History of Motion Pictures

Movies have changed over the years to reflect the technology of the time and the people they are made for. The evolution of motion pictures has become exponential up until the creation of modern movie-watching experiences, like 3D and surround sound. Motion pictures, theatrically, have found a point of equilibrium with theaters today still using film projectors, despite the increased technological complexity.   

Early development: The beginning of motion pictures starts with the creation of the first moving picture. The first moving picture was created by Eadward Muybridge in 1877. Known as “Man on Horse”, the project came from Muybridge’s work for avid horse racer Leland Stanford. Stanford wanted to prove that horses have all four hooves off the ground at the peak of their gallop. Muybridge was able to create the moving picture through a series of 12 cameras that were set up on a track, each one being triggered by a step of the horse. By placing all the final photos on a spinning wheel and creating the illusion of the horse running. 

Kinetoscope: In 1891, the kinetoscope was invented by Thomas Edison and William Dickson. The kinetoscope was a machine that allowed for a singular person to view a motion picture. Edison then opened what he called a kinetograph studio. This was a place that had multiple kinetoscopes available for people to watch for a fee. 

Adding sound: The Jazz Singer was the first film to add sound in 1927. Vitaphone was the main method of adding sound, which required multiple physical discs that needed to be swapped out halfway through the film. This was known as “sound-on-disc”. The Vitaphone was rendered obsolete in 1931 with the new “sound-on-film” technology. This was done by converting sound waves into light waves that were inscribed onto the film aligned with the footage. With sound being included in every new film released people began referring to films with sound as “talkies” and preferring those with sound over those without. 

Adding color: Color was originally added in post-production by spinning wheel of red and green color film in front of the projector, leaving a crude and incomplete final product. The first process of adding color, named kinemacolor was first used in 1909, used primarily for documentaries, not movies. The next process introduced to film, technicolor, was scarcely used until 1932 with the release of Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz in 1939. 

After color and sound were added to films, it became difficult for audiences to stay away from the theater, leading to what are known as the “Golden Years” of the film industry. These took place between the 1930s and the 1960s. This was a time where audiences skyrocketed and films kept reaching new heights. 

These beginnings of film led to the time we see in cinema now. With the early success of film and the technological advances brought on through it, we are able to enjoy the motion pictures we see today. Since the methods and practices were perfected, the only improvements to be made were in graphical quality and improving the experience.