by Steven J. DeBellis $49.95, 208 pages, hard cover Although motion pictures existed in the 19th century, they were mere curiosities, largely unknown to the average person on the street. A young saloon owner named Fred Wehrenberg carried his mental notebook around the 1904 fairgrounds as he viewed wonders and innovations from all over the globe. But when he saw motion pictures for the firsdt time, it caought his full attention. Here was a rare opportunity to get in on the ground floor of something truley special. This book occupies a unique niche in the chronicles of movie history: The story of a true pioneer of film exhibition that predates "Hollywood" and contiues to adapt and thrive in the 21st century. |