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Vaudeville
Vaudeville were small theatre shows which were very popular in the period from 1880-1930. Each show featured a series of unrelated comedy skits and sometimes short films. The popularity of these shows helped lead to the creation of movie theatres. -
Phenakistoscope
The Phenakistoscope is one of the earliest examples of animation and film. The device was essentially a spinning disk with a number of small pictures on it. When spun the disk created the illusion of animation and the small pictures appeared to move. -
Praxinoscope
The Praxinoscope was first created by the French Inventor Charles-Emile Reynard. The Praxinoscope was a small lamp surrounded by a small mirror on each side wih small pictures along the lamps inner ring. When turned on the ligt would spin, and the reflection of the mirror would cause the images to appear stationary as they moved. -
Discovery of film
Eadweard Muybridge was a man that helped pioneer the film industry. Prompted by a 25,000$ bet, Muybridge set up a series of cameras in order to prove that all four of a horses feet were off of the ground when it ran full speed. When these pictures were examined it was discovered that by placing hem in chronological order it appeared as if they moved. -
Kodac Cameras
Kodak, one of the biggest camera companies to this day, got its start in 1888 when George Eastman founded the company. kodak sold cameras failry cheaply. In 1976, 90% of cameras used in filming were Kodak and 85% of cameras sold were Kodak brand. -
Kinetoscope
The Kinetoscope was invented by Thomas Edison and developed by his employee William Kennedy Laurie Dickson. Tiny images would be placed above a lightsource in sequential order so they appeared as if they were moving. A spectator could view these moving images through a small peephole, however only one person could view the images at a time trough said peephole, and i wasn't until later on that Edison realized more than one person viewing the films at a time was a profitable venture. -
The First Private Film Screening
Auguste and Louis Lumiere, or the Lumiere brothers, were the first filmakers, and the first to hold a private screening of a film in 1895. The brothers realized how profitable movie screenings could become and the first screening in which admissions were charged however was in December 28,1895. -
The Great Train Robbery
The Great Train Robbery was the first films in which basic film techniques such as lighting effects, editing, and on location shooting were used. It was also the longest film of its time, as most 'films' that had come before it were only around 30 seconds long, and the Great Train Robbery was 12 minutes. Overall it was a very big milestone for the movie industry at this time. -
The First Feature Film- The Story of Kelly Gang
The Story of Kelly Gang was the first ever feature film, running at around 60 minutes. The film is one of 'sorrow', and tells the story of the infamous outlaw Ned Kelly and the struggles he has to endure. -
MPPC founded
The Motion Picture Patents Company (or MPPC) was founded in 1908, and dominated the film industry for over a decade. Though the MPPC helped improve the quality of American films and the way they were distributed, they discouraged independant film making and outside financing. Independant film makers fled to the West Coast as a result of the MPPC domination in the industry and because of this the West Coast is considered our nation film capital. -
Photoplay
Photoplay was the first big magazine that covered American film. The magazine covered the play, story and characters and promoted each film. Photoplay set the precedent for future gossip and celebrity magazines, and is credited for popularizing celebrity media. -
Charlie Chaplin's first appearance in film
Charlie Chaplin was the biggest movie star during the early 1900s and is still a vey influential star to this day, making his first appearance on 'Making a Living".Chaplin did a variety of pantomime comedy shows which became very popular. Because of early film stars like Charlie Chaplin, film companies began to realize that people would go see their films simply because an actor they like is in the film, and many famous actors and celebrities were introduced.
