George Kleine and American Cinema

George Kleine was a New York City optician who moved to Chicago in 1893 to set up an optical store. In 1896 he branched out and began selling motion picture equipment and films. Within a few years he becameAmerica''s largest film distributor and a pivotal figure in the movie business.

In chronicling the career of this motion picture pioneer – including his rapid rise to fame and fortune, but also ...