This Week In Film History, 11.06.11

Ronald Reagan, Steve McQueen, Home Box Office, movie historyNovember 7, 1902: French inventor/film executive Leon Gaumont demonstrates his Chronophone system of showing films with synchronized phonograph cylinders.

November 6, 1958: Steve McQueen (article: Non-Expressionism The Gift of Steve McQueen) battles that man-eating goo from outer space, The Blob, in his first starring film role.

November 8, 1966: Two years after retiring from the screen in The Killers (his first villainous role), Ronald Reagan is elected governor of California.

November 8, 1972: Cable TV takes a giant step when Home Box Office debuts in 350 homes in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The first movie shown is Sometimes a Great Notion.

November 11, 1976: Universal and Disney launch proceedings against Sony for copyright infringement, hoping to halt the manufacture of their Betamax machine.