<P> By 1907 purpose - built cinemas for motion pictures were being opened across the United States, Britain and France . The films were often shown with the accompaniment of music provided by a pianist, though there could be more musicians . There were also a very few larger cinemas in some of the biggest cities . Initially, the majority of films in the programmes were Pathé films, but this changed fairly quickly as the American companies cranked up production . The programme was made up of just a few films, and the show lasted around 30 minutes . The reel of film, of maximum length 1,000 feet (300 m), which usually contained one individual film, became the standard unit of film production and exhibition in this period . The programme was changed twice or more a week, but went up to five changes of programme a week after a couple of years . In general, cinemas were set up in the established entertainment districts of the cities . In 1907, Pathé began renting their films to cinemas through film exchanges rather than selling the films outright . </P> <P> By about 1910, actors began to receive screen credit for their roles, and the way to the creation of film stars was opened . Films were increasingly longer, and began to feature proper plots and development . </P> <P> The litigation over patents between all the major American film - making companies led to the formation of a trust to control the American film business, with each company in the trust being allocated production quotas (two reels a week for the biggest ones, one reel a week for the smaller). However, although 6,000 exhibitors signed up to the trust, about 2,000 others did not and began to fund new film producing companies . By 1912 the independents had nearly half of the market and the government defeated the trust by initiating anti-trust action at the same time . </P> <P> In the early 20th century, before Hollywood, the motion picture industry was based in Fort Lee, New Jersey across the Hudson River from New York City . In need of a winter headquarters, moviemakers were attracted to Jacksonville, Florida due to its warm climate, exotic locations, excellent rail access, and cheaper labor, earning the city the title of "The Winter Film Capital of the World ." New York - based Kalem Studios was the first to open a permanent studio in Jacksonville in 1908 . Over the course of the next decade, more than 30 silent film companies established studios in town, including Metro Pictures (later MGM), Edison Studios, Majestic Films, King Bee Film Company, Vim Comedy Company, Norman Studios, Gaumont Studios and the Lubin Manufacturing Company . Comedic actor and Georgia native Oliver "Babe" Hardy began his motion picture career here in 1914 . He starred in over 36 short silent films his first year acting . With the closing of Lubin in early 1915, Oliver moved to New York then New Jersey to find film jobs . Acquiring a job with the Vim Company in early 1915, he returned to Jacksonville in the spring of 1917 before relocating to Los Angeles in October 1917 . The first motion picture made in Technicolor and the first feature - length color movie produced in the United States, The Gulf Between, was also filmed on location in Jacksonville in 1917 . </P>

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