Motion Picture Attendance Essay

Many opportunities arose out of the growing popularity of the automobile. City-dwellers started to move to the suburbs where they had front-lawns, large houses and playgrounds for their kids. Employees could drive to and from work every day in the city, and suburbs provided a false sense of security because of their layout and openness. Family vacations were made possible by the “weekend”, created from a reduction in work to 5-day weeks. People sought the need to spend whatever money they received on new technologies of the age. People purchased radios, cars, telephones, and microwaves, and participated in the latest fads and fashions ("The Crash … and Beyond."). To purchase all these glamorous products, people had to make money. During this time, wives started to look for jobs and while they were not welcome at first, their expertise in certain areas could not be beat. With a mother and father both working, families could finally start to afford the luxuries they desired. They considered

Even though a vast majority of us wish that it was possible to turn back the hands of time and change or rewrite history. However, the truth of the matter is that we simply cannot. Everything happens for a reason, and we should learn to accept it. Accept it for what it is, rather than what we would like it to be.

To begin with, some background information on movies and Hollywood in the 1920’s. In the 1920’s, movie attendance soared (The Rise of Hollywood par. 4). As stated in the introduction, with the influx of money in the American economic system, the average person also had an influx of time on their hands. The normal solution was to spend that time on entertainment and movies were the perfect way to do that. By the mid-decade, movie attendance rose to fifty million and only increased from then. The five main movie studios were Warner Brothers, Paramount, MGM, RKO Radio Pictures, and 20th Century Fox (Dirks 1). Before these studios were formed, every aspect of making movies was separated into different companies. The aspects may include filming, editing, or distributing. With the spark of interest in movies, these five companies took it upon

“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.” (“19th Amendment”). The 19th amendment gave women the right to vote. Prior to this amendment, women had no say.

The 1920's also saw the growth of the motion picture industry. It was highly influential and helped shape popular culture by promoting the diffusion of common values and attitudes nationwide. Soon movie studios began building elaborate movie palaces in cities, and by 1930, the movie attendance grew to about 115 million. Movies performed many purposes. It created national trends in clothing and hairstyles and even served as a form of sex education.

This further demonstrates how the affluence of that period enabled people to support this industry and help its enormous growth. It was during the roaring 20s that the first real celebrities began to appear, with the ever-increasing role of cinema having a huge role to play. Similarly their fame contributed to the growing status of Hollywood and the American film industry. (Source J). Charlie Chaplin is one example of an actor that gained worldwide recognition in the twenties; he was particularly famous for his ‘highly visual style of acting’ (Soucre J). The 1920s was often referred to as “The Golden Age of Hollywood” (Source G) emphasizing how this period represents the era of greatest output in the United States movie market [an average of 800 films were produced annually]. ‘The cinema came of age in the 1920s and Hollywood confirmed its position as the “dream factory” of the English- speaking world. It was there that fame and fortune could be found.’ (Source J) This also highlights the growing image of Hollywood ‘throughout the roaring 20s, which started to represent wealth and achievement. ‘The establishment of the Academy Awards showed the maturing cinema as an industry confident of its own technical and artistic standards.’ (Source J) This further shows how there were many other expansions and transformations from this industry that occurred during this period. Artists, directors and other personalities of the film making industry received acknowledgement and recognition of their work in this industry. ‘The awards soon acquired international status’ (Source J) showing how Hollywood’s film industry developed into a global sensation that was supported by people all over

One thing that movie entertainment fulfilled was attracting people to the big screen. For example, I can introduce this quote: “In just eight years, from 1922 to 1930, weekly U.S. movie attendance soared from about forty percent to over ninety percent of the population” (americainclass). This shows how in just eight years movie popularity spiked, where as about 40 million Americans went to motion picture theatres on a weekly basis. As the brink of silent films came to society and the evolution of the industry had risen, going to the movie theatre became a weekly event. This transition in entertainment, from stand-up comedy/plays to movies, was remarkable. The huge trend and liking for going to the movies impacted America in the way it had reshaped entertainment. Movie companies like Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros made a lot of money and success. The industry became very rich. Going to the movie theatre in the 20s was classy, fashionable, and it became a

Most students who have studied American film history know the essentials that contributed to the Nickelodeon boom. Five cents paid for a cramped, dingy, hazardous room accommodated with a horrible smell in the air. Because nickelodeons made their appearance more presentable and safe for the public it drew in the middle class. “Motion Picture Exhibition in Manhattan” by Robert C. Allen examines what made certain locations special. Allen’s primary source are the 1908 edition of Throw’s Business Directory of Greater New York to locate the theaters. Ben Singer’s article, “Manhattan Nickelodeons: New Data on Audience and Exhibitors” raises the question of whether or not the middle class was there from the very beginning. Singer’s primary sources

An example of a talkie is the film, “Bright Eyes.” In 1934, Shirley Temple starred in the film as a young girl who lost her father to a plane crash. The film is a comedy, yet audiences were able to relate to the young girl as she finds her way through custody battles and more (Document 3). This was also the beginning of movie theaters. Movie theaters began to take the streets between 1900-1920, where people would pay between five to seven cents to watch around an hour and a half film (Document 1). There were a variety of ways to watch films, such as drive-in movie theaters. In drive-in movie theaters, the viewer would drive into a lot with a big screen and watch the film from their car. However, these were very popular in the 1950’s as apposed to the roaring twenties (Document 6). By 1920, such men had been replaced by teams of specialists. Another significant change was the relocation of the industry from the east coast of the United States to Hollywood, a suburb of Los Angeles in southern California. A third important trend was the emergence of several film studios that came to dominate production and distribution during the interwar era. By 1930, the structures and formulae of modern commercial motion pictures had been

One of the many industries that were radically changed by World War II was the film industry. This change altered the content and style of films that were produced in Hollywood. A long period of decline was seen after experiencing boom years from 1939 to 1946. Within several years, attendance and box receipts fell. This was partly caused by reasons that were external to the industry. Veterans returning from the war got married, started families, attended college ( Due to the GI Bill), and bought homes in suburban areas. A toll was taken on box office receipts due to these activities. It was preferable for families that had children to listen to the radio rather than going to the

The 1930’s decade has been nostalgically labeled “The Golden Age of Hollywood.” (Dirks, Tim) There were many innovations that established the foundation of modern film. The 30s was the decade of the sound and color revolutions and the advance of the 'talkies’. (Dirks Tim)

The first movie theatres were rented rooms and music halls.As movies aired popularity and the technology.Movies were an form that captured the interest of the masses worldwide.As a new form of entertainment their success was extremely a made people laugh making the world a happier place to live in after the horrors of WW1.The 1920’s movie goers experience was largely dominated by silent movies but saw the introduction of synchronized sound.The rise of “talkies from the late 1920 onwards led to a radical shake-up of the entertainment industry.Live entertainment went into decline and variety theatres became movie palaces, were eager punters could see exactly the same entertainment as their fellows in Los Angeles,Berlin or Bombay.The belief

Prohibition, flappers, and jazz music may come to the minds of many when they hear the words “the Roaring ‘20s” and this is expected as this decade was full of drinking, partying, and entertainment for people of the United States. Others, though may think of Hollywood when discussing one of the most infamous eras of the nation. At a time when the economy of the United States was at a perhaps all time high, people had more money and more free time to spend on doing things they enjoyed. This growth in the popularity of leisure activities as entertainment thrived led to the rise of Hollywood in the ‘20s. Movies may have just been another means of enjoying oneself, but Hollywood played a role in the views of society as its popularity grew and the

Many people started to focus more on materialistic goals (such as who could have the biggest party, who could own the best car, and who could get the most women/men) rather than moral values (such as hope, peace, the pursuit of happiness, etc.). Their were some societal changes. Such as people who started to want to break out of the norm. They wanted to live life, tempt the laws, and be free. Leisure activities, such as dances, sports, and movies rose by about 300%.

technology to enjoy at home, but the movies they went to see became bigger and better. Box office receipts fell in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s due to television.