Photobooths are a huge piece of American history. Photo Booth of the Stars was curious about the history of the photobooth and who originally invented the concept. With some research and the help of the New York public library we got all our answers.

Anatol Josepho a Siberian immigrant was the original inventor of the photobooth. His patent for an automatic coin operated photographic machine was filed on March 27, 1925 and though similar devices existed at or around the same time it was Joespho who brought the photobooth to the masses via Times Square in New York City where people lined up for blocks to have their pictures taken.

Josepho’s is the classic immigration success story: he moved to The United States, struggled, found financial backing, sold the rights to his invention in 1927 for one million dollars (the equivalent of over $12.5 million today) and donated half the money to charity.

Photo booths have had a presence in Hollywood since their creation. The first photo booth appearance in a movie was 84 years ago in a film called Lonesome (1928). In the 1953 film The Band Wagon, Fred Astaire performs a number where he dances into a Photomatic, sits for a photo, the flash goes off to the music and he dances out.

Over 85 years later photobooths still hold a special place in America’s culture. There is something about the intimacy and immediacy of the process, where individuals can be themselves and create an honest and telling self portrait, or where people can playfully act out and document their dreams and desires.

Above is a picture of the first photobooth strip Anatol Josepho took with his terrier.