{"product_id":"when-the-nickelodeon-was-king-silent","title":"When the Nickelodeon Was King (Silent)","description":"The \u003ci\u003enickelodeon\u003c\/i\u003e was the first indoor space devoted exclusively to showing motion pictures. Previously, films were shown at burlesque theaters and vaudeville halls. For the cost of one nickel, audiences were treated to comedy shorts, serials, and newsreels. Their massive popularity ironically led to their decline, as large crowds and a demand for longer films meant that nickelodeons were soon phased out in favor of upscale movie houses. This collection offers some examples of the types of films that audiences thrilled to back then.\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTHE MOVIES MARCH ALONG 1896-1928 (1945):\u003c\/b\u003e Motion picture archivist Irving K. Meginnis compiled this engaging overview of the silent era, from early experiments like \u003ci\u003eThe Kiss\u003c\/i\u003e (1896) and \u003ci\u003eThe Great Train Robbery\u003c\/i\u003e (1903) to masterpieces such as \u003ci\u003eThe Hunchback of Notre Dame\u003c\/i\u003e (1923) and \u003ci\u003eScaramouche\u003c\/i\u003e (1923) for use in schools, museums, and 16mm film clubs. Among the luminaries featured are John Bunny, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Theda Bara, William S. Hart, Roscoe \"Fatty\" Arbuckle, Mabel Normand, Douglas Fairbanks, Rudolph Valentino, Lon Chaney, Ramon Novarro, Harold Lloyd, Gloria Swanson, and John Barrymore. There's even a glimpse of the first animated film ever made, \u003ci\u003eFantasmagorie\u003c\/i\u003e (1908) by Emile Cohl.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eKID'S AUTO RACE (1914):\u003c\/b\u003e Also known as \u003ci\u003eKid Auto Races at Venice\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Pest\u003c\/i\u003e, this Keystone comedy is the first appearance of Charlie Chaplin as his immortal character, The Little Tramp. Chaplin (as The Tramp) interferes with the filming of a \"baby-cart race.\" The hat, cane, mustache, and funny walk of this refined vagrant would soon make Chaplin an instantly identifiable star all over the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003ePERILS FROM \"PLUNDER\" (1923):\u003c\/b\u003e This abbreviated version of the otherwise lost serial \u003ci\u003ePlunder\u003c\/i\u003e, starring stunt queen Pearl White (\u003ci\u003eThe Perils of Pauline\u003c\/i\u003e) was sold on the 8mm home movie market. Pearl is an adventuress looking for buried treasure hidden underneath a New York skyscraper, but first, she must escape from a sinking pit of quicksand. According to historian Kevin Brownlow, Pearl's stunt double John Stevenson (wearing a blonde wig) died jumping from a double-decker bus during the filming of \u003ci\u003ePlunder\u003c\/i\u003e. Fortunately (or unfortunately) that scene is not included in this truncated version.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSELECTED NEWSREELS FROM WORLD WAR I (1916-1918):\u003c\/b\u003e The newsreel was an important part of the early moviegoing experience. Originally, they dealt almost exclusively with frivolous matters, and were played for their comedic value. World War I changed all that. Newsreels now kept audiences on the edge of their seats as the horrors going on in Europe unspooled in front of their eyes. Included are examples from series such as \u003ci\u003eThe Mutual Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eGaumont Graphic\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Selig-Tribune\u003c\/i\u003e, all dealing with World War I.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Alpha Video","offers":[{"title":"DVD","offer_id":45802308993174,"sku":"089218825896","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0703\/9621\/5446\/files\/089218825896.jpg?v=1762193534","url":"https:\/\/moviezyng.com\/products\/when-the-nickelodeon-was-king-silent","provider":"Movie Zyng","version":"1.0","type":"link"}