The claim that Hollywood was created to evade Edison's patents is dubious.
According to "A history of narrative film" by David A. Cook "The reason why a full-scale Eastern-based industry moved its entire operation to southern California during these years has never been completely clear, but the general contours of the phenomenon are obvious enough". He then lists these reasons:
- the type of temperate climate required for year-round production (most shooting was done outdoors at the time)
- a wide range of topography within a 50 mile radius
- the status of Los Angeles as a professional theatrical center
According to "A history of narrative film" by David A. Cook "The reason why a full-scale Eastern-based industry moved its entire operation to southern California during these years has never been completely clear, but the general contours of the phenomenon are obvious enough". He then lists these reasons:
- the type of temperate climate required for year-round production (most shooting was done outdoors at the time)
- a wide range of topography within a 50 mile radius
- the status of Los Angeles as a professional theatrical center
- a low tax base
- cheap and plentiful labor and land