So for 1940, there are 1,973 films listed; for 1950, 2,217; for 1960, 3,142.

How long was the average movie in the 1950s?

It's true that in the first decades of cinema movies were shorter, they were on average 90 minutes long in early 1930s and reached 100–110 minutes in mid-'50s.

What was the ratio of movies in the 1950s?

The "Academy ratio" of 1.375:1 was used for all cinema films in the sound era until 1953 (with the release of George Stevens' Shane in 1.6:1). During that time, television, which had a similar aspect ratio of 1.3:1, became a perceived threat to movie studios.

How much did movie attendance drop between the years of 1946 1955?

The most widely quoted source, the U.S. Census Bureau, shows that weekly attendance dropped from 80 million in 1940 and 90 million in 1946 to 60 million in 1950 and 40 million in 1960. Another, possibly more precise, set of figures comes from the Theatre Owners of America (TOA), and covers only 1946-1956.

How often did people go to the movies in the 1940s?

During the 1930s and 1940s, cinema was the principal form of popular entertainment, with people often attending cinemas twice a week.

Top 10 Movies of the 1950s

How many movies were made in the 1950s?

So for 1940, there are 1,973 films listed; for 1950, 2,217; for 1960, 3,142. Skip to 2000 and we have 13,048.

What happened to movie attendance in the 1940s?

After experiencing boom years from 1939 to 1946, the film industry began a long period of decline. Within just seven years, attendance and box receipts fell to half their 1946 levels. Part of the reason was external to the industry.

What year did movie attendance peak?

Within U.S. film history, 1946 holds the distinction of being the peak year of movie attendance, impressively claiming more than 90 million weekly admissions (or 60 percent of the population).

What caused movie attendance to rapidly decline after 1946?

Many scholars of the film industry point to two major events that occurred shortly after World War II's end that caused cinema attendance to decrease dramatically œ anti-trust action and the birth of television (Bohn 236).

When was the peak movie attendance in the United States?

Try 1946, believed to be the all-time biggest movie year, when more than 80 million people-57 percent of Americans -went to theaters every week.

What was the ratio of movies in the 1940s?

The Ways Cinema Changed. 1.33 was not gone forever, as it soon evolved into the 4x3 aspect ratio that dominated the newly created television landscape of the 1940s and '50s.

What was the ratio of movies in the 1930s?

In the silent era of cinema, aspect ratio was fixed at 4×3 (1.33:1). When sound was first introduced, the ratio was reduced to accommodate a soundtrack. This ratio is known as Academy. Academy ratio (1.37:1) was used for the majority of films made between the 1930s and 1950s (and is roughly 4×3).

Has average movie length increased?

In 2021, the average length of the top 10 highest-grossing movies in the United States and Canada amounted to 130.9 minutes (or two hours and 10 minutes). This figure is 17 percent higher than the average recorded in 1990 – 111.8 minutes (or one hour and 51 minutes).

How long were movies in the 1940s?

For the former, around 50–70 minutes for a B picture, and 90 to 110 for an A picture. For the theatrical run, most inner city and suburban theaters changed their programs twice a week, with the new program opening on Friday and Monday.

What percentage of films made before 1950 no longer exist?

Film archivists have estimated that half of all American films made before 1950 and more than 90 percent of films made before 1929 are lost forever. The Film Foundation, established in 1990 in New York by director Martin Scorsese, has taken a leadership role in the restoration and preservation of films.

How many Americans went to the movies in the 1940s?

At motion pictures' height of popularity in the mid-1940s, the studios were cranking out a total of about 400 movies a year, seen by an audience of 90 million Americans per week.

How many people did go to the movies a week in 1940?

The association made sure the good guys always won, sexuality was suggested rather than mentioned openly, and social issues were not debated. The strict censorship in Hollywood was meant to protect the nearly eighty million Americans who went to the movies each week.

What was the biggest decade for movies?

The Roaring 20s introduced us to the magic of silent films, the Golden Age showcased Hollywood's star power, the 1970s revolutionized storytelling, and the 1980s and 1990s brought us larger-than-life blockbusters. The modern era continues to push boundaries and explore new frontiers.

When was the best decade for movies?

Most film scholars will tell you that the 1970s were the greatest decade of film.

Why are 1940s movies so good?

Many of the best and most successful American films of the time were patriotic and unifying—and the 1940s also stands out as a time of cinematic experimentation on a grand scale. The technological leaps of the years prior, like sound and Technicolor, enhanced great filmmakers' palettes.

When was the golden age of movies?

The Golden Age of Hollywood 1930s/1940s

The 1930s produced some of the most iconic films in cinema history. Think The Wizard of Oz, Gone With the Wind, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for example. These movies seemed more magical than their predecessors for two groundbreaking reasons.