Movies - those shown to audiences in the 1890s through the very early part of the
20th century - were composed mostly of sight gags: men doing calisthenics, boxing;
mostly just moving around on camera. Why would such empty content so fascinate
early movie-goers?
Most Americans didn't live in cities. They lived in rural locations. They were, to put in
colloquially, "hicks." So, most any form of entertainment would enthrall them.
No one had ever seen the animated human form in other than real life. So, to see people - but
not real people - moving around, irrespective of what they were doing, was a thrill to late 19th
century / early 20th century movie-goers.
Movie-goers weren't there to see the movies they paid for. Rather, they were there to get out
of the discomfort of their generally poor surroundings and, in instead, enjoy a few hours of
luxury in fancy movie theaters.
The fact of going to the movies, in the early part of the 20th century, was a major - and
affordable - social event for most Americans. Therefore, movie content made no difference to
them.
