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1877
Thomas Edison invents the phonograph.
1889
Eastman Kodak introduces celluloid as a flexible film base.
1895
Lumiere Brothers' first public film showing in Paris.
1896
Koster and Bial's Music Hall in New York is site of first public motion-
picture showing in US.
1902
Georges Melies directs "A Trip to the Moon," one of the first special-effects films.
1903
Edwin S. Porter directs "The Great Train Robbery," an early prototype for the classic American narrative.
1910
Mary Pickford's curls inspire the "movie look."
1912
First major Hollywood studio, Universal, formed by Carle Laemmle.
1914
"Making a Living" is the first film with Charlie Chaplin.
1915
"Birth of a Nation," the controversial landmark film by D.W. Griffith, opens. The Mutual Film Company vs. Ohio Censors case establishes that films are not covered by free-speech amendment.
1916
"Intolerance," by D.W. Griffith, is the most expensive film production to date.
1919
United Artists formed by Griffith, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and Charlie Chaplin.
1922
Will Hays becomes the first president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association of America (known as the Hays office).
1923
Warner Bros. founded.
Walt Disney Company formed.
1924
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio formed. Columbia Pictures founded.
1925
Sergei Eisenstein directs the "The Battleship Potemkin,"
taking editing montage to new heights.
1927
"The Jazz Singer" with Al Jolsen is the first talkie. Hays office establishes the Copyright Protection Bureau. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences formed as a company union. First Academy Awards held.
1929
RKO Pictures founded.
1930
Motion Picture Production Code set up as self-regulating code.
1932
Full-color Technicolor process introduced in Walt Disney's "Flowers and Trees." "Grand Hotel" is the first multistar blockbuster.
1933
Fox signs Shirley Temple, age 5.
1934
Mandatory motion- picture production code established.
1937
First animated feature, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."
1939
"Gone With the Wind" is released. Hattie McDaniel is first black performer to win an Academy Award. "The Wizard of Oz" opens with Judy Garland. First Cannes film festival held.
