Movie Technology-We've Come A Long Way

Apologies for some of the profane language in yesterday’s blog….not from ME, but rather, from actor Jack Nicholson—in a couple of the clips I embedded on the site while saluting his birthday.

Movie buffs will likely forgive these “transgressions”, chalking it up to the “art” category that films fall into. Just as museum patrons can stroll past nudes without batting an eye and can attend plays that include nudity (like “Oh! Calcutta!”) while not condoning such exhibitionism elsewhere, they also forgive foul language in movies without forgiving its use in mixed company in real life.

Whatever.

The technology of the cinema has advanced light years since its introduction, which happened to be on this date in 1896. Thomas Edison’s projector, the Vitascope, made it’s debut in front of a live theatre audience. No profane language here—as there was no sound at all.

Here are a couple of vintage Vitascope clips—the first one is interesting as it depicts the VERY FIRST on-screen kiss:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LinYaA0icIs&feature=related

Here is another clip from a movie whose only surviving remnants are here:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JZfla3dWmM&NR=1

It’s hard to imagine the reaction of audiences to these “moving pictures”. For many, still photography was still a miracle—and to think that one could see events unfolding on a screen—in motion—must have been remarkable.

We look at this primitive film—with inferior picture quality, lighting and stilted action—and compare it to our plasma screen/DVD/Blu-Ray world and find it all wanting. But, if you think about it, a hundred plus years is a relatively short time frame for the quantum leap in technology represented by all things video. Yes, your cell phone has a better video camera inside it than the most sophisticated movie camera at the turn of the century (the 20th century)

I walk into Best Buy and the sensory bombardment is almost too overwhelming to take in. Can you imagine being able to transport Edison into today’s electronics stores and even ATTEMPT to explain to him how it all works?

Truth is, we largely don’t understand how any of it works. Like trained apes, we can hook up the right cords and push the correct buttons—and viola! Entertainment beyond Edison’s wildest dreams—on demand, at our fingertips.

Amazing stuff, no?

If you’d like my blog in your weekday box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com