In 1918, World War I was ending when the Spanish Influenza started another global challenge. In a year, the disease killed 675,000 US citizens and 50 million globally. The total death from the illness was 10 million more from those who lost their lives from the war, says an article.

There are many differences in the response to the Spanish Influenza and the COVID-19 in the United States of America. Both pandemics caused the declaration of a state of emergency.

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Schools and movie theaters were also closed for months, just as we are witnessing now. Additionally, it was also recommended to responsibly wear face masks.

Changes Brought by the Spanish Influenza Pandemic

The Spanish Influenza Pandemic had brought dreadful changes in the film industry. Many of them were orchestrated by Adolph Zukor. This resulted in the creation of the studio system. Currently, it remains dominant in Hollywood.

William Mann, a Hollywood historian, and Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood author, stated the impact of the Spanish influenza pandemic to the film business. He also said that the possible big shakeups the COVID-19 pandemic can bring, including theater ownership and the duration of Hollywood's recovery.

Additionally, Mann points out the mistakes of handling the Spanish influenza pandemic that the current authorities need to know. Also, he reveals that the refusal of film actors to wear face masks during that time had led to their demise from the 1918 illness. Even the biggest Hollywood star during that time did not survive the illness.

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1918's Film Industry in the US

According to Mann, this was how Hollywood was created. The 1918 pandemic was a period in history that served as the foundation of all the structures that make American film as great as it is today. It had affected how movies are created, sold, and shown to the public.  

The 1918 pandemic was the beginning of how the American industry decided to pursue a particular path. This period initiated the birth of the studio system.

Closing of Movie Theatres During the Spanish Flu Pandemic in 1918

During the 1918 pandemic, 80% to 90% of movie theatres in the United States of America were ordered to close for 2 to six months. This had not only caused a big effect on moviegoers but also for movie-creation and selling.

It was a difficult time for the film industry. New York and San Francisco continued its operations during the 1918 pandemic for a long time. However, they were not an exception to those who had to temporarily close their theatres due to the pandemic.

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Unlike New York and San Francisco, Los Angeles has immediately closed its theatres due to the 1918 pandemic. Studios had postponed all productions for more than a month from mid-October to November at that time.

In September, the first cases of the Spanish flu were announced. In about a year, approximately 3,000 residents of Los Angeles lost the battle with the illness. Studios reported losses as well. Paramount reported losses of approximately $2 million due to the 1918 pandemic. In the present, this is equivalent to $30 million.