The Evolution of Entertainment Consumption and the Emergence of Cinema, 1890–1940

Gerben Bakker

doi:10.1016/S1529-2134(07)10005-3

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Advances in Austrian Economics

ISSN: 1529-2134
Series editor(s): Roger Koppl; Steven Horwitz

Subject Area: Economics

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The Evolution of Entertainment Consumption and the Emergence of Cinema, 1890–1940

Document Information:
Title:	The Evolution of Entertainment Consumption and the Emergence of Cinema, 1890–1940
Author(s):	Gerben Bakker
Volume:	10 Editor(s): Marina Bianchi ISBN: 978-0-7623-1452-2 eISBN: 978-1-84950-509-3
Citation:	Gerben Bakker (2007), The Evolution of Entertainment Consumption and the Emergence of Cinema, 1890–1940, in Marina Bianchi (ed.) The Evolution of Consumption: Theories and Practices (Advances in Austrian Economics, Volume 10), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp.93-137
DOI:	10.1016/S1529-2134(07)10005-3 (Permanent URL)
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Article type:	Chapter Item
Extract:	At the end of the nineteenth century, in the era of the second industrial revolution, falling working hours, rising disposable income, increasing urbanisation, rapidly expanding transport networks and strong population growth resulted in a sharp rise in the demand for entertainment. Initially, the expenditure was spread across different categories, such as live entertainment, sports, music, bowling alleys or skating rinks. One of these categories was cinematographic entertainment, a new service, based on a new technology. Initially it seemed not more than a fad, a novelty shown at fairs, but it quickly emerged as the dominant form of popular entertainment. This paper argues that the take-off of cinema was largely demand-driven, and that, in an evolutionary process, consumers allocated more and more expenditure to cinema. It will analyse how consumer habits and practices evolved with the new cinema technology and led to the formation of a new product/service.