Before Hollywood : from shadow play to the silver screen
Maker and role
Paul Clee, Author
Production date
2005
Object detail
Accession number
07-2387
Maker
Description
Contents: A beam of light in a darkened room -- The magic lantern -- The lantern of fear -- Artists of the big screen -- Toys to tease the eye -- The magic lantern meets the photograph -- Etienne-Jules Marey and the first true films -- The rush to the movies -- Thomas Edison and the American movie machine -- From the Grand Cafâe to the moon -- The movies tell stories.
Summary: Provides a history of cinematography from Leonardo da Vinci's description of the camera obscura in 1500, through the movie palaces of the early twentieth century, focusing on the technical equipment and supplies used in the industry. Illustrated with black-and-white archival prints, drawings, and photographs, from the simple camera obscurance of the 1500s to the 17th century's giant magic lanterns to the early films of Thomas Edison and the Lumiâere brothers in the late 1800s, here is an intriguing story of invention and showmanship. Many of the techniques adopted by Hollywood were worked out by tinkerers, lanternists, and magicians in front of shocked and amazed audiences long before the first flickering black-and-white film was ever shown. This fascinating book explains how today's movies, as well as photographs, special effects, and animation came to be. Peppered with first-hand accounts and newspaper reports, excerpts from the notes of early inventors and filmmakers, and descriptions and diagrams of detailed optical gadgets, before Hollywood provides a window into the world of entertainment before movies were invented. It offers an illustrated tour of the beginnings of technologies that we take for granted today. Sidebars, afterword, timeline, endnotes, bibliography, internet resources, and index. Clee delivers an intriguing story of invention and showmanship that explains how today's movies, as well as photos, special effects, and animation came to be.
Summary: Provides a history of cinematography from Leonardo da Vinci's description of the camera obscura in 1500, through the movie palaces of the early twentieth century, focusing on the technical equipment and supplies used in the industry. Illustrated with black-and-white archival prints, drawings, and photographs, from the simple camera obscurance of the 1500s to the 17th century's giant magic lanterns to the early films of Thomas Edison and the Lumiâere brothers in the late 1800s, here is an intriguing story of invention and showmanship. Many of the techniques adopted by Hollywood were worked out by tinkerers, lanternists, and magicians in front of shocked and amazed audiences long before the first flickering black-and-white film was ever shown. This fascinating book explains how today's movies, as well as photographs, special effects, and animation came to be. Peppered with first-hand accounts and newspaper reports, excerpts from the notes of early inventors and filmmakers, and descriptions and diagrams of detailed optical gadgets, before Hollywood provides a window into the world of entertainment before movies were invented. It offers an illustrated tour of the beginnings of technologies that we take for granted today. Sidebars, afterword, timeline, endnotes, bibliography, internet resources, and index. Clee delivers an intriguing story of invention and showmanship that explains how today's movies, as well as photos, special effects, and animation came to be.
Media/Materials
Physical description
188 p. : illustrations ; 24 cm.
ISBN/ISSN
0618445331
Collection
Credit line
Paul Clee. 2005. Before Hollywood : from shadow play to the silver screen, 07-2387. Walsh Memorial Library, The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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