One in a decade !!!! – Part I

Here is my try to write about atleast one case of product placement per decade. This data that I present does not necessarily come from my own research. Whenever I write about something thats not my own, I will mention the name of the respective person. So people out there, please don’t sue me.

Let me start with the very first decade of Hollywood. As I have already mentioned, the first product placement ever can be traced back to 1896, although it wasn’t necessarily called the product placement then. As the movies became famous, more and more people were involved in the industry. Thomas Edison was one of such people who brought new charm to motion pictures . He was actually the first businessman who recognised the true potential of product placement in films. Several Edison films such as A Romance of the Rail (1903) featured different transportation like railways. For these placements, he charged the transportation companies.

Although, his contribution towards the concept of product placement is not exactly what we usually remember him for, he certainly laid down the foundation for those businessmen who later became richer with movie advertising.

Ref: Newell, Salmon, and Chang