The “Moving pictures” article in the first edition of The World Book Encyclopedia, published in 1917, was just 8 ½ pages long. Readers looking for information on this “most revolutionary invention since the printing press” could find black-and-white illustrations of the latest “moving-picture camera” and “projecting machine.” Both patented that year, each machine was, as a caption points out, “the most modern device of the kind.” A century later, advances in motion-picture technology would no doubt be enough to make a 1917 moving-picture fan’s boater-hatted head spin.
The first edition of World Book emphasized the possible uses of film in science and education. Today, movies are made as much to entertain as to inform. In addition to emerging as a major art form, motion pictures have become a gigantic industry. As the 2017 World Book “Motion picture” article explains, a typical feature-length film costs millions of dollars to make and requires the skills of hundreds of workers. Today’s highly technical devices include not only cameras and projectors, but sound-recording equipment and computers—from the IMAX projection system with its gigantic screens to computer-generated imagery (CGI), which has been used in almost every film made in the 2000’s.
But motion pictures today could not exist without many of the scientific and technological discoveries made since the late 1800’s. For this reason, movies have been called the art form of the 20th century. You can learn more about the history, technology, and impact of motion pictures in the 2017 World Book “Motion picture” article—which is now more than 30 pages long. In addition to many illustrations, diagrams, and full-color photos, the article also includes tables of all the Academy Award-winning actors, directors, and films from the first Oscars, recognizing 1927-1928 films, to today. A number of these winners also have their own articles in World Book. So be sure to look them up: they are ready for their close-ups!
THE WORLD BOOK DIFFERENCE
Throughout the nearly 100 years
of publication of The World Book
Encyclopedia many things have
changed, but World Book’s dedication
to providing timely, reliable, and
readable educational and reference
materials has not wavered.
Today, World Book remains dedicated
to fostering a deep desire to learn
in students of all ages. In print and
online, World Book content is especially
crafted with young readers in mind
to help ensure that their commitment
to reading is rewarded with easily
understandable text that engages
and educates.
THE WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA 2017
Celebrating 100 years of publication!
