High-Class Moving Pictures

Focusing on Lyman H. Howe's influential career, the book delves into the world of itinerant showmen who brought motion pictures to audiences beyond major cities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It highlights their cultural alliances with local elites and the shift towards more refined programming, moving away from the nickelodeon experience. Through rich illustrations, the narrative explores how these exhibitors crafted sophisticated programs that conveyed significant ideological messages, paralleling the era's music and reflecting broader American cultural dynamics.