events. -
MPPC
Thomas Edison created the Motion Picture Patents Company (MPPC) to control the success of the rising film industry. If other independent film companies attempted to compete against Edison, their studios were raided by those of the MPPC. The tension between the MPPC and other companies established today's standards of filmmaking and the competition in the industry. -
Moving to California
Most independent films starting taking place in the East coast to stay relatively close to where the MPPC was located. Locating in the Eastern United States produced a problem because of the area's fog and gray skies. Much sunlight was needed for films and New York couldn't provide it. Filmmakers moved to the west coast where sunlight was plentiful and the distance from the MPPC enabled less control over the films. -
Charlie Chaplin
For Charlie Chaplin, independent films were not only a gold mine but an art to inspire. He spread messages within his films that represented the conflict between good and evil. Chaplin was known as the comdedic genius of silent films in the 20th century. With his leading lady co-star, Mary Pickford, he added substance to these black and white pictures. Over time, he quickly rose to fame starting to earn $150 a week. By 1917, he was making more than a million dollars a year. -
Sound in Films
Before actual sound was used in films, there were piano players and other instruments that played during them. France once again took charge of the opportunity to add sound to films but weren't as successful as American inventors. Many trials had been attempted before as by Edison and other inventors but Lee De Forest made the biggest contribution to adding sound.
