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The First Motion Picture
A $25,000 bet was made to prove that a galloping horse had all four of its feet off of the ground at some point. A rapid sequence of photos were taken of a horse running. It was proven that in brief moments, the horse did have all four feet off of the ground. -
Chronophotographic Gun
In 1882, French scientist Étienne-Jules Marey created the chronophotographic gun. It could take photographs at 12 frames per second. It was used to study the movement of animals and humans -
The "peephole kinetoscope" is introduced to the public.
Thomas Edison developed the “peephole kinetoscope” which he later sold to kinetoscope parlors. He invented a projector, but didn’t present it, because he thought that if only one person could view the moving images at a time, he would make more money. Later, this turned out to be a mistake. -
The first showing of the Cinématographe.
The French Lumière brothers developed and released a projector, unlike Edison, and it was called the Cinématographe. In 1895 they started showing short films at movie theaters that lasted from 30 to 60 seconds. They also began being displayed in a Paris cafe for a one-franc admission. -
Vaudeville (Late 1800s - Early 1900s)
Vaudeville was a collection of small theaters that featured short dramatic skits, comedy routines, and song and dance numbers. It grew in popularity around the time the Cinématographe was introduced. To challenge the competition and fill in time between acts, Vaudeville theaters started featuring short films. -
Nickelodeons (Early 1900s)
In the 1900s Vaudeville became nickelodeons. Nickelodeons were small theaters that displayed films with piano music and sound effects as well as one or two vaudeville acts. They were named Nickelodeons because they costed a nickel. -
The Great Train Robbery
An employee of Thomas Edison, Edwin Porter created the first U.S. narrative film in 1903, The Great Train Robbery. It had a storyline that crosscut between different narrative sequences and had different camera positions, which were introduced here. It also included 14 scenes and it lasted 12 minutes, a long length at that time. -
Edison and the MPPC
Several companies formed a trust called the Motion Picture Patents Company (MPPC) led by Thomas Edison. These combined patents would allow the companies to control the production of raw film stock, projection equipment, and film distribution and exhibition, essentially the entire motion picture industry. Independent film companies tried to make films, but at a risk. The MPPC would attack these independent studios by breaking equipment and threatening employees. -
First Animated Cartoon
Fantasmagorie, a French animated film, is considered to be the first animated cartoon. It was created by Émile Cohl in 1908. The film was made with 700 drawings that were filmed as black lines on white paper. -
Filmmakers Move to the East Coast (Early 1900s)
All films were originally shot on the East Coast of the U.S. where the film industry originated. Many films were shot outside, and a lot of light was needed in order to make up for the slow speed of the film, and the weather on the East Coast was not bright all of the time. On the West Coast, film companies could evade MPPA control. -
Charlie Chaplin's First Film
Charlie Chaplin, a famous silent filmmaker created his first film, Making a Living on February 2, 1914. When Charlie started his career, he made $150 a week, but by the year 1917 he began making more than one million a year. Chaplin's motion pictures were used to subtly speak about good and evil in society. -
Technicolor
Technicolor Motion Picture Corp. is founded by Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus in 1915. Walt Disney's Flowers and Trees was his first theatrical cartoon with full color. Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz are two successful films that used Technicolor and made color more popular. -
The First Film With Sound
The Jazz Singer was the first movie to include sound. It was known as a "talkie." This was possible with the Vitaphone sound-on-disk system. -
The First Oscars
While it wasn't actually called the "Oscars" yet, the first Academy Awards took place in 1929. Only 270 guests attended the event. Emil Jannings was named the first Best Actor and Janet Gaynor was named the first Best Actress. -
The Golden Age of Hollywood Begins
By the 1930's Hollywood had become a very successful business. It had reached a "Golden Age" of success and creativity. In this period, classics like Scarface, King Kong, and The Wizard of Oz were released. -
World War II
The attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 had a major impact on the film industry. Walt Disney's Dumbo came out during that year, and soon after the company began making animations and propaganda films for the U.S. government. More war and noir films were also being made around this time. -
The Cold War, Atomic Weapons, and the Red Scare
The Cold War had an influence on the film industry, mainly anti-communism and atomic bomb. The golden age of science fiction also began. Classics like The Day the Earth Stood Still, Strangers on the Train, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers were released. -
The 1960's and the End of the Hay's Code
The Motion Picture Production Code was abolished and films became less censored. The James Bond series began with the release of Dr. No in 1963. Classics like The Good the Bad and The Ugly, The Sound of Music, and 2001: A Space Odyssey were released during this decade. -
A New Age of Film
Filmmakers began taking greater risks now that many restrictions have been lifted. Spielberg makes his debut with The Sugarland Express in 1974. Classics like Star Wars, Jaws, and The Godfather were also released during this decade. -
The 80's
In 1984 the PG-13 rating is introduced. The modern blockbuster becomes more frequent. Classics such as E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, Back to the Future, and Ghostbusters are released. -
The 90's
More independent studios and films were created. CGI improves and is seen in movies like Jurassic Park, Independence Day, and Titantic. Classics like Pulp Fiction, The Matrix, and Forest Gump are released. -
Innovations of the 2000s
CGI films become more popular in the film industry with the release of DreamWorks and Pixar films. Computers become useful for effect and editing films, such as the removal of surrounding islands in the movie Cast Away. Classics such as The Lord of the Rings series, The Dark Knight, and Black Hawk Down are released. -
Today (2010s)
Reboots, remakes, and sequels have become more frequent. The superhero film genre has become much more popular. Some classics of this decade are The Wolf on Wall Street, The Avengers, and Inception.
