The Hollywood Studio System: Hollywood In The 1920's

The studio system was a film production and distribution method used by the major motion picture studios in Hollywood beginning in the 1920’s and ending in the 1960’s. The “Hollywood studio system” was comprised of large movie studios that produced films on their own lots (properties) using creative personnel (actors & writers) who were locked in long term contracts. The studio system allowed for ownership of the distribution of a film, which ensured the film, would be shown at theater circuits owned and operated by the specific film company.
The major studios were comprised of eight companies (The Big Five & Little Three) during this era. Some of these studios were “Integrated conglomerates” which meant they had ownership of their production
Block booking allowed studios to sell multiple films to theaters as one unit. These units would include one high quality “A-Budget” film and numerous lower quality A and B grade movies. This practice of distribution allowed for the major studios to produce many low budget movies in a year thus keeping the factory setting operational.
The “Golden Age of Hollywood” is believed to have been between 1927 and 1949. This period of time saw many innovations in film including sound, camera lenses and cinematography.
The demise of the studio system began in 1948 with the Supreme Court ruling challenging antitrust laws in the studios (United States vs. Paramount Pictures, Inc.). This ruling ended “Block Booking” and forced the major studios to sell the majority of their theater circuits. This ruling also negatively affected the studios by not guarantying films would be shown to an audience. The new medium of television also affected the studio system because it created programming which entertained the public in a more private setting (home). Cartoons, news programming and sitcoms were the new direction of Hollywood. There was no longer a need to go to the cinema unless you wished to watch a specific movie or have a date night