A great paradox, isn’t it? Those movie scenes from future films they always show before the actual film is shown are called “trailers.” But why?

The first ever movie trailer was screened at Rye Beach, a New York area amusement park in 1912. Lou Harris, a Paramount executive, was quoted in the L.A. Times on October 25, 1966, regarding this historic incident:

“One of the concessions hung up a white sheet and showed the serial Adventures of Kathlyn. At the end of the reel Kathlyn was thrown in the lion’s den. After this ‘trailed’ a piece of film asking ‘does she escape the lion’s pit? See next week’s thrilling chapter!’ Hence, the word ‘trailer,’ an advertisement for a coming picture.”

These earliest future glimpses were actually screened after the featured films and thus were dubbed “trailers.” Hollywood now calls these brief scenes “previews” or “previews of coming attractions.” “Trailer” is, however, still the preferred term in the industry. Read all about it here!