Movies Way Back When: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

By Betsy J. Green

This was according to a beat poet in 1970, but the Mexican Revolution was shown on the big screen at Santa Barbara’s Mission Theater in April 1914, where the main feature was billed as, “Mexican War Pictures . . . Actual photographs of the present war, the pictures taken on the battle line. Biggest and best pictures ever shown of the great Mexican rebellion.”

The Mexican general Pancho Villa had signed a movie contract with the Mutual Film Company in January, 1914, and battle scenes were seen on Main Streets (and State Streets) everywhere in the United States.

Betsy’s Way Back When book — 1919 — is now available in local bookstores and at Amazon.com. This is the sixth book in her series of the history of Santa Barbara, one year at a time. Learn more at betsyjgreen.com​.