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Film making and entertainment emerged as a major industry in America. The growth of the industry is a fascinating story. The production, distribution, and exhibition of films has evolved along with the changing structure of the industry. There have been a range of economic,
industrial, and technological changes which have influenced the form and content of American films themselves. The industry began with kinetoscopes in the 1890s. Edison and his studio gave Amereica an early lead. Movies began as the Nickkleodian--because they only cost a nickle (5 cebts). They were for workingmen. It was caught to mix them in with Vaudevill performers. The first Nicklelodians were a little seedy. Gradually the films became more sophiticated and the Nickleodians a little more respectable. They began to attrct women and children Then the first movie palaces began to appear. (Which is why many theaters were called The Pallace. By the 1910s, America and Hollywood began to emerge as the film making capital of the world. Why this occurred is an interesting story which we do not yet fully understand. A key factor explaining Hollywood was the warm sunny weather of southern California meant that films could be shot year round. There are a variety of aspects to the growth of the industry. Some of the most interesting include the star and studio systems, changing economics conditions, silent films and talkies, child stars, censorship, World War II, 1950s blacklisting, and fianlly competition with television. The end of the studio system in the 1950s and 60s has brought many changes to the industry. As has the competition with television.
It was well known throughout Europe that a eries of still picturs because latent images remained in the eye could produce the effect of motion. A variety of devices were made to be used in tge parlor. These included Projecting Phenak istiscope and the Wheel of Lofe in America. Similar devuces weee available in Europe. They were a parlor amusement. They were not mnade to tell a story, only to demonstrate the phenomenon as a kind of "trick".
Thomas Edison was one of the most aclaimed Americans of his age. Although he had no serious education, he made some of the most important inventions of the 19th century. His inventioins included the electric light bulb and the phonograph. Much more came from his Meblo Park laboratory. He was fascinated by the idea of motion pictures, He invented the kinetoscope. Edison and his studio gave America an early lead.
The industry began with kinetoscopes in the 1890s. The kinetoscipe was a hand-cranked machine that offered the viewr a few seconds of moving pictures. These were the first motion picture theaters, called kinetoscipe parlors. They had rows of Kinetoscopes machines viwers could enjoy various entertaiments for a few pennies. The offerings were not stories, but such thrilling fare as a man seezing or a juggler. EDison shot 300 movies in his Black Maria studion in New Jersey. Of course this got old very quickly. Edison had trouble figuring out how to project an image. Here French developers made more progress.
It was the French who made the first true motion pictures, images that could be projected on a screen. George Méliès played a major role, even inventing special effects. His films like "Christ Walking on the Waters" woed turn of-the century audiences (1899). It is his "Trip to the Moon" (1902) that is commonly used to illustrate early film making.
EDison followed the French developments and was active on his own. He created the first important American moviw--"The Great Train Robery" (1903). Lighting was a problem in early films because of slow film speeds. He shot the interior scenes on a Manhattan roof and for the outdoor scenes, New Jersey had to do. It was only a 12 minute film, but it was a huge hit. While short, he had it all, including the evil deed (robbery), horseback chase, a shootout, and of course the death of the villenous character. Movie goers were enthralled. They demanded more movies and comfortable places to view them.
Edison's answer was the nickelodeon. The first one opened (1905). Movie theaters with projected images thus began as the nickekodean--because they only cost a nickle (5 cebts). The first one was a very small bare bones room, but it was dark. Here for a niclel you could watch short films about maidens and children being saved from dastardly villans. The heros were gallant and clean shaven. The villants looked the part and were commonly mustachioed evil doers. They were an enormous success. Within a year every city had one and many towns. Aboout 1,000 Nickelodeons appeared that first year amd by 1910 there were 10,000 Nickelodeons around the country. This maeant a brand new industry was created. Americans wre spending $100 million dollars to see movies. hat was a lot of nickles and in the 1900s real money.
The first movie goers were workingmen. It was common to mix them in with Vaudevill performers. The first Nicklelodians were a little seedy. Gradually the films became more sophiticated and the Nickleodians a little more respectable. They began to attrct women and children.
Then the first movie palaces began to appear. (Which is why many theaters were called The Pallace.) The first was on Broadway (1914). It was luxurios with a crystal chandelier and a live orchestra rather than just a piano player.
By the 1910s, America and Hollywood began to emerge as the film making capital of the world. Why this occurred is an interesting story which we do not yet fully understand. A key factor explaining Hollywood was the warm sunny weather of southern California meant that films could be shot year round. There are a variety of aspects to the growth of the industry.
World War I was the first major war to be fought before the cameras. At this time we do not know how Hollywood handled the War. Surely there were some war films, but we do not yet know anything about them. The american public by a lsrge margin wanted to stay out of the War. We are not sure, however, how that affected movie going and Hollywood production policies. The American public from an early point saw thecGermans in a negative light because of German actions (invasion of neutral Belgium and sinking of the Lusitania) as well as British war propaganda. Germany had only a small film industry at the onset of the War, but offiials from an early point in the War saw the potenial of film makers to influence public opinion. As far as we know, however, the Germaan films were not shown in the United States. France also made propaganda films, but we do not know to what extent they were shown in the United States. Britain was slower to appreciate the potebntial impact of movies, but made two films specifically to impact American public opinion (1916), but do not seem to have been very effective. ut by this time, incredibly misguided German actions (the Zimmermann Telegram and the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare) set in motion American entry into the War on the allied side (April 1917). The British Department of Information (DOI) expanded its production of war-themed movies, all of coursce championing the Allied cause. The art of film propaganda was not yet developed. The British had no real idea what themes would play best in America. They simply sent all their war films to America. Some of these films included 'Tanks in Action at the Battle of the Ancre' and 'The Retreat of the Germans at the Battle of Arras'. They were released in serial form. The DOI shifted productiion from full-length features because of the long production times. Rather the DOI began ordering a steady seres of films and shorts of varying lengths and topics. This included newsreel footage with the goal of saturating the U.S. market. The newsreel format became increasingly important with the DOI and its successor agency, the Ministry of Information (MOI). The United States after entering the War created its cown propaganda organization--the Committee on Public Information (CPI) (April 1917). It took several months to create a movie unit--the Division of Films (September 1917).
They were responsible for destributing the film footage taken by army Signal Corps cameramen. It did not get involved with feature films. British film maker Charles Urban founded a company, Kineto Company of America, which use cthe CPI fottage to create severak films, 'Pershing’s Crusaders', 'America’s Answer', 'Under Four Flags', and others. Like the British DOI/MOI, the American CPI focused on newsreels and shorts. American audiences seemed to have preferred British war films.
British-born Hollywood film star Charlie Chaplin produced and starred in many pro-US propaganda films. One of Chaplin';s films were 'Zepped', which recreated a Zeppelin bombing raid on London.
Chaplin made 'The Bond" using his own funds. He also produced short clips showing him hitting Kaiser Wilhelm with a hammer enscribed 'War Bonds'.
Germany at the time the NAZIs seized power had one of the largest and most creative film industries in the world. Hitler appointed his close associate, Joseoh Goebels, to be Minister of Propaganda. Goebbels who was interested in film making immediately seized control over the studios through various administrative measures. As a result, Jews and outspoken anti-NZIs were fired. Many wisely emigrated. Some of the best known came to Hollywood seeking jobs. Some suceeded, others failed. Undeniably they greatly enriched the film making capacity of Hillywood. Beginning with the mid-1930s, Hollywood became the undebiavble film making capital of the world. Interesting some of the refygees made a name cor themselves playing brutal NAZIs. Hollywood did not, however, begin making anti-NAZI films until just before the War.
Movie studios and the U.S. Government agencies were involved in propaganda during World War II. The studios were involved before America entered the War. The Government mostly after America entered the War. Quite a few Hollywood films addressed World War II. The most interesting period was before America entered the War after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. (December 1941). Before that there were no Government censorship or directives on content. Hollywood avoided attacking the NAZIs for a long time. Hitler took over in 1933, but the first anti-NAZI film did not appear until 1939. Hollywood was concerned about losing the profitable German market. While Hollywood avoided attacking the NAZIs, interesting during the 1930s there were no films made which endorsed the strong isolationist sentiment that was widely held by Americans. The first American anti-NAZI film was "Confessions of a Nazi Spy". NAZI Propaganda Minister Josef Goebbels was furious and threatened repercussions. This was Warner Brothers independent decesion, not forced by the Government. After this ground breaking film, Hitler rapidly moved toward war and Hollywood as abecame strongly critical of the NAZIs and Japanese militarists, although the timeline varied from studio to studio. It is also interesting to note how Hollywood ignored the Soviet aggressions. After Pearl Harbor, of course, Hollywood enthusiastically signed up for the war effort. There were also a number of related films made after the War.
McKernan, Luke. "Propaganda, patriotism and profit: Charles Urban and British official war films in America during the First World War".
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