If you haven’t learned anything interesting so far today, watch this fascinating history lesson on how the aspect ratios we know (16:9, 4:3) became the standard. For any film geek or ratio nerd, it’s a lovely trip back into time when things can become standard by just doing it for a long time.
Probably the best wrinkle in aspect ratio history is how 16:9 came about: old 4:3 movie theatres birthed 4:3 television sets, which stopped people from going to 4:3 movie theatres, which made 4:3 movie theatres go widescreen to offer something different at home (which also eventually gave way to widescreen TVs). [FilmmakerIQ]