Before the Nickelodeon

Edwin S. Porter and the Edison Manufacturing Company

Charles Musser

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Year: 2023
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9780520323728
• Topic: Economics
• Subtopic: Economic History
• Index: Economics

Before the Nickelodeon by Edwin S. Porter and the Edison Manufacturing Company offers an in-depth look at one of the most formative periods in cinema history, from the earliest days of commercial motion pictures through 1909. Written by a leading scholar in film history, this book explores the extraordinary contributions of Edwin S. Porter, the filmmaker behind The Great Train Robbery, and his intricate relationship with the Edison Manufacturing Company, one of the earliest players in the motion picture industry. Edwin S. Porter was not just a filmmaker but a pioneer whose work shaped the path of early cinema. This book examines his role within the rapidly evolving practices of the pre-Griffith era, exploring how his innovative films, such as Life of an American Fireman and The Great Train Robbery, marked milestones in cinematic storytelling and technical advances. The book delves into the industrial history of the Edison Manufacturing Company and how Porter's work there played a key role in the company's evolution. The study also sheds light on the complex dynamics between Porter's creative processes and the business practices of the Edison company, particularly during a time when the production and exhibition of films were being centralized under one management. Drawing from extensive research, primary sources, and surviving films, Before McKeimon goes beyond traditional biographical work to position Porter as a critical figure in the history of early cinema. This book not only honors Porter's creative legacy but also offers a comprehensive look at the intersection of film production, commercial practice, and cultural significance during cinema's formative years. Ideal for film historians, scholars, and cinema enthusiasts, this work illuminates an essential chapter of film history that has often been overlooked.

This title was originally published in 1991.

Many titles in the Voices Revived program are also newly available as ebooks, offered at a discounted price to support wider access to scholarly work.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Foreword
• Acknowledgments
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Porter’s Early Years: 1870—1896
• 3. Edison and the Kinetoscope: 1888-1895
• 4. Cinema, a Screen Novelty: 1895-1897
• 5. Producer and Exhibitor as Co-Creators: 1897—1900
• 6. The Production Company Assumes Greater Control: 1900-1902
• 7. A Close Look at Life of an American Fireman: 1902-1903
• 8. Story Films Become the Dominant Product: 1903-1904
• 9. Articulating an Old-Middle-Class Ideology: 1904—1905
• 10. Elaborating on the Established Mode of Representation: 1905-1907
• 11. As Cinema Becomes Mass Entertainment, Porter Resists: 1907-1908
• 12. Edison Lets Porter Go: 1908-1909
• 13. Postscript
• APPENDIX A
• APPENDIX B
• APPENDIX C
• List of Abbreviations and Primary Sources
• Notes
• Credits for Illustrations
• Subject and Name Index
• Film Title Index