He
invented the first practical "taking" camera and evoked the
enthusiastic cooperation of George Eastman in the production of
this tape-like film, and the modern motion picture was born. The
projecting machine was substantially like the "taking" camera and
was so used. Other inventors, such as Paul in England and Lumiere
in France, produced other types of projecting machines, which
differed only in mechanical details.
When the motion picture was taken up in earnest in the United
States, the world stared in astonishment at the apparent
recklessness of the early managers. The public responded,
however, and there is hardly a hamlet in the nation where there
is not at least one moving-picture house. The most popular actors
have been drawn from the speaking stage into the "movies," and
many new actors have been developed. In the small town, the
picture theater is often a converted storeroom, but in the
cities, some of the largest and most attractive theaters have
been given over to the pictures, and others even more luxurious
have been specially built. The Eastman Company alone manufactures
about ten thousand miles of film every month.
Besides affording amusement to millions, the moving picture has
been turned to instruction. Important news events are shown on
the screen, and historical events are preserved for posterity by
depositing the films in a vault.
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