Dear Mark Allen, In research I did on early cinema I found the use of the term "trailer" occurring in the mid to late teens and having the meaning of a short film prepared as an advertisement for a forthcoming movie. See "Announcing Wares, Winning Patrons, Voicing Ideals: Thking about the History and Theory of Film Advertising," Cinema Journal 29, no. 2 (Spring 1990), p. 8 and fn. 24. Hope this helps. Janet Janet Staiger 512-471-6653 (office) Professor of Radio-Television-Film 512-329-5104 (home) University of Texas at Austin 512-329-5144 (home fax) Austin, TX 78712 USA [log in to unmask] ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]