The history of the cinema

  • The birth of the motion picture

    The first motion picture cameras were invented. The moving pictures, could be under a minute long and usually covered only one single scene. The camera was kept still, and the movies had no sounds.
  • Period: to

    The silent era

    The movies had no sound, they were accompanied by live musicians, sound effects or commentary.
  • The first cinema opened

    In Paris, the first cinema was opened on 28.12.1895. On the programme was Lumiere-films.
  • The first modern film

    The first motion pictures that can be considered as "films" are released in 1900. Basic editing techniques and film narratives are introduced.
  • Paramount pictures

    Paramount pictures is founded.
  • Birth of a Nation

    The first blockbuster film, and the first film with continuous storyline.
  • Period: to

    The sound era

    Sound and motion pictures belong together!
  • The first film with sound was released

    Warner Bros release the film "The Jazz Singer", which is considered the first movie with sound. This marks the end of "the silent era". Start of the sound era.
  • The birth of Mickey Mouse

    Steamboat Willie, the first cartoon with Mickey Mouse, had premiere. It was one of the first cartoons with synchronized sound.
  • King Kong

    All previous box-office records were broken by the movie King Kong.
  • The first drive-in theater

    Richard Hollingshead opens the first drive-in theater in New Jersey.
  • "The greatest year in film history"

    During 1939, 10 movies were nominated for the Academy Award. Very good movies were released this year, such as The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind.
  • Citizen Kane

    Orson Welles' first film, Citizen Kane, was released. It had a nonlinear storyline and used many low angle shots, which was new for the time.
  • The television

    The invention of the television. The cinema's biggest rival was born, and less people goes to the movies.
  • First movie shown in IMAX

    The new technique IMAX is first shown to the public in 1970 Expos in Osaka, Japan.
  • First 3D movie

    "Aliens of the deep" released, the first 3D movie.