The Emergence of Cinema

The origins of motion picture technologies are described and analyzed by Charles Musser in this lavishly illustrated volume. He considers social and economic as well as aesthetic aspects of the beginnings of movie making.

Charles Musser is Assistant Professor of American Studies and Film Studies at Yale University and author of Before the Nickelodeon (California, 1990).

General Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction

PART 1
Before Cinema
1 Toward a History of Screen Practice
2 Thomas Edison and the Amusement World
3 Projecting Motion Pictures: Invention and Innovation

PART 2
The Novelty of Cinema: 1896-1897
4 The Vitascope
5 Early Motion-Picture Companies
6 The Proliferation of Motion-Picture Companies and an Assessment
of the Novelty Year

PART 3
The Exhibitor Plays a Creative Role: 1897-1900
7 Full-Length Programs: Fights, Passion Plays, and Travel
8 Commercial Warfare and the Spanish American War: 1897-1898
9 The Film Industry Achieves Modest Stability: 1898-1901

PART 4
The Production Company Assumes Creative Dominance: 1900-1905
10 A Period of Commercial Crisis: 1900-1903
11 The Transition to Story Films: 1903-1904
12 Cinema Flourishes Within Its Existing Commercial Framework:
1904-1905

PART 5
The Beginnings of the Nickelodeon Era: 1905-1907
13 Nickels Count: Storefront Theaters: 1905-1907
14 Production as the Nickelodeon Era Begins: 1905-1907

Concluding Remarks
List of Abbreviations
Notes
Bibliography
Picture Sources
General Index
Index of Films