MUTOSCOPE: A Tale of Two Companies

MUTOSCOPE: A Tale of Two CompaniesThis book documents the history of one of the first coin operated movie viewing machines, the Mutoscope. Born during the very beginnings of film history, the Mutoscope spawned and supported the success of two companies, American Mutoscope and Biograph, and the International Mutoscope Reel Corp, over the course of 75 years. The Mutoscope is still operating in vintage arcades around the US and Europe. The device can be found in the collections of

This book documents the history of one of the first coin operated movie viewing machines, the Mutoscope. ÊBorn during the very beginnings of film history, the Mutoscope spawned and supported the success of two companies, American Mutoscope and Biograph, and the International Mutoscope Reel Corp, over the course of 75 years. The Mutoscope is still operating in vintage arcades around the US and Europe. ÊThe device can be found in the collections of renowned film/technology museums such as The Smithsonian, MOMA and CinŽmath�que Fran�aise. ÊThis first volume details the pioneering company, the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company. ÊRead how the Mutoscope dethroned the Edison Kinetoscope, and of the company's two pronged approach into the business of early cinema: The Penny Arcades, and the Nickelodeons. ÊThe second volume details the successor company, the International Mutoscope Reel Company.