Nickelodeon City: The Origins of the Movie Industry

From grimy storefronts to plush auditoriums the first movie theaters and audiences were as diverse as burgeoning America. Unlike vaudeville acts, nickelodeon's frequent showings allowed people to stop in anytime. By 1908 there were approximately 8,000 nickelodeons in the U.S. and film studios popped up everywhere. The heyday of nickelodeons lasted less than 10 years. The age of paying just a nickel for a movie ended, but the emerging movie industry forever captivated audiences.