When you think of Hollywood, you think of glitz, glamour, celebrities and cinema, but that wasn’t always the case. Before Hollywood was a thing, New Jersey was the epicenter of cinema. In fact, Hollywood wouldn’t be what it is without our state.
In 1892, William Dickson and Thomas Edison worked together to build the first video recording device. Able to record movies, they needed a place to create them. In 1893, the world's first film production studio, the Black Maria, was completed on the grounds of Edison's laboratories in West Orange.
The building was demolished in 1903, but a replica built in 1954 is on display at the Edison National Historic Site in West Orange. This studio is where the very first movies were filmed, including Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Many motion pictures included dance, vaudeville performances, and magic shows, though boxing matches were also a popular subject.
Though the Black Maria closed down, the movie industry continued to thrive in New Jersey; Fort Lee, in particular. In 1912, Universal Studios was founded there. It was a popular shooting destination all the way up until 1948. "The Battle" starring a young Lionel Barrymore was shot in Fort Lee, along with the Marx Brothers' first film, "Humor Risk". "Les Miserables", a Fox Studio production, featured the largest outdoor set ever built in Fort Lee.
Fort Lee wasn't New Jersey's only filming destination. "The Great Train Robbery", one of history's most significant films, was shot in various locations including Paterson and Milltown. New Jersey was also home to the world's first drive-in theater, and was the first state to broadcast television programming to private homes.
The above films were all shot in our state, and star some of the biggest names of the time. Our state paved the way for Hollywood, which only became successful due to directors illegally using Edison’s patents. New Jersey was the first, and greatest, movie capital of the world. It seems like the state is once again taking an interest in film. In 2010, Studio City New Jersey was opened in Trenton and in 2011, the Ironbound Film and Television Studio was opened in Newark. Recent movies that were shot all, or partially, in our state include Ocean’s Eleven, The Dark Knight Rises, American Gangster, and War of the Worlds.
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Kristen is a writer, editor, and social media maven who loves her state. Born and raised in New Jersey, sharing all it has to offer is her passion. After attending Montclair State University, she continued her education online, obtaining certifications in social media management.
