Most people love a good movie. I know that I’ve been loving them my entire life. I have a bagful of favorites that started early on. The Wizard of Oz was a magical experience, once a year, every year, when I was a kid. I never looked back.
The motion picture started a long time ago though. Way before me. For it was on this date, August 31, 1891, that Thomas Edison patented the Kinetoscope [kinetographic camera]. It was that great invention, a nifty device, which produced the first moving pictures. It allowed for the viewing of moving images, marking a pivotal moment in the development of cinema technology.
The early history of motion pictures is a story of innovation, not to mention all of the artistic exploration. It is hard to believe that all of this started beginning in the late 19th century with the invention of devices like the zoetrope and phenakistoscope, which laid the groundwork for moving images.
But. It was Thomas Edison’s Kinetoscope that revolutionized the viewing experience by allowing individuals to watch short films through a peephole. And this device then set the stage for the development of cinematic technology.
Shortly after, the Lumière brothers introduced the Cinématographe in 1895, a pioneering device that could project films to an audience, marking the birth of public film screenings.
The early 20th century saw the rise of silent films, with stars like Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Harold Lloyd. Through them and many others, we saw groundbreaking works all over the place.
The advent of synchronized sound in 1927 with “The Jazz Singer” transformed the industry.
And that remarkable turn ushered in the Golden Age of Hollywood where studios and stars became central to the film experience.
We’ve been watching those movies ever since.
There are a lot of “highest-grossing” film lists. But “Avatar” seems to hold the top spot, earning almost $3 BILLION. It is followed closely by “The Avengers: Endgame.” I haven’t seen either.
But I have watched The Wizard of Oz twenty times at least. It is not even in the top 50, which just goes to show you. Money can’t buy you love. Because there’s no place like home.
And we owe it all to the first moving picture.
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“Movies touch our hearts and awaken our vision, and change the way we see things.” – Martin Scorsese
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“Movies are the most powerful and accessible way to bring people together to address social issues and effect change.” – Ava DuVernay
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“The impact of film on society is enormous. It can educate, inspire, and unite people across the globe.” – Ridley Scott
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And…… Action! Ever since.
