In 1893, Thomas Edison patented the first efficient motion picture viewer, the kinetoscope. A customer could drop a penny into the kinetoscope, turn the crank, look through the viewfinder, and enjoy a short movie loop. In the 1890s and 1900s, kinetoscope parlors spread like crazy across the country. Although Edison didn’t immediately pursue
his invention beyond this early version, in 1896 the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company produced the first projection of moving images onto a screen in America following in the footsteps of the Lumiere Brothers with their Cinematographe.
Using your course pack and other research materials explain Edison’s vision for the kinetograph and kinetoscope? Explain how his view and strategy changed due to the competition from companies like American Mutoscope and Biograph? Discuss how the patent wars he initiated attempted to stymie other film companies from competing with him?
“The Edison profits came from the sale of machines and prints, not from exhibition to the general public..from Edison’s viewpoint one machine for every viewer was more to be desired than a hundred or more views for every machine.” – Wonderful Inventions
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Film and NYC 2014 