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The first machine patented in the United States that showed animated pictures or movies was a device called the "wheel of life" or "zoopraxiscope". Patented in 1867 by William Lincoln
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A peephole-viewing machine is unveiled by Edison during a convention of the Federation of Women's Clubs
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The Holland brothers open the first kinetoscope parlor in New York City on April 14. In one year they have gross receipts of over $16,000.
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From April 1894 through February 1895, Edison's kinetoscope and film sales exceed $177,000.
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Charles Raff and Frank Gammon buy the Jenkins-Armat phantoscope from Thomas Armat on behalf of Edison. They rename the projector " Edison's Vitascope", and it is hailed as Edison's latest invention. By selling exclusive Vitascope exhibition rights for specific territories, they make a windfall profit.Benjamin Keith books the Lumière's cinèmatographe for his vaudeville circuit in America. In his New York City theatre alone the cinèmatographe presentations are so popular they run for 23 weeks.
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The American Mutoscope Company (later renamed the American Mutoscope & Biograph Company and frequently called the "Biograph Company"), marketing their own films and their new biograph projector, becomes the foremost motion picture company in the U.S.
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Vaudeville theatres establish permanent relations with motion picture exhibition services.Biograph introduces a new tripod head that allows quick, smooth panning of the camera
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The actualities (scenes of daily life), the news events (both real and reconstructed), and the worn-out dramatic and comic situations that have become the standard fare of film exhibitions, begin to bore audiences. Attendance at the showing of motion pictures begins to fall.
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The French film company, Pathè Frères, hires Ferdinand Zecca to be its head of film production. Within a year the number of Pathè releases surpasses the output of the popular French producer, Georges Méliès.
