(Live at the Library of Congress) Paper Prints (Entry 897.IS3404)
Summary
Ken Jennings and John Roderick discuss the history of early cinema from the Library of Congress, tracing its evolution from peep shows to narrative films. They explore how the lack of copyright protection for film led to the preservation of thousands of silent movies as "paper prints," which the Library of Congress is now scanning to restore lost works. The episode also covers the origins of film technology, the fragility of early celluloid, and the cultural impact of the first movies.
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