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This review article discusses a special journal issue on Asta Nielsen, a Danish actress known for her work in German films. The issue contains eight contributions that focus on Nielsen and related themes, such as the advent of the star system and the introduction of long feature films. The articles make extensive use of digitized newspapers and film trade journals as sources, providing valuable information on Nielsen's films and their marketing. The review also highlights the neglect of other early film stars and the presence of women in the silent cinema, suggesting that future research should take a more statistical and vernacular approach to provide a comprehensive understanding of the early film industry. [Extracted from the article]

Again, Kardjilov establishes when and where many of their films were shot, and even deduces that some among them, later described as showing Romania, were in fact shot in Bulgaria! Chapter 16 discusses the first permanent film venues in Bulgaria from 1908, while the following chapter describes how and where Noble's films, and other early films of Bulgaria, were shown abroad - in the USA, UK, France, etc. A leading practitioner of non-fiction films was producer Charles Urban, who forms the subject of chapter 4; then the following three chapters introduce us to one of Urban's unlikely cameramen, Rider Noble (an ex-theatre-manager), as seen largely through the descriptions of his films in Urban's catalogues - the films themselves don't seem to survive. [Extracted from the article]

In this article, the author looks back at his years of research about early cinema and related media in libraries and archives worldwide, and examines the great number of changes that have taken place since about the 1980s in the organisation of such institutions and in research methods. Aspects that are covered include significant transformations in cataloguing, bibliographic software and digitisation of texts. The author discusses how changes in these and related areas have affected himself and other scholars, citing concrete examples. He concludes that, while much research can now be done remotely via the web, research libraries will continue to be essential resources for research in (media) history and other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the highlights of workshops on the Art of Programming Early Cinema, Now and Then in Luxembourg on September 5, 2009 and the Crazy Cinematograph in Luxembourg from August 21-September 9, 2009. The Crazy Cinematograph project includes a collection of early films shown across Europe such as "Mary Jane's Mishap." The films were designated into themed sets.

In the early years of cinema, monarchs and other absolute rulers developed an unusually strong relationship with the new medium. The Sultan of Morocco, Abdul Aziz, was very interested in film and in other new technologies, but this passion for 'the new' alienated him from his traditional subjects and helped lead to his downfall in 1908. The article traces his interest in film, and describes some of the early filmmakers who were based in his court. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reprint of the article "A Marionette Theater in New York," by Francis H. Nichols, which appeared in the March 1902 issue of "Century Magazine" is presented. It comments on the arrangement of the seating in which the audience are on standard wooden chairs. The illuminated rectangle of the play space in the darkened room is similar to the situation in some of the smaller early film shows. Other images show the arrangement for operating the marionettes from above.

The article presents updates related to popular visual culture. Cinémathèque Luxembourg and the University of Trier are developing the Crazy Cinématographe project, which involves the exhibition of a traveling cinema show. Projection Box Will be giving a new award for essays about the projected image to 1915. Reviews of the books "Shooting Cowboys and Indians: Silent Western Films, American Culture and the Birth of Hollywood," by A. B. Smith and "Early Cinema: From Factory Gate to Dream Factory," are also presented.

Reprints the article "Morals and Moving Pictures," by William Inglis, which appeared in the July 1910 issue of "Harper's Weekly." Concern on the censorship issue of all theatrical plays in the U.S.; Issue on the influenced being made by moving-picture shows on the minds of its audience; Improvements on the moving-picture industry.

This article focuses on the book "Double Fold: Libraries and the Assault on Paper," by Nicholson Baker. Books are the elite, gracing living rooms and commanding high prices at auctions. Librarians like to look after books, which can be stored so easily — and on such small shelves. In libraries, while newspapers are consigned to annexes on the outskirts of cities and delivered to readers by hefty men in overalls, books are kept in centrally located libraries, read in elegant reading rooms furnished with leather-clad chairs and supervised by Oxford-educated librarians speaking in hushed voices. In short, newspapers suffer from a kind of typographical "class prejudice". In the eyes of some librarians these ephemeral daily sheets of paper simply can't live up to the status of those superior forms of literary life, books. In terms of conservation policy the differences in attitude are startling. Back in the 1960s and 1970s when newspaper volumes were being torn apart in preparation for microfilming all over the U.S. and then disposed of, it seems no librarians batted an eyelid. Imagine for a moment that the same fate had been proposed for 19th century novels — the howls of anguish from the normally hushed librarians would have been deafening.

Focuses on the so-called `train effect' of the early cinema. Definition of the `train effect'; Reason for the fearful or panicky reaction of the audience; Psychological effects of the `train effect' to the audience; Conclusions.

Discusses the newsreel film coverage of the 1911 Delhi Durbar. Relationship between the media and Durbar authorities; Exhibition of the film in Europe; Controversy over the conduct of the Gaekware of Baroda.

Reconstructs how India's 1902/03 `Delhi Durbar,' one of the most attractive shows in political life at the turn of the century, was covered by several companies who did not dispatch their own cameramen but relied upon amateurs who attended the ceremonies. Durbar films as factual propaganda; Historical significance of the filming of the Delhi Durbar.

Discusses the significance of the study of early film in light of the hundredth anniversary of the motion picture. Investigation of first 20 years of cinema; Direction of early film studies; Books on early and pre-cinema.

Focuses on the conference on the history of French cinema organized by the Universite Sorbonne Nouvelle. Criticism on talk of Paolo Cherchi-Usai; Debate between Charles Musser and Tom Gunning; Other highlights of the conference.

A review of the DVD release of the film "R.W. Paul: The Collected Films, 1895-1908" is presented.