Nitrate film: history
Nitrocellulose, the base material for what is commonly known as nitrate film, was the material used from the beginning of motion pictures in the 1890s into the middle of the 20th century (National Film and Sound Archive, n.d.). Following are some important dates in the production and use of nitrate based film. AMC Filmsite has more information about the early history of film.
1893 First publicly exhibited film is shown in the United States using 35 mm nitrate film stock on May 9, using Thomas A. Edison's Kinetoscope viewer (Dirks, T., n.d.).
1895 First public screening of projected films with paid admission in Paris, France, by Lumiere brothers' cinématographe on December 28. (Labbatte, 2014).
1896 First projected film demonstration in the United States on April 23 using Thomas Edison's Vitascope. (Dirks, T., n.d.).
1899 Eastman Kodak begins selling cellulose nitrate based film (Fischer, M., n.d.).
1912 First safety film stock is produced. (National Film and Sound Archive, n.d.).
1920s Kodak began labeling the edge of its film with the words nitrate film or safety film to distinguish between the two. (National Film Preservation Foundation, 2004).
1948 Eastman Kodak Company begins phasing out nitrate film stock (NFPF, 2004).
1951 Final year 35mm nitrate moving image film is manufactured by Kodak (Fischer, M., n.d.).
1953 First 35mm safety film stock produced. (Other sizes were produced well before this date.) (National Film and Sound Archive, n.d.).
" Workers Leaving The Lumière Factory in Lyon" (Lumiere, 1895).