LEADER 02996nam 2200409 450 001 9910590847103321 005 20220204033515.0 010 $z9780813181196$b(hardcover) 010 $a9780813181226$b(pdf) 010 $a9780813181219$b(epub) 035 $a(CKB)5590000000442007 035 $a(MiAaPQ)EBC6524927 035 $a(EXLCZ)995590000000442007 100 $a20210330d2021 uy 0 101 0 $aeng 135 $aurcn#---||||| 181 $ctxt$2rdacontent 182 $cc$2rdamedia 183 $acr$2rdacarrier 200 10$aVitagraph $eAmerica's first great motion picture studio /$fAndrew A. Erish 210 1$aLexington :$cThe University Press of Kentucky,$d[2021] 215 $a1 online resource 225 1 $aScreen classics 311 08$a0-8131-8122-4 320 $aIncludes bibliographical references and index. 330 $a"The widely accepted history of the American film industry holds that the founders of Paramount and Fox invented the feature film, that Universal created the star system, and that these three companies (along with the heads of MGM and Warner Bros.) were responsible for developing the multi-billion-dollar business that came to dominate the cinematic world. This account has been repeated continuously for nearly a century, but it simply isn't true. In Vitagraph, Andrew A. Erish presents an important reassessment of the birth and development of motion pictures in America by offering the definitive history of a significant yet forgotten studio. Founded in 1897 by James Stuart Blackton and Albert Edward Smith, the Vitagraph Company of America (later known as Vitagraph Studios) was largely responsible for the birth of American cinema. By 1907, it was one of the largest film studios in America and produced dozens of movies annually. The company's notable works include the first film adaptation of Les Mise?rables; many movies featuring the popular comedian John Bunny; The Military Air-Scout (1911) which is considered to be the first aviation film; and the World War I propaganda film The Battle Cry of Peace (1915). In 1925, Warner Bros. purchased Vitagraph and all of its subsidiaries and began to rewrite the history of American cinema. Erish challenges the creation myths marketed by Hollywood's conquering moguls-finally providing an accurate and inclusive account of the largest and most influential producer of silent era motion pictures. Drawing on valuable primary material overlooked by other historians, he introduces readers to many fascinating yet forgotten pioneers and offers a much-needed correction to the history of commercial cinema"--$cProvided by publisher. 410 0$aScreen classics (Lexington, Ky.) 517 3 $aAmerica's first great motion picture studio 676 $a384/.80973 700 $aErish$b Andrew A.$f1958-$01175175 801 0$bDLC 801 1$bDLC 801 2$bCaOWtL 906 $aBOOK 912 $a9910590847103321 996 $aVitagraph$92912122 997 $aUNINA