The history of the cinematograph dates back to the obscure ages
of the year 65 B.C., at which period Lucretius, in his “De Rerum
Natura,” made certain pertinent remarks relative to the persistence of
vision--the base upon which the whole theory of motion photography is
built. According to a document in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, the
cinematograph has a history as far back as A.D. 130.
The first stage from which the cinematograph evolved was an invention,
simplicity itself, which readily lent itself to immediate and
successful development. It emanated as a toy for children, and this has
been gradually built up, stage by stage, until finally completed as at
the present time. I refer to that simple toy-wheel or “cycle of life;”
also to the children’s booklet consisting of a series of pictures of
various stages of action. The leaves were held between the first finger
and thumb, the little book bent backwards, and the leaves released, one
by one, as quickly as possible. The whole gave the impression of the
subject being in motion; and this optical illusion was the embryo of
the modern motion picture.
Before the introduction of the celluloid film, animated pictures from
glass plates were exhibited; but without the pliable celluloid film it
is contended that cinematography would have been impracticable.