How Thomas Edison Created Hollywood

Thomas Alva Edison invented many things, including the American film industry and Hollywood.

Interestingly, Edison is the reason the US film industry is based in Los Angeles on the West Coast and not New York City. Although New York is the center of American entertainment. Edison’s actions in the early days of film drove movie makers to the West Coast.

To explain, Edison the American Prometheus and hero became a vicious robber baron in his old age. Edison’s heavy-handed behavior shaped the American film industry.

Edison the Robber Baron

During the 19th century, Edison created inventions that reshaped the world. For example, the phonograph, the light bulb, the electric grid, and the stock ticker.

However, Edison lost control of many of his inventions. For example, General Electric (GE) got control of the light bulb market. Edison founded and lost control of New York’s electric utility, Consolidated Edison (ED), or Con Ed, for example. Wall Street was making money from the inventions and Edison was not.