The studios began spending large amounts of money, as well, for the production of feature-length films. As technology expanded, the companies were forced to expand with it to keep up with the competition. It was here in the 1920's that movie production adopted Hollywood as its official name and home.
When Hollywood began, it was nothing like what it is today. Families could spend the evening at the Cinema for a nickel or sometimes a dime. A man by the name of Harry Davis built the first Nickelodeon, a small storefront theater to view films. The movie theater was opened in Pittsburgh in June of 1905 showing The Great Train Robbery. The audience loved watching these short silent films that were accompanied by musicians.
Some of the oldest and greatest films produced were the silent films from the early 20th century. These films were without sound and were the earliest produced up until 1927. More emphasis and attention was placed on the story of the film, and the audience really had to analyze the movie to understand it. These movies demanded attention. The dialogue was communicated through lip-reading and sparse titles. In a sense, calling these productions "silent films" was an unsuitable title. Movie theaters and other places provided pianists, Wurlitzer's, and other sound machines. Some films were even produced with complete musical scores. A full-fledged orchestra and organist to provide music and to underscore the narrative on the screen accompanied most early of them. Many early silent films were dramas, romances, slapstick, or comedies. Early masters of cinema during the silent years included Cecil B. Demille, F.W. Muranau, Harold Lloyd, and of course, Charlie Chaplin. Then in 1927, a revolution in film was produced. The Jazz Singer was the first of the new breed of films called "talkies" were sound was included in the reel. The transition between silent and talking pictures proved difficult to the industry especially for the cinema organ players.
