Movies Way Back When: Santa Barbara’s First Movie

A 1903 Bioscope movie camera. (We Put the World Before You By Means of the Bioscope and Urban Films, 1903)

Here’s another news nugget from December way back when. In 1904, the Bioscope motion picture company came to Santa Barbara and filmed the local fire truck rushing down State Street on December 22.

In early January, the silent film was shown at the Lobero Theater. “Don’t fail to see the Santa Barbara fire department run, taken by the Bioscope company, the first and only moving picture ever taken here. Prices 10, 25, 35.” – Santa Barbara Morning Press, January 3, 1905

The Bioscope company also filmed firetrucks in Chico, Woodland, Marysville, Oroville, Visalia, and Colusa at about the same time.


Betsy’s books are available in local bookstores, and at Amazon.com.
(Shop local if you can.) Learn more at betsyjgreen.com.

bjgreen

Written by bjgreen

Betsy J. Green is a Santa Barbara historian and author. Her books are available in local bookstores, and at Amazon.com. (Shop local if you can.) Learn more at betsyjgreen.com.

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