Wartime Moviegoing in the Copper Country, 1917-1918

Park Event · Keweenaw National Historical Park · Aug 30, 2026 · 3:00 PM–4:00 PM

Small-town theaters during World War I were part of a national infrastructure that helped disseminate government propaganda. In addition to screening war-related newsreels, documentaries and popular films, Copper Country theater spaces were used to raise war relief funds, sell Liberty Bonds, and host patriotic speeches in support of the national war effort.

Their contributions were also instrumental in changing perceptions about the value of film and moviegoing during the early industry's rise to national prominence as an entertainment medium.

Speaker

Sue Collins is an Associate Professor of Communication, Culture, and Media in the Department of Humanities, Michigan Technological University.

Source: National Park Service (public domain).