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.
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)
TheWrap's 2018 Portrait Studio Studio at The Girls' Lounge Cannes, produced by FH Studio.
Photographed by Geneviève Caron for TheWrap
Actors Kevin Connolly, John Travolta, and Kelly Preston, "Gotti"
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John Travolta, "Gotti"
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Kevin Connolly, "Gotti"
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Kelly Preston, "Gotti"
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Director Spike Lee, "BlacKkKlansman"
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Actors John David Washington and Laura Harrier with director Spike Lee, "BlacKkKlansman"
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John David Washington, "BlacKkKlansman"
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Laura Harrier, "BlacKkKlansman"
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Actor Topher Grace, "BlacKkKlansman" and "Under the Silver Lake"
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Composer Disasterpeace, "Under the Silver Lake"
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Director Joe Penna, "Arctic"
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Actor Mads Mikkelsen, "Arctic"
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Writer-producer Ryan Morrison, actor Mads Mikkelsen, producer Tim Zajaros, writer-director Joe Penna, producer Christopher Lemole, "Arctic"
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Actress Sofia Boutella, "Climax"
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Director Gaspar Noé and actress Sofia Boutella, "Climax"
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Director-producer Pamela B. Green, "Be Natural: The Untold Story Of Alice Guy-Blaché"
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Producer Natalie Metzger, "Thunder Road"
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Writer-director-actor Jim Cummings, "Thunder Road"
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Director Caryn Waechter, "Escape"
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Ana Grace Knight, Caryn Waechter and Meredith Littas, "Escape"
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Actress Ana Grace Knight, "Escape"
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Writer Meredith Littas, "Escape"
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Singer and songwriter Morgan Kibby
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Writer-director Christophe Honoré, "Sorry Angel"
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Actors Pierre Deladonchamps and Vincent Lacoste, "Sorry Angel"
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Marlene Schiappa, French politician
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Director Wim Wenders, "Pope Francis"
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Actress Devika Bhise, "Swords and Sceptres"
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Victoire Dauxerre, model and actress
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Whitney J. A. Yadoa-Evans and Niquole Esters, Conservation International
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Omar Samra, sailor and subject of "Beyond the Raging Sea"
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Omar Nour, sailor and subject of "Beyond the Raging Sea"
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"Beyond the Raging Sea" director Marco Orsini flanked by documentary subjects Omar Nour and Omar Samra
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"The Wild Immersion" filmmaker, Adrien Moission, VR experience supported by the Jane Goodall Institute
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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.