Newspaper clippings, magazines, photographs and handwritten copies of film contracts were displayed. Some antique film shooting equipment such as microphones, sound mixers and cameras were also exhibited.
Senior Manager of the Hong Kong Film Archive Cynthia Liu Chiu Fun said they chose the period because few people study that part of film history. Instead, people are usually familiar with the movies or movie stars in the post 1950 period.
Mr. Yu Mo-wan, an enthusiastic film materials collector, was invited to be the consultant of this exhibition. Mr. Yu said, in fact, it was quite a hard job because he had to search for 500 display items.
"The exhibition focuses on the period from 1896 to 1950, but not much information and film related materials are left," said Mr. Yu. "I have to contact film veterans and collectors to borrow their collections."
Mr. Yu even went to mainland China to collect the display items because the daughter of Mr. So Yee, a famous director, keeps her father's valuable collection.
"I have been to Guangzhou twice to persuade her to lend us the display items. At first she refused to lend us anything but only a few photographs. "Later, I told her that if she doesn't grab this opportunity to display her father's collection, no one will know that Mr. So had been a famous film director and that he had had great contribution to the film industry. And it is a pity that these things (the collection) will decay in the future.
"One of the most valuable items is Mr. So's memoir which has recorded some important events of film shooting and the difficulties Mr. So encountered. This is precious and it helps us to understand the development of Hong Kong film industry."
Other than films, Mr. Yu contributed another 30 pieces such as movie magazines and photos. Owing to the constraints of the exhibiting area, only the important ones were exhibited. At the end, about 500 pieces were actually exhibited among the 700.
Ms Liu said the exhibition took them six months in which three months were used to research and collect information.
Talking about the feeling of this experience, Mr. Yu said, "I am very willing to join the preparation work and I'm glad that I have participated in such a meaningful event.
"Hong Kong movies obtain growing international status but its history used to be ignored. It is great that the government supported this exhibition and let people know more about the Hong Kong film industry."
Besides, the exhibition also included a live street-style performance. They enacted the roles of directors and actors in the old days.
Said the director of the skit, Mr. Samson Yeung Ying Mo: "It attempts to relive the big events and history of the industry. Gags were added to make it interesting. The feedback from the audience is good. They like to see our actors imitate the veterans."
In a talk presented by Mr. Kwan Tak Hing, the well known "Master Wong Fei Hung" (the role in the Master Wong Fei Hung film series for decades), told the story behind the movies.
He revealed that the film was originally shot by director Wu Pang to give job opportunities to refugees.
Said he: "In the 1930s, China was politically unstable; many refugees came to Hong Kong. Most lived in Shek Kip Mei and couldn't get a job. Director Wu then shot Wong Fei Hung and paid $5 for each person taking part in the movies. My salary was $4,000 and it remained unchanged for years."
Another speaker, Mr. Kong Jo Yee, who entered the film industry after the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895, talked of the development of cinemas.
"Ping On Cinema was one of the oldest. The films were screened on walls and the chairs were wooden. Only 30 to 40 viewers were allowed each time.
"There were only two huge noisy fans. It was not until mid-1960s that air-conditioners were installed."
Mr. Kong said Western films dominated the industry in the 1950s and they usually attracted a full house reception. Yu Lok Theatre was the only cinema which provided headphones for the viewers to hear the translated film dialogue.
The Hong Kong Film Archive, the organizer of the event, was set up by the Urban Council in December 1992 and the provisional office was opened in 1993.
Said Ms Liu: "The function we perform is to retain the history of Hong Kong movies. Many movie producers in those days have emigrated and some old film companies folded up, leaving a lot of Hong Kong movies of the early days not taken care of. It is a waste to let them bury and no one could ever see them again.
"In short, we try to work out a systematic way to collect anything about Hong Kong movies."