Go Pro Today

‘The Business:’ When Hollywood Was the Center of the Entertainment Industry (Video)

The second episode of TheWrap’s video series “The Business” examines the rise and fall of Hollywood’s Golden Age

| May 15, 2018 @ 9:55 AM

There was once a time when the movies were king. At its peak in 1946, between 80 to 90 million people went to the movies every week. That was nearly 60 percent of the United States’ entire population at the time. And every movie that people saw came out of Hollywood. This was the period in film history known as the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Some of the best movies ever made were produced in this era, and the film business was booming. But just how did Hollywood become the entertainment capital of the world?

In the previous episode of TheWrap’s video series “The Business,” we examined how Hollywood ended up in Southern California and established the industry we know today. In this latest episode, “When Hollywood Was the Center of the Entertainment Industry,” we look at how “The Jazz Singer” and the rise of “talkies” paved the way for Hollywood’s most productive and lucrative period.

Also Read: 'The Business': How Hollywood Became the Center of the Entertainment Industry (Video)

This video explains how The Big Five studios controlled every aspect of the filmmaking process, from the development, production, distribution and exhibition of their films. It also looks back at how the industry censored itself, how it offset losses and attracted the top talent from around the world.

But what led to the decline of the Golden Age? How did the studio system of old morph into what it is today? Is “Citizen Kane” really better than “Avengers: Infinity War” (spoiler: it is)?

We answer all these questions and more in the latest episode of “The Business.” Watch it above.

John Travolta, Spike Lee and 31 More Portraits From TheWrap's Studio at The Girls' Lounge Cannes (Exclusive Photos)

  • Featured image for Cannes Portrait Studio
  • Kevin Connolly, John Travolta, and Kelly Preston, Gotti
  • John Travolta, Gotti
  • Kevin Connolly, Gotti
  • Kelly Preston, Gotti
  • Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman
  • John David Washington,Laura Harrier and SpikeLee, BlacKkKlansman
  • John David Washington, BlacKkKlansman
  • Laura Harrier, BlacKkKlansman
  • Topher Grace, Under the silver lake
  • Disaster Peace, Under the silver lake
  • Joe Penna, Arctic
  • Mads Mikkelsen, Arctic
  • Mads Mikkelsen, Joe Penna, Arctic
  • Sofia Boutella, Climax
  • Gaspar Noé and Sofia Boutella, Climax
  • Pamela B. Green, Be Natural: The Untold Story Of Alice Guy-Blaché
  • Natalie Metzger, Thunder Road
  • Jim Cummings, Thunder Road
  • Caryn Waechter, Escape
  • Ana Grace Knight, Caryn Waechter and Meredith Littas, Escape
  • Ana Grace Knight, Escape
  • Meredith Littas, Escape
  • Morgan Kibby, Singer and Songwriter
  • Christophe Honoré, Sorry Angel
  • Pierre Deladonchamps and Vincent Lacoste, Sorry Angel
  • Marlene Schiappa, French Politician
  • Wim Wenders, Pope Francis
  • Devika Bhise, Lost in love
  • Victoire Dauxerre, Model and Actress
  • Whitney J. A. Yadoa-Evans and Niquole Esters, Conservation International
  • Omar Samra, Beyond the Raging Sea
  • Omar Nour, Beyond the Raging Sea
  • Omar Nour, Omar Samra, Beyond the Raging Sea
  • Adrien Moisson, The Wild Immersion
1 of 35

Cannes 2018: Mads Mikkelsen, Topher Grace, Kelly Preston and more show off their new projects on the Croisette

TheWrap's 2018 Portrait Studio Studio at The Girls' Lounge Cannes, produced by FH Studio. 

Photographed by Geneviève Caron for TheWrap

 

View In Gallery