Shared Pleasures: A History of Movie Presentation in the United States (Wisconsin Studies in Film)

From Publishers Weekly
Gomery ( The Hollywood Studio System ) has filled a huge gap in the history of motion pictures in America. In this exhaustive volume, he deals with movie distribution and presentation, a subject almost completely overlooked in scholarly treatment of the medium. The first of the book's three sections is a history of movie display from nickelodeons to VCRs. Of particular interest here is the evidence that television was not responsible for the decline in moviegoing. The second section deals with specialty operations, including art-house cinemas and theatres for African-Americans. The final section looks at the effect of technological innovations, from the emergence of sound to wide-screen movies to the advent of home video. Written in a conversational style, the book should appeal to a wide range of movie fans. Tracing the impact of child-bearing patterns, the rise of the suburbs and shopping malls and America's automobile culture as seen in the form of drive-in theaters, this volume is as much a social history of the U. S. as it is a history of movie exhibition. It will become a standard for anyone interested in a complete ``picture'' of our true national pastime. Copyright 1992 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Gomery, author of The Hollywood Studio System ( LJ 1/86), again writes about the economic history of the movie business. His thorough and valuable research covers elements like distribution, theater chains, sound, color, wide-screen double features, television, cable, home video, even air conditioning and popcorn. The industry that caters to the society's current tastes also initiates social change, Gomery demonstrates. He makes an attempt to steer film history away from the usual Hollywood-centered, content-based scholarship. In the end he offers no real challenge to the validity of other types of film writings, but acquires a rightful niche that rounds out the extant work. Recommended for special film collections and large academic libraries.- Brian Geary, West Seneca, N.Y.Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.


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Gomery (The coming of sound to the American cinema, 1975; The Hollywood studio system, 1986) draws upon his earlier work and that of other scholars to address the broader social functions of the film industry, showing how Hollywood adapted its business policies to diversity and change within American society. Includes 31 b&w photographs. Paper edition (unseen), $15.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)


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