The Indicator from Planet Money Before La La Land, there was Fort Lee, New Jersey
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Jul 14, 2025 Explore the surprising roots of Hollywood in Fort Lee, New Jersey, where the film industry first took flight under Thomas Edison's influence. Discover how this bustling hub of early cinema faced challenges like natural light constraints that spurred its migration to sunny California. The discussion unveils the unique geography that supported filmmaking and examines the economic shifts that transformed Fort Lee’s glory into Hollywood's glitz. Find out what this historical pivot means for the future of cinema.
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Fort Lee's Diverse Filming Locations
- Early studios chose Fort Lee, NJ, for diverse filming scenes accessible by ferry from New York.
- They filmed urban tenements, farmhouses, and cliffs, offering varied backdrops for stories.
Economic Cluster Strength of NY-NJ
- Movie making clustered in New York-New Jersey due to Broadway and Edison's inventions.
- This industrial agglomeration created a productive environment that was initially hard for others to compete with.
Edison's Patent Monopoly Effect
- Edison monopolized patents, charging fees and enforcing them with detectives.
- This hindered filmmakers and contributed to frustrations that motivated them to seek new locations.