The Motion Picture Machine Operator: 1900 to 2000

The motion picture industry has grown from a nickelodeon novelty to one of the greatest art forms in existence. In the final analysis, all production costs, all labors of skilled craftsmen and artists ultimately pass through the tiny aperture of a theater projector for judgment by the audience. An overview of the operator responsible for maintaining a flawless and faithful exhibition of a given production is featured in this paper.