Some of these devices are more successful than others, but the results are mediocre at best, and the process doesn't really catch on. France, the Lumiere brothers develop the cinematographe, which projects motion pictures onto a screen for the first time. In the U.S., a whole host of machines are invented that also project movies, including the vitascope, phantoscope, and projecting kinetoscope. Films can now be shown to many people simultaneously, which makes them more profitable. It's not surprising that movies first become commercially successful around this time.
Vaudeville theaters begin showing motion pictures as part of their regular line-up of acts.
1900 -Motion pictures are a regular part of vaudeville shows, and kinetoscope machines can still be found in most penny arcades and amusement parlors. In France, the innovative films of Georges Melies are the first to make use of special effects. Many films experiment with color, although this is achieved only by hand-tinting each frame individually. Films are becoming more available, and projection equipment is becoming cheaper. This makes it possible for many small-time amusement operators to open motion picture theaters of their own.