History of film

Wheel of Life

Sep 17, 1867

Also known as zoopraxiscope, was the first device that showed animated pictures or movies.

First motion photos

Sep 16, 1878

The first motion photos taken were taken at the horse races. One man bet that at one point all the hooves of a horse are of the ground. To see if they were all off they set up 7 cameras and when the horse came by took pictures. When they looked at the pictures they noticed it was like a little flip book.

Gun shaped camera

Sep 17, 1882

Etienne Marey develops a camera shaped like a gun in france. This device was able to take 12 frames per second or 12 pictures per second.

Kodak Camera

Sep 17, 1888

The very first Kodak camera is relased. George Eastman introudces the lightweight, inexpensive Kodak camera. Using film wound on rollers.

Kinetoscope

Sep 17, 1889

Thomas Edison and W.K. Dickson develops the kinetoscope. This device is a peepshow device in which film is moved past a light. Designed for films to be viewed by one individual at a time.

First Screening

Sep 17, 1895

In France, the Lumiere brothers hold the first private screening. They invent the Cinematograph, a combination camera and projector.

Edisons Vitascope

Oct 19, 1896

Edisons Vitascope theater was opened to the public. It could seat 72. Was designed from scratch solely to show motion pictures.

The Great Train Robbery

Sep 17, 1903

One of the first motion pictures. Edwin S. Porter makes a 12min long movie. Back then that was a long movie to them.

Nickelodeons

Sep 17, 1905

The first 5 cent theaters opens in Pittsburgh. This started a popular form of movie theaters spread throughout the country. They were only 5 cents which gave the name nickelodeons.

First Movie Theater

Sep 17, 1905

The very first movie theater opens up in Pittsburgh. Allows more than one person to watch a movie at a time.

Animation

Sep 17, 1906

The first animated cartoon is produced in theaters.

MPPC

Dec 17, 1908

The Motion Picture Patents Company was a trust of all major American film companies. They ended the domination of foreign films on American screen. If they found out you were making a film they would come in and destroy all your equipment and break your actors leg.