Richard Abel 
Encyclopedia of Early Cinema [PDF ebook] 

This encyclopedia presents a wealth of information on early cinema history, with coverage of the techniques and equipment of film production, profiles of the pioneering directors and producers, analysis of individual films and the rapid growth of distinct film genres, and the emergence of something the world had never seen before – the movie star.
The work also focuses on how the nature of film exhibition changed as the industry grew, and how the public”s reception to films also changed. The pre-cinema period is closely examined to show those mass-cultural forms and practices – such as music hall and vaudeville – from within which cinema was to emerge.

A perfect companion for any student of early cinema and film studies.