Below is a timeline for all the events pertaining to the companies who distributed movies to the home market. It should be noted that this website uses the term, “Home Video,” in two different ways. Firstly, it uses it as an umbrella term for the viewing of movies in the home, physical or otherwise. Secondly, its also the label given to the era in time where movies are being released on physical video formats.
1912
Pathé Kok / 28 mm
A French 28mm home projector which used safety (non-combustible) film. Developed by Pathé-Frères, it’s first patented in 1911, sold to the public in 1912. Printed films are made available for rent or purchase through catalogs.
1913
Pathescope Company of America
William Beech Cook establishes Pathescope Company of America to sell surplus Pathe KOK projectors and printed 28mm films (called Pathescopes) in the U.S.
1922
Pathé Baby / 9.5 mm
A line of amateur 9.5mm cameras and projectors. The 9.5mm film format became a popular printed film format in Europe.
1924
Kodascope Library
The Kodascope Library is established to offer 16mm (and later 8mm) printed films for rent. Lasts until 1939.
1927 (New York Times, 1927/05/27, p. 29)
Kodak Cinegraphs
Kodak launches a line of printed 16mm films intended for sale to the public.
1927 (Billboard, 1927/11/12, p. 36)
Pathegram Home Movies
Billboard announced that “Pathé has pictures ready for home use.” They’re short 16mm subjects, which they called Pathegrams. These early films are mostly educational with a few Hal Roach comedies.
1934
Hollywood Film Enterprises Licenses Disney Titles
Established in the early early 1930s as a film developer and home movies distributor, HFE licenses Walt Disney short cartoons in 1934 to be sold on the home market.
1937
Pathegrams are Revived and “Hindenburg Explodes!” Is an Instant Hit
Film editor and distributor, Eugene Castle, revives Pathe’s Pathegram line of home movies. The first release, Hindenburg Explodes!, is a huge success, taking in a reported $40,000-$50,000 (nearly $1 million today) in the first few days.
1937
Castle Films Announces Home Movies
Shortly after his success with the revived Pathegram line, Eugene Castle splits with Pathe and creates a home movies division at his distribution company, Castle Films.
1939
Official Films
Official Films is formed by producer Leslie Winik to distribute home movies.
July 13th, 1940 (Billboard, 1940/07/20, p. 68)
The Panoram is Demonstrated
The Mill’s Novelty Company demonstrates the Panoram at the National Education Association Convention. It is a coin-operated jukebox that projects 16mm music performances (called “soundies”) on a TV-like screen. They were launched commercially the following year.
January 4th, 1947
Universal Pictures Purchases Castle Films
Universal purchases a controlling interest in Castle Films through their non-theatrical division, United World Films for $1.5 million. They become the first studio to own a home movies division.
July 17th, 1948 (Billboard, 1948/07/24, p. 18)
Mel Blanc Sues Castle Films
Mel Blanc sues Castle Films among others for $260,000 for distributing a cartoon and song with his signature Woody Woodpecker laugh without authorization.
May 12th, 1959 (Billboard, 1959/04/20, p. 30)
Cinebox
The Cinebox is first launched at the Milan Fair. It is an Italian movie jukebox which improved upon the Panoram of twenty years prior. Unlike the Panoram, it used color 16 mm film and gave its user the ability to choose from 40 performances. It is introduced to the U.S. in 1963.
1960 (Billboard, 1961/04/16, p. 53)
Scopitone
The Scopitone was a French movie jukebox competing with the Italian Cinebox. It also used color 16 mm film, but gave its user a selection from 36 performances. Sold for 25,000 francs. Introduced to the U.S. in 1964.
1968
Andre Blay Establishes Magnetic Video
Tape duplicator, Andre Blay, splits with his partner to create his own company, Magnetic Video. Unlike his previous company, this new one would specialize not only in audio, but video as well. It would later become the first videocassette distributor to release Hollywood films.
1968
Disney Creates Their Own Home Movies Division
Disney drops Hollywood Film Enterprises to create their own home movies label, releasing titles on the Super 8 format.
August, 1972
Cartridge Rental Network
The Cartridge Rental Network is established to supply prerecorded movies to Cartrivision owners. A selection of 200 titles were available for purchase and rent. Red cartridges, typically movies, were only available for rent while black ones, typically documentaries and instructional videos, could be purchased.