The Moving Picture World
January 4, 1913 cover, featuring a scene from A Sicilian Heroine, an Italian film
CategoriesFilm
Entertainment
First issue1907 (116 years ago)
Final issueDecember 1927 (95 years ago)
CountryUnited States
Based inNew York City
LanguageEnglish
OCLC1717051

The Moving Picture World was an influential early trade journal for the American film industry, from 1907 to 1927.[1] An industry powerhouse at its height, Moving Picture World frequently reiterated its independence from the film studios.

In 1911, the magazine bought out Views and Film Index. Its reviews illustrate the standards and tastes of film in its infancy, and shed light on story content in those early days. By 1914, it had a reported circulation of approximately 15,000.[2]

The publication was founded by James Petrie (J.P.) Chalmers, Jr. (1866–1912), who began publishing in March 1907 as The Moving Picture World and View Photographer.[1][3][4]

In December 1927, it was announced that the publication was merging with the Exhibitor's Herald, when it was reported the combined circulation of the papers would be 16,881.[5] In 1931, a subsequent merger with the Motion Picture News occurred, creating the Motion Picture Herald.[6][7]

A Spanish language version of the magazine, entitled Cine-Mundial, was published from 1916 to 1948.[8]

Two indexes have been published to assist in locating information in this valuable journal: An Index to Short and Feature Film Reviews in the Moving Picture World: The Early Years, 1907–1915[9] and Filmmakers in The Moving Picture World: An Index of Articles, 1907–1927.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b Speed, F. Maurice (1979). "The Story of the Film". Film Review 1979–80: 98. ISBN 9780491021692. Not the first, but the best known, of early American trade periodicals was The Moving Picture World, founded by James P. Chalmers Jr, which began publication on 9 March 1907 as The Moving Picture World and View Photographer.
  2. ^ "Through the Camera Lens: Moving Picture World and the Silent Film Era, 1907–1927". Gale.
  3. ^ Fraprie, Frank Roy (1912). "James Petrie Chalmers (obituary)". American Photography. Vol. 6. American Photographic Publishing Company. p. 282.
  4. ^ "A Martyr to Duty". The Moving Picture World. 12 (1): 21. April 6, 1912.
  5. ^ "Screen Papers Merged: Exhibitors' Herald and Moving Picture World Close Deal". The New York Times. December 30, 1927. p. 21.
  6. ^ "Exhibitor's Herald – Publisher Information". Eric Chaim Kline. Archived from the original on April 24, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  7. ^ "Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929) - Lantern". lantern.mediahist.org. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  8. ^ "Hollywood Studio System Collection". Media History Digital Library. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  9. ^ An Index to Short and Feature Film Reviews in the Moving Picture World: The Early Years, 1907–1915. ISBN 0313293813.
  10. ^ Filmmakers in The Moving Picture World: An Index of Articles, 1907–1927. ISBN 0786402903.

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