Introduction: Progressivism, modernity, and transitional cinema -- From crowds to communities: Progressive Era spectatorship theories -- Progressivism and early feature films: textuality, oversight, uplift -- Celebrity, self-awareness, and the consciousness of self -- Private pleasures and public space: community culture and the dominance of neighborhood theaters -- Oversight and regulation: film censorship, local government, and social reform -- Citizenship and black cinema -- Patriotism and patronage: regional and national identity in Chicago's theaters during World War I -- Conclusion.