About

The Bioscope is dedicated to the subject of early and silent cinema. It is designed to be a news and information resource on all aspects of the motion picture before sound. It covers news, publications, events, discoveries, documents, critical theory, filmmakers, performers, audiences and technology, and aims to encompass film production, distribution and exhibition in the silent era, as well as ‘pre-cinema’, chronophotography, optical toys, and related media, across the world. There is an emphasis on scholarly discovery, but there should be as much here for the general enthusiast as for the specialist.

As well as the main posts, there is a Calendar of events, guides to upcoming Conferences and Festivals, answers to Frequently Asked Questions on early and silent cinema, a Library describing books on the subject which are freely available online, and a guide to the various Series of connected posts which appear here from time to time.

Do get in touch if you have any questions on early and silent film, or if you have news or information that you would like to see published here. Or just join in by adding comments to the posts.

The Bioscope is administered by Luke McKernan.

Note
Previously the Bioscope had other, occasional contributors, whose posts can be found in the archives. Their real names and pen names are:

Stephen Bottomore (stebo)
Bryony Dixon (britishsilents)
Buckey Grimm (oldnitrate)
Frank Kessler (frankkessler)