A Trip to the Moon

The black and white version of A Trip to the Moon with music and voice characterizations recreates the creative way that enterprising American nickelodeon operators presented Méliès' film when it came to the United States in 1903. Searching for ways to distinguish their version of the film from those of their local rivals, theater owners like D. J. Grauman in San Francisco and Tom Tally in Los Angeles would have performers stand behind the curtain and speak for the characters on-screen. The live performances, like the customized music and the option of a hand-colored print, gave the screening a distinct personality. Grauman called A Trip to the Moon "one of the funniest subjects ever shown at the Unique," his 300-seat theater. The film and voices, he said, "created quite a sensation at the time and I showed the film this way a great many times."