Plot Synopsis

Seven one-hour documentaries focus on different eras of American movie history -- from the first moving picture in 1889 to the late 1960s -- featuring rarely seen photographs and film footage, clips from memorable American movies and interviews with distinguished historians and major Hollywood figures. This series is a personal history of Hollywood, detailing the personalities, inter-personal relationships, collaborations and conflicts that created an industry, developed an art form, and responded to major world events, such as the Great Depression, World War II and the Civil Rights movement. Each episode is followed by films from or about the eras discussed that week. The episodes are: "Peepshow Pioneers" (1889 - 1907); "The Birth of Hollywood" (1907 - 1920); "The Dream Merchants" (1920 - 1928); "Brother, Can You Spare a Dream?" (1929 - 1941); "Warriors & Peace Makers" (1941 - 1950); "Attack of the Small Screen" (1950 - 1960); "Fade Out, Fade In" (1960 - 1969).