A Motion Picture Paradise! A History of Florida’s Film and Television Industry

Often overlooked in its contribution to film history, Florida has played a key role in creating the modern entertainment industry. This presentation discusses how Florida became a “third coast” to the American film and television industries over the past one hundred years. Starting with the first film pioneers in Jacksonville during the 1900s and 1910s to South Florida’s television boom during the 2000s and 2010s, Florida has inspired countless exciting stories captured by the camera.

David Morton received his Ph.D. in Texts and Technology from the University of Central Florida in 2019, where he also is an instructor in both History and Media Studies. He was a recipient of the 2016-17 Fulbright scholarship and serves as program director for the Flickering Landscapes Conference Series. His forthcoming book, A Motion Picture Paradise!: A History of Florida’s Film and Television Industry is expected for publication in 2023 with the University Press of Florida.

Admission is required for adults; children 12 and under are free. Parking is available at the front and rear of the museum. Handicap parking is available at the rear of the museum.

This Florida Talks program is a partnership between Florida Humanities and the Halifax Historical Society. Funding for this program was provided by Florida Humanities and sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the aforementioned entities.