The Movies

*  Images courtesy "Google Images" - Title by Felicity.  Special thanks to
Wikipedia, AFI (American Film Institute), and The Academy of Motion
Picture. Arts and Sciences for the information contained in
this article.

 by Felicity Blaze Noodleman

The history of the movies takes us back to the 1860’s with amusement arcades and the Penny peep show machines known as kinetoscope and mutoscope machines by 1891.Hand drawn pictures and photographs cranked by hand gave the illusion of movement and illustrated a very short subject.Soon small theaters would open which were known as “Nickelodeons” and project a films which would grow into much larger auditoriums and full length motion pictures.The theory of moving pictures has been around for some time and acting with sets and props go back to the ancient Greeks.

 



 



 

The Mutoscope or penny "Peep Show".

 

 

 

 

Thomas Edison’s motion picture cameras and projectors would lead the way in the United States for the growth of this new industry which was beginning to emerge out of the live stage, theater and Vaudeville.  The advantage to this new medium was that millions of viewers could see the same performance anywhere and has grown into the multi billion dollar a year industry that we know today.

 

 

 



 

Mack Sennett Studios in Edendale, CA.  This location would also become

the first Fox Studio lot.  Many movies of the silent era were filmed

here and the surrounding area.

 

 



 

Early films were made in New York and would eventually move to Southern California in a community known as Edendale just north of Los Angeles and by 1910 was the center for American film making.  This is where the silent movies were born.  The Western was born here with the cowboy star Tom Mix and many comedies were filmed here as well.  The "Keystone Cops", Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin all filmed in the Edendale Area.  The Mack Sennett Studios was among the first to begin production and by 1920 most of the existing studios and the establishment of new studios would be in the area we now call Hollywood today. 

 

 

 



 

Buster Keaton as "The Camera Man" - 1928.

 

 

 

 

The motion picture companies were among some of the first American companies to employ the concept of Vertical Integration in business with studio mergers and new technology.  Many Studios came and went during the early years of motion pictures and through the years would become the entertainment companies we know today.  A good example would be 20^th. Century Fox Studios;  a merger of the William Fox Company and the 20^th. Century Pictures Company which is now one of the most venerable studios in the business.  This is a business which continues to evolve and grow as newer media makes new demands on the studios.

 

 

 

 



 

As theaters grew is size they became more opulent and plush and could be found in most

large US cities.   The Pantages Theater here in Hollywood is a good example and was

built by Howard Hughes for RKO Studios.


 



 

Now that we know something of the history in the entertainment business the questions we are going to address today are: (1)  What are the greatest movies of all time, (2)  Who are the greatest actors and (3)  Who are the greatest actresses of all time.  These are very difficult questions to answer because a new generation is born about every ten years and each generation builds on the accomplishments of the previous generation.  What was great today becomes second hand very quickly and the studios know it.  Competition is very fierce and I think this business is where the expression “one ups-man ship” began.

 

Having worked in the entertainment industry as a technician, I am a novice video file with an interest in the history of motion pictures and an appreciation for great acting.  For our authoritative sources to answer those three questions – to assess the greatest of the greats, we will be using the AFI (American Film Institute) and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science to assist us.  So; I’ll be your guide and lets go to the movies!

 

 

 

 



 

The Fox Studios in Hollywood about 1920 looking up Western Ave.

to Sunset Blvd.

 

 

 

 



 

The 20th. Century Fox Studios as it appears today.  I've chosen Fox as a model for

this article because they have transitioned between three different Studio lots since

their days in Edendale, Hollywood and now in W. Los Angeles (Hollywood). 

All of the Hollywood Studios have their own different and unique story's.

 

 

 

 

Top 10 Films of All Time as rated by the AFI (I have two lists which vary somewhat so we can have a balanced view).

 

Highest-Grossing Films Adjusted For Inflation
Rank	Title	Worldwide gross (constant $)	Year
1	Gone with the Wind	$3,301,400,000	1939
2	Avatar	$2,782,300,000	2009
3	Star Wars	$2,710,800,000	1977
4	Titanic	$2,413,800,000	1997
5	The Sound of Music	$2,269,800,000	1965
6	E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial	$2,216,800,000	1982
7	The Ten Commandments	$2,098,600,000	1956
8	Doctor Zhivago	$1,988,600,000	1965
9	Jaws	$1,945,100,000	1975
10	Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs	$1,746,100,000	1937

 

Timeline Of The Highest-Grossing Film Record
Established	Title	Record setting gross
1915	The Birth of a Nation	$5,200,000
1932		$10,000,000
1940	Gone with the Wind	$32,000,000
1963		$67,000,000
1966	The Sound of Music	$112,481,000
1971	Gone with the Wind	$114,000,000
1972	The Godfather	$142,000,000
1976	Jaws	$400,000,000/$193,700,000
1978	Star Wars	$410,000,000
1982		$530,000,000
1983	E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial	$619,000,000
1993		$701,000,000
1993	Jurassic Park	$914,691,118
1998	Titanic	$1,843,201,268
2010	Avatar	$2,749,064,328
		$2,782,275,172

 

 

A list of the biggest stars is somewhat harder to come by and I am unable to find any kind of list compiled by any authority.  The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science began in 1927.  We will have to factor in the popularity of actors to gage a composite list to span the gap.  This list has been prepared by The American Film Institute based on the recommendations of today's film actors and actresses.

 

The Full List Of The 10 Top Male

And 25 Top Female Legends Is:

#	MEN	#	WOMEN
1	Humphrey Bogart	1	Katharine Hepburn
2	Cary Grant	2	Bette Davis
3	James Stewart	3	Audrey Hepburn
4	Marlon Brando	4	Ingrid Bergman
5	Fred Astaire	5	Greta Garbo
6	Henry Fonda	6	Marilyn Monroe
7	Clark Gable	7	Elizabeth Taylor
8	James Cagney	8	Judy Garland
9	Spencer Tracy	9	Marlene Dietrich
10	Charlie Chaplin	10	Joan Crawford

 

 

 

Those actors who participated in the voting include:

 

 

Kevin Bacon, Alec Baldwin, Jacqueline Bisset , Ernest Borgnine, James Caan, Jim Carrey, Chevy Chase, Cher, Kevin Costner, Billy Crystal, Claire Danes, Geena Davis, Laura Dern, Matt Dillon, Richard Dreyfuss, Clint Eastwood, Mia Farrow, Bridget Fonda, Peter Fonda, Morgan Freeman, Teri Garr, Whoopi Goldberg, Jeff Goldblum, Woody Harrelson, Richard Harris, Goldie Hawn, Gregory Hines, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Michael Keaton, Martin Landau, Jessica Lange, Shirley MacLaine, Marsha Mason, Marlee Matlin, Mike Myers, Edward Norton, Edward James Olmos, Miss Piggy, Lynn Redgrave, Julia Roberts, Gena Rowlands, Kevin Spacey, Sylvester Stallone, Rod Steiger, Sharon Stone, Billy Bob Thornton, Lily Tomlin, Emily Watson and James Woods.

 



 

Some other names I feel should be included, just to round things out and bring us up to date, for their work and/or their recognition by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as Oscar winners include:

 

 

#	MEN	#	WOMEN
1	Peter Sellers	1	Meryl Streep
2	Jack Nicholson	2	Mary Pickford
3	Leoanardo DiCaprio	3	Shirley MacLaine

 

 

 

As I’ve discovered researching this article there are lists for almost any and or category you would care to find.  If your favorite was not found here Google your question and find the history and answer your looking for.  I’m Felicity and hope you’ve enjoyed going to the movies with me!

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

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