History of Cinema

  • Jan 1, 1040

    Book of Optics

    Arab scholar Ibn al-Haytham wrote this seven volume series on optics, as the name implies. He scientifically presented his theory that vision takes place through light entering the eye. He is considered the father of modern optics.
  • Degearreoscope

    louis daguerre invents the degeuroscope, and takes the worlds first pictures with it.
  • Phonautograph

    French inventor Edouard-Leon Scott De Martinville uses his invention, the phonautograph, to record his own voice. This is the first time the human voice is ever recorded, and is a major milestone on the way to achieving movies with audio.
  • Running Horse

    Eadweard muybridge takes 12 successive shots of a horse and compiles them together, showing proff that a horse lifts all 4 feet off the ground when it runs.
  • Zoopraxiscope

    Zoopraxiscope-1879 creates by Muybridge, considered the 1st movie projector. Images on glass disks arranged on a circular tray were rotated through a light source to give the illusion of movement.
  • Kinetoscope

    Kinetoscope-1888- device used to watch film through a peephole invented by thomas edison and william dickson
  • Kinetograph

    A movie wiever invented my Thomas Edison and WIlliam Dickson. It allowed a single person to view a motion picture through a small viewing aparatus.
  • Kinetophone

    A rudementary device that combined a phonograph and a kinetoscope to add audio for viewers.
  • Fredd Ott's Sneeze

    A riveting 5 second documentary showcasing Fredd Ott sneezing. It was the first motion picture to be copyrighted in the US.
  • Black Maria

    Thomas Edison's movie studio. The first movie studio ever made. It had the distinct feature of being able to rotate to catch sunlight.
  • Cinematograph

    Invented by the Lumierre brothers, it combined both a film camera and projector into a single device.
  • Vitascope

    Thomas Edison's movie projector was unvieled in New York City.
  • Camera Obscura

    Chinese Philosopher Mozi proposes the principles beind the pinhole camera. It involves the use of a "collecting plate" and "treasure room" for storing images.
  • A Trip to the Moon

    A paramount in special effects, this film follows a group of astronomers as they travel to the moon.
  • The Great Train Robbery

    A film by Edwin S. Porter, who worked with Thomas Edison. Remarkable for it's use of interior and exterior setting, multiple camera positions, and cross cutting.
  • The Birth of a Nation

    A huge commercial success, as well as a highly influencial propoganda film. It glorified the Klu Klux Klan while showcasing blacks in a negative light,
  • Cupid Angling

    The first feature film to be shot in color. It used a totally unique process to achieve color known as the Douglass Natural Color process.
  • Nanook of the North

    The first significant Documentary film.
  • Battleship Potempkin

    A Russian silent film. Regarded as the most influential propoganda film of all time. It was revolutionary in its use of montage editing to elicit na emotional response out of it's viewers.
  • The Jazz Singer

    The first movie with dialogue. It ushered in the end of the silent film era.
  • Alexander Nevsky

    Another Eisenstein propoganda film. It's stirring battle sequences paired with an epic score from mastermind Sergei Prokofiev have had massive influence on all movies since.
  • Fantasia

    The first use of surround sound in cinema, which is now a staple.
  • The House of Wax

    The first ever 3d film to be released.
  • Once Upon a Time in Mexico

    The first movie to be shot in 24 frames per second High Definition digital video.
  • The Hobbit

    The first commercial film to be shot in 48 frames per second.