January 8, 1980 • 50m
The evolution of film from penny arcade curiosity to art form, from what was considered the first plot driven film, The Great Trai...Read more
January 15, 1980 • 50m
Hollywood is transformed from a peaceful village with dusty streets and lemon groves to the birthplace of the industry in Californ...Read more
January 22, 1980 • 50m
Fast success in Hollywood brings a cavalier party lifestyle, which led to shocking scandals such as Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle's tria...Read more
January 29, 1980 • 50m
The outbreak of World War I provides Hollywood with a successful source for plots and profits. Peacetime curtails the release of w...Read more
February 5, 1980 • 50m
Silent films are often remembered for slapstick gags and dangerous stunts. Stuntmen took anonymous credit for very little pay and ...Read more
February 12, 1980 • 50m
Two of the great romantic legends of the silent screen are profiled. Rudolph Valentino's on-screen persona is remarkably different...Read more
February 19, 1980 • 50m
Two of Hollywood's greatest directors, Cecil B. DeMille and Erich von Stroheim. One worked with the Hollywood system, the other ag...Read more
February 26, 1980 • 50m
Hollywood learned very early how to make people laugh. Comedy was king, and battling for the throne were stars like Harold Lloyd, ...Read more
March 4, 1980 • 50m
'The Old West' was still in existence in the silent days. Old cowboys and outlaws re-lived their youth, and got paid for doing it,...Read more
March 11, 1980 • 50m
Silent film directors were flamboyant pioneers, making up their technique as they went along. Filming 'indoor' sets on open outdoo...Read more
March 18, 1980 • 50m
Skilled cameramen had the ability to turn an actress into a screen goddess, and were valuable assets to studios and stars. With th...Read more
March 25, 1980 • 50m
Producers discovered the effect of 'star power' on their box office bottom line. Creating Hollywood stars becomes its own industry...Read more
April 1, 1980 • 50m
Silent films had universal appeal, simply by replacing intertitles and dialogue cards for the foreign markets. Sound film was expe...Read more