The Moving Picture World, an early trade publication covering American cinema set a standard for the broadest possible coverage, reviewed current releases and published news, features, and interviews relating to all aspects of the industry. It featured the most detailed news items, the best reviews and feature articles, particularly by Louis Reeves Harrison, W. Stephen Bush and George Blaisdell. The vast quantity of advertisements published each week was by itself enough to make the World a veritable industry encyclopedia. An exhibitor-oriented paper whose genesis coincided with the original nickelodeon boom, it also carried regular columns on projection, advertising, and theater music. At its height, the World was a significant industry force and remains of great value to this day, although more for the raw research it provides that for its reviews.
The Moving Picture World began publication on March 9, 1907, and appeared weekly until January 7, 1928, when it became Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World. Interestingly, the cover of the first issue of the new magazine featured an advertisement for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, headed "Mergers Make Greatness!"
Without question, among the trade periodicals, the most valuable from a research point of view today is The Moving Picture World.
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