Hollywood of the Rockies: Colorado, the West and America's Film Pioneers

In the early days of the twentieth century, movies weren't made in California. As America's film pioneers traveled westward, Colorado became a beacon to them, contributing to the early motion picture business with all the relish and gusto of a western saga. The gorgeous natural scenery was perfect for the country's (and the world's) growing infatuation with the West, turning Colorado itself into a bigger star of the early cinema than any particular actor. Using rare photos and contemporary accounts, writer and filmmaker Michael J. Spencer explores the little—known filmmaking industry that flourished in the Rocky Mountains between 1895 and 1915—west of New York but east of Hollywood.