The History of Hollywood

[@skyden24195]

I spent about two years working as a Hollywood extra. On my very first job as an extra in Hollywood, as was to customary in the routine of extras' work, I was waiting in the "holding" area, along with the other extras working the same production shoot. When we were finally called in for our first needed takes, we were to exit out of a door that led to an outdoor staircase for us to descend. Walking out from the dark holding area out into, what had started out with cloudy skies and sporadic rain, was now a seemingly painted sky directly out of a Hollywood film. When I walked through the doorway, the high vantage point from where we were, combined with the cleared out skies, I could see the "Hollywood" sign centered in the distance of my view, framed perfectly by the buildings and natural formations of the city that lived beneath the sign. At that moment, even just being a "lowly" extra, the idea of actually being and working in this most incredible place and industry, the beauty of that moment made walking around a studio lot for a few hours, pretending to be a protester in 1950's America, that much more fun.

[@tommason1814]

im surprised you didnt include a "wilsoooooon!" in the part about Birth of a Nation :D

[@mmjahink]

It's implied, I can't not hear it anytime Cypher references the 1910s

[@rangergxi]

Monopoly, blacklisting, and self-censorship. Some things never change.

[@ethans.9744]

This is the way.

[@MrAlexSan00]

This is why I get annoyed with people complaining about this... this has been the standard for over 100 years for radio, film, tv, and video production. It's like "Why are you surprised, didn't know you know this is how things are?"

[@rangergxi]

@@MrAlexSan00 No, people should complain about this stuff.

[@wingitprod]

The folly of every generation is to think it's more enlightened than the previous. It shows whoever has the power dosen't wish to share, or give it up

[@thumper8684]

@@MrAlexSan00 That is the wierdest response to blatant injustice. You take against the people complaining even though you know they have a case? Injustice needs concerted action to change. Concerted action needs widespread understanding of that injustice. Complaining is not just people being crybabies, it is a direct effort to deal with the problem. Why would you have a problem with that?

[@endaohalloran6649]

This is such an encompassing overview of Hollywood with a look at so many different perspectives that is really easy to follow and endlessly interesting. What a great video!

[@DavidELD]

"The Film Industry is recession-proof." Covid-19: "I'm about to end this man's whole career."

[@ecurewitz]

They will make more animated features, because those can be made with less human contact

[@donalny]

@@ecurewitz No, you still need buildings full of people working side by side for some good and some stupid reasons.

[@sharpaycutie2]

Didn’t the internet kill that with Piracy?

[@legoworksstudios1]

When I saw the 1932 Scarface movie last year (the copyright had been expired for a while when I saw it, so finding a way to see it wasn't hard), I read that it was a pre-code movie, meaning between 1929 and 1934 movies were made with little restrictions and could introduce complex topics like race relations, sexuality, miscegenation, religion, and others. I remember in that movie what stood out to me was how strong-willed Ann Dvorak's character was, same with Faye Wray's character in 1933's King Kong. Compared with other eras, it seemed to me that those codes that would promote (read: enforce) self-censorship in these areas really missed out. There's probably a list of groundbreaking films going forward (my favorite that I was able to see a few months ago was In the Heat of the Night with Sidney Poitier), but I can only imagine what it would be like if the censorship was less restrictive in the beginning.

[@prof.cecilycogsworth3204]

The Birth of a Nation and the Lost Cause. That explains so much. Thanks for an entertaining and instructive video.

[@noahkoz6873]

Watching this during My school lunch break and also I haven’t been this early since the Spanish still controlled California

[@jefferynelson]

Not my business, but are you in a classroom or at home on computer for school ?

[@Annoitedpastorlewiswalkin]

Oh i had no class today only a zoom seasion

[@noahkoz6873]

Home

[@danielcervantes1181]

This is exactly why I dropped out of UCSB. Thanks for shedding light on this situation and helping me feel understood! You are an awesome artist. Keep up the good work. Knowledge is power!

[@axiomaticisak4350]

I already new alot about this, and so did not expect to enjoy this nearly as much as i did

[@PissyKnish]

If this isn't revisionist I'll become a patron.

[@sonictimm]

Do it!

[@ApertureHistory]

I knew today was gonna be a good one when you posted this! Love the video.

[@deedeet3000able]

"A new genre came out after musicals" Me: PORN, ITS PORN

[@monopolfilms]

"In Old California" (1910) was the first movie filmed in Hollywood proper. Directed by D.W. Griffith, starring Marion Leonard, Arthur Johnson, Henry Walthal and Frank Powell, and written by my great grandfather S.E.V. Taylor. Its also fun to point out that the first Hollywood movie was about Mexicans. Prior to the California excursion, the Biograph Co was making "westerns" in Ft. Lee, NJ. In Karl Brown's memoir (Griffith's cameraman) he says that Pinkertons would shoot at non-patent-holding filmmakers crossing the Cauenga pass to go to Universal in the 19-teens.

[@tat2mytoes]

How have I not found your channel until now!! Binge watching your channel now!!

[@dfunited1]

What a great series! Knowing Better sent me here to learn more about California history (I've watched all 9 of the videos), and I'm super happy that he did. I hope you continue to make more videos about our State's history

[@CynicalHistorian]

I plan to. I've just hit a point in the series that i really don't know much, so a lot more research is required and I've ended up focusing on other things

[@dfunited1]

@@CynicalHistorian Your distillation to 10 min videos is great. I get so much information (especially when I pause, to read). Here's a request/commentary or things to come: cover Northern CA over the same period you covered the Hollywood stuff. There's a ton of history there, that you covered. But what was going on I'm SF and Sonora ?

[@CynicalHistorian]

@@dfunited1 la was only the focus of this episode (for obvious reasons). There's only one regional one I've got planned for the rest of this series, and that's silicon valley

[@moviemazlow]

I wanted to make a video on this topic but you covered everything so wonderfully there's no need!! Excellent work!

[@Overthought1]

Wow, this episode was a microcosm all its own. Thanks so much for this great series!

[@CynicalHistorian]

Thanks for watching, and please consider supporting the channel by buying merch: teespring.com/stores/the-cynical-historian Or by donating to my Patreon: www.patreon.com/CynicalHistorian See following replies for corrections and additional info, but first, here are some related videos to check out: 0:25 - California history playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLjnwpaclU4wUD7y8912ViyAtGfraKi9ru 1:55 - Trains and oil in California: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnbJYXyoYs2VfMU 3:10 - Birth of a Nation: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKvWp4J4n7eLm9k 3:25 - Lost Cause myth: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3aymYt8atGBnbM 10:55 - Citizen Kane: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmW7o5SBpJmaqqM 12:20 - Lawrence of Arabia: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKiVZp2dos5-p9U 13:35 - When the Western Perished: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmfddWSpn9N2oq8 16:25 - Disney Renaissance: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYrIlXx5r52JbJY

[@CynicalHistorian]

*[reserved for errata]*

[@CynicalHistorian]

*References* Bernard F. Dick, _Engulfed: The Death of Paramount Pictures and the Birth of Corporate Hollywood_ (Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky, 2001). amzn.to/3f2Yb0S _Hollywood’s America: United States History Through its Films,_ eds. Mintz, Steven and Randy Roberts (St. James, N.York: Brandywine Press, 1993). amzn.to/2tZIoJT Richard Slotkin, _Gunfighter Nation: The Myth of the Frontier in Twentieth-Century America_ (New York: Atheneum Books, 1992). amzn.to/2KX0jI2 Kevin Starr, _Inventing the Dream: California through the Progressive Era_ (Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 1985). amzn.to/2VPTbVX

[@inferno0020]

I had an alternate history in my mind about H P. Lovecraft befriended Edward Bernays in NYC and moved to Los Angeles together. When Lovecraft combines his vision of horror with visual storytelling, Bernays saw a futuristic effective tool for reshaping the public mind. In the early 20th century, these 2 men transformed the American film and the destiny of the US into a direction we couldn't imagine.

[@aasante3437]

Is the studio system what you would call a cartel?

[@CynicalHistorian]

in a way, yes

[@ed008ue]

good job!!! I grew pretty versed in Hollywood History after years of reading about it.

[@donalny]

I'd say some of Hollywood survived the writers' strike. That seemed to have done a number on a lot of the smaller productions going on and further funneled resources into franchises and major names.

[@robertnorthup8583]

So your telling me drunk history lied to me. I'm shocked!

[@sonictimm]

Great series! Glad I just got on now and didn't have to wait a year... we'll see about the next episode tho.

[@ecurewitz]

I'm guessing, because of the pandemic, you'll see more animation and live streaming from home. BONUS: less of that reality TV garbage

[@wrightmf]

Reminds me what started reality TV was a writers strike. Studios had to find some way to produce stuff to fill schedules. Don't need a writer for reality TV, which is not reality mostly "actors" that can act "dramatically."

[@zach7193]

Interesting topic here, Cypher. Didn't know that you were doing a series about the history of California. I don't watch your content much often, but when I do see it I stop and watch.

[@CoachKussenVuist]

I really enjoy your content, its top notch!

[@sarajoyann]

You are so good, and so helpful!!

[@anthonybrooks3617]

These are great, can't wait for the next one!

[@CynicalHistorian]

I'm currently taking a break from writing the script for it, LOL

[@KarlUrbahn]

I love these videos! Keep it up!!

[@jesseestrada8914]

This one hits home again today..

[@ehrldawg]

This was well worth my time to watch!

[@naturalnics]

That UMG Scream of pain was so fkn well timed 👏🏼

[@OperativeD]

I hate to plug another KZbin Channel/Podcast, but for those of you watching this who want to go all in on Hollywood History I highly recommend Karina Longworth's You Must Remember This. She goes to great lengths to research the various topics of discussion even doing a long series on The Manson Family and by extension Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski. Check it out if you are so inclined.

[@kittiwhieldon4329]

Andrew Barnets I appreciate the recommendation. Obviously if I’m here, it’s a subject that interests me so it really helps when someone recommends similar content. It’s not always easy to find. Thanks.

[@slaphead8835]

Great work! Very enjoyable and informative.

[@rayceeya8659]

OMG "Horse Feathers" is my second favorite Marx Brother's film. Just seeing that clip makes me want to watch it right now.

[@gp123lIlI]

Can you make a list of all the movies shown here? Theres a bunch I want to watch for the first time

[@vildexoksnes]

Thanks for this!

[@DavidSexton77]

Great Series !

[@jothishprabu8]

Well made!

[@ritaloy8338]

If you have not watched the previous episodes on this series please do.

[@USSAnimeNCC-]

Or go back because like me you forgot something

[@RichGilpin]

Very good!

[@liamtahaney713]

imagine losing your job because you're too "squeaky"

[@abdelrahmanwael2551]

I hope you make a video on san Francisco and silicon valley

[@dannylojkovic5205]

BUT WHERE DOES ANIME COME INTO PLAY?

[@daviddyster4145]

Cleopatra was released in 1963

[@jamesbond1986007]

you should do 42 for your next film review cause of Chadwick Boseman been gone

[@CynicalHistorian]

these things take months to research, so I couldn't put it out quickly even if I was going to. The next one is either The Outpost or 1776

[@julius-stark]

I love videos like this, great work.

[@johannesdenzer240]

Please do a similar video like the one you did about the ussr about the german empire!

[@matthewbergman6803]

Love all your content, and especially how you trash Woodrow Wilson. One question: Have you thought about doing an episode specifically focusing on Wilson’s reaction to the 1918 influenza pandemic? I feel like that would be very informative and timely, given Trump’s willful negligence on COVID-19 today.

[@kyroindigo4883]

At the end of a long series of California history I take away “Star wars changed the world.” & “Disney is taking over.”

[@dezbiggs6363]

I would love to see a video about California in the 1930s and 40s.

[@ammarnapata2193]

Loved this video

[@keyontedollison8547]

Harvey Wilcox is the person that started hollywood back in 1887

[@charlita25]

Very informative 👏 👌

[@gohardgibson]

Bro, I am a IATSE union member. I haven't werked since the day sports died in March. IATSE is basically SAG labor: set carpenter, wardrobe and hair, lighting, movie mechanics, etc. I personally werk on live events, and concerts as well as theater and AV werk conferences and conventions. My brothers and sisters have been ignored by the media and general public. We are key to our society's entertainment and education and frankly I am not sure if I can wait for America to get it's head out of their ass, for it's not our fault for what happened. But I am feeling the full brunt of it; health insurance is paid by employers as we do werk, no werk, no insurance coverage. Unemployment insurance views us as freelancers and wont pay out even if I provide w2 docs to prove I paid taxes, btw: Simplified taxes removed many expenses we typically write off. And locally my state screwed up the tax incentives for movie houses to come and film, and that loss dropped the wages for lack of prestigious clients. Now our car show is downsized comic con skips us and tours don't come out here as often or plays don't run longer than a month, see Hamilton@gammage 2018. Thanks for doing this historical documentary. It's important to know with whom we spend our money and what their do for the community at large. Rock on, Cypher. Keep up the great werk!

[@lugabby]

I love this series. What do you plan on doing next after finishing the California series?

[@TheMjsanty]

This is a top notch video.

[@williamhughmurraycissp8405]

Those interested in the history of Hollywood and its impact on the history of the US may like Gore Vidal's Hollywood. Factionalized but enlightening.

[@aprylrittenhouse4562]

I have a tank question .please somebody answer this. Its probably stupid but during the 1rst gulf war we faced t72s my ? Is what did they usevto turn thaat turret. Some joker on the history channel said it was a hand crank. But thats ludicous. Isnt that

[@m1tche11one]

I love your series!

[@kanyekubrick5391]

Perfect because of the current exodus happening in California. Do you have any predictions of what the future of the state might be?

[@HoosierRallyMaster]

I am pretty sure Black Maria is pronounced ma-rye-uh as in "They Call The Wind Maria"

[@ryanbaker3821]

seeing how there is a major labor strike about to happen with IATSE right now, this paints an even bigger to where we are going

[@theredeyther7502]

What are the philosophers used in your videos? I know the one with the lantern and dog is Diogenes but not the others.

[@CynicalHistorian]

the statues? They're either ancient cynics or ancient historians

[@08ms3red]

Great video

[@chrislondo2683]

Internesting fact Dorothy Gibson who was an actress who'd survied the Titanic disaster had a realtionship with Jules Brulatour who was the founder of Universial Pictures.

[@theshenpartei]

Will there be a episode about Silicon Valley?

[@CynicalHistorian]

eventually... I hope

[@theshenpartei]

@@CynicalHistorian ok

[@teegee0]

Love this.

[@tomservo5007]

can't wait till when the CCP doesn't have a need for Fast and Furious 23 anymore. The return of small budget, yet more creative movies will come back.

[@anthonycassano6730]

Please do a 'Based on a True Story' video on the Oliver Stone movie JFK (1991)!

[@6thwilbury2331]

Great series. For my age group, the first real foray into California history was the fourth grade. But this stuff is the REAL, more interesting history: back then, it got boiled down to Cortes/Cabrillo/Drake sea cruises, the missions we only knew from tortilla packages; and the Gold Rush. Also, I like to think the following happened at some point in 2020: Deans/Presidents: folks, we will now shift to distance learning, which means you need to present thorough lessons in a way that students can consume from their homes. 😕 All Other Professors/Lecturers: 😫 Cypher: 😎

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

Cypher: I've been training my whole life for this.

[@kylez8010]

Yeah, we talked about pueblos, and had to make a mission. No mention of the Donner party.

[@TheTb2364]

Jfc I so much hope I live to see the current system go crashing down.

[@LCCWPresents]

I think hollywood is not going to the monolith it was prior to covid. Reason being is because hollywood is based in CA. The films realised from hollywood this year were films they where planing to put out in march or Apirl, like Mulan or Trolls world tour that where already made. Having the whole industry in CA hault for the majority of the year, I'm starting to see more films from outside of the united states pop up on streaming services that are new. From places that already dealt with Covid by August.

[@biveofhalo]

can you review the movie The Eight Hundred?

[@christianmaes1646]

What do you order at Frontier restaurant?

[@Seek1878]

Raccoon, possum, wild game lol

[@dylansreviews8231]

Can you do a history of fifa

[@ilikedota5]

How is this not copywrite struck? RKO is defunct?

[@gumgumdookuin7963]

I'll be sure to show this to my step parents. I wasn't educated in school since my step-mom thought she can do better. California for her is quite interesting in of itself besides Hollywood, so I might show her this as a gift. Not gonna illegally download it just show it naturally.

[@Coffeeisnecessarynowpepper]

This video has a content warning ⚠️

[@isaacb725]

This your best one about Cali wow

[@ultrasound914]

Holywerid

[@dagruneson8308]

Good video, but I miss any mention of the importance of the competition with non-American movie studios for the Hays-codes being abandoned in the sixties. I have personally for example read that the sucess of british movies like Hammer-Horrors Dracula and the James Bond-francise and Spagetti-Westerns from Italy were among the factors that made made the Hollywood studios leave the Hays-codes behind.

[@terrygrossmann2295]

Dear Lord, I need to stop watching. I remember being a kid watching Star Wars I can't believe that released in 1977. Boy time flies.

[@chadatchison145]

Ain't that the truth lol.

[@CynicalHistorian]

Time flies when you're having fun

[@obelic71]

Living at the Netherlands German border i and some class mates skipped class as 10 year old kids to see the empire strikes back in a German theatre. The age restriction in Germany was 10 years and in the Netherlands it was 12 years. We never had any regrets of the 3 weeks school detention we got afterwards 😁

[@lexybunker9076]

When you have a presentation on hollywood and have no idea of where to start.

[@wingitprod]

The Story of Film: an odyssey " is a great history of Hollyweird as well.

[@mathieuleader8601]

Reagan before becoming president of the states was screen actors guild president having been also duly elected twice

[@maxwelljarowey2612]

And people think the Hollywood is left town it not it is a business

[@Strothy2]

You don't mess with the mouse or the mouse messes with you...

[@wrightmf]

Interesting how you can compress so much history into one sentence. I was thinking there's a lot of stuff filmed in Canada. Also how so many TV shows and movies gives impression that area of California is predominately white people. Old guy here, I'm also losing track of who's who in the business and I rarely go to the theatres. Not that it is expensive but none of the movies interest me i.e. I have no idea of nuances of Star Wars or Disney characters. I think the last movies I saw in theatres was The Aviator and Hidden Figures (and 2001 where Castro theatre showed a 70 mm analog film on its 50th anniversary). You are right about the tremendous political and economic power Hollywood has, interesting observation of celebrity coverage a method of advertising. A lot of computer nerds on slashdot also bitch about repressive power of MPAA and RIAA they claim squelches many technical innovations. They sometimes refer these two organizations as MAFIAA.

[@sint0xicateme]

It was pronounced 'Black Mariah'.

[@nicwilson89]

The Horsely brothers who owned and operated The Nestor Film Company are from the smallass random town I grew up in, in north east England, founded as the west coast production unit of the Centaur Film Company. Nestor later merged with its distributor, the Universal Film Company, becoming the brand name Universal. The brothers moved to New Jersey in 1884. Their operation was responsible, apparently, for a bunch of things including Mutt and Jeff comedies I was blown away when I found that out, that there's a link no matter how big or small between a random small mining town in north east England that no one in England has even heard of and the founding of fucking Hollywood

[@YAH2121]

RIP Sean Connery

[@mr51406]

Very interesting as always. ⭐️ For more on early and silent era Hollywood, I heartily recommend this 1980 documentary series simply titled “Hollywood” narrated by James Mason. Especially episode 2. They were lucky to have many interviews with many of the pioneers who were still alive then: Lillian Gish, Jackie Coogan, King Vidor... kzbin.info/aero/PLPV3nUyTvwwrMC59RKPvaM-KYE9TnnOUk en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_(British_TV_series)

[@edwardtlatilolpa1977]

*A year later* have you gotten around to it yet?

[@CynicalHistorian]

Im editing it

[@baptisimo5962]

So your telling me that the bee movie is bad

[@leeatterberry1239]

If it wasn't for Hollywood there would be no entertainment tonight

[@EricaCalman]

So I'm not sure the breakup of the Edison monopoly would have sent things into a downward spiral without 'birth of a nation.' Like if anything it should open it up....? More like 'Birth of a Nation' was the first to take advantage of the new situation but it was always going to be the beginning once anyone could get into the motion picture business. Idk maybe there's just details I don't know but I guess now I'll go down the internet rabbit hole and see what's up with that argument.

[@willday9316]

How can any history of Hollywood fail to mention the biggest nonexistent innovater of film, Thaddeus "Chubby" Chadsworth (1867-1979), creator of fake classics like 'PiePanic (1912) and Pontius PiePlate (1920)?