Hollywood Studio System Collection (1914-1948)
The American film studios have dominated the domestic and international film markets since the late-1910s. The major studios, such as Paramount and Fox, were vertically integrated–controlling production, distribution, and exhibition.
The corporate headquarters were located in New York, but the production divisions operated on the West Coast. The name “Hollywood” is now associated with the entire studio system and the memorable films the system produced.
The periodicals in this collection chart the studio system during its rise, the transition to sound, and Great Depression years. The periodicals present a variety of points of view within the industry, from the production-oriented Hollywood Reporter to the exhibitor-oriented publication Harrison’s Reports, a “reviewing service free from the influence of film advertising.” The cornerstone of this collection is a two decade run of The Film Daily, a leading motion picture trade paper published out of New York that reached participants involved in all aspects of the movie business. The Film Daily includes innumerable reviews of features and shorts, news reports from throughout the industry, occasional features stories, and hundreds of full-page ads.
