Movies 

Milestones in the History of American Film

For generations, Americans have been captivated by the arts of the silver screen. Quality American filmmaking is a long-standing tradition which has evolved from its humble, innovative beginnings into a major industry. The following years mark major milestones in this rich history:

1890

W. Dickinson built the first modern motion-picture camera and filmed the first trial film for Thomas Edison.

1902

The first permanent movie theater, or "nickelodeon" is opened.

1908

A milestone marker of 8,000 movie theaters operate in the U.S. as movie-going becomes popularized.

1910

The first film made in Hollywood, In Old California, is released.

1914

Charlie Chaplin's first film, Making A Living, is released across the nation.

1919

Walt Disney begins his career as a filmmaker as cartoon animation gains popularity.

1925

The original silent film Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ sets production cost records.

1925

Warner Bros. teams up with Western Electric to develop a system for movies with sound.

1928

The first Mickey Mouse film is released, preceding a legacy of classic films by the Walt Disney Company.

1929

Major producers agree to switch completely to films with sound.

1930

The Marx Brothers star in their first very successful movie, Animal Crackers.

1932

Child superstar Shirley Temple launches her career with a Fox Films contract.

1939

Gone With the Wind is released, grossing a milestone profit.

1948

Warner Bros. shows the first color newsreel.

1953

The Academy Awards are televised for the first time.

1958

The number of drive-in theaters peakes near 5,000.

1960

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho sets the standard for modern American horrors.

1973

George Lucas begins productions of the Star Wars movies, which debuted in 1977.

1975

Steven Spielberg's Jaws is the first film to gross over $100 million at the box office.

1995

The first full-length entirely animated film (Disney-Pixar's Toy Story) is released.

1997

The smash-hit Titanic amasses $600.8 million in the U.S. box office and $1.8 billion worldwide.

2008

Computer animators begin the "switch to digital," scheduled to appear in movies such as the 2010 Toy Story 3.

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TheaterJones Performing Arts News in North Texas

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