First Women of Hollywood : Female Pioneers in the Early Motion Picture Business

The early motion picture industry exploded in the 1910s when middle class audiences became hooked on the beautiful storytelling images flashing by them onscreen. As movie attendance exploded, more workers were required to produce this riveting new form of entertainment. Largely created by immigrants, the film industry creatively and scientifically evolved over its first few decades thanks to the work of people outside the traditional ruling class—immigrants, people of color, women—partly as a result of elites denigrating the fledgling field. As the moving picture business transitioned from neophyte to powerhouse, young and ambitious rebels—both men and women—energized and revitalized its output. At the same time, American culture was evolving as women sought the right to vote and work outside traditional fields, unions exploded, and immigrants contributed to flourishing businesses. Mostly written out of history, women provided an integral component for popularizing silent film and making it an enormous success, paving the way for Golden Age Hollywood. They often pioneered practices and established trends, leading several fields in its early days. Women were integral in producing enough films for exploding demand in the industry's second decade. Men often resented their power and success, and as the studio system of massive factories and industrialization took hold, women found themselves out of favor and replaced. First Women of Hollywood will explore and illustrate the invaluable role and contributions of these mostly forgotten and unacknowledged pioneers.