Production of risqué films commenced with the start of photography. 'Moving pictures' that featured nudity were popular in ' penny arcades' of the early 1900s which had hand-cranked films and stereoscope glasses. These penny arcade attractions featured topless women, full frontal nudity, and even sexual coupling.
Production of erotic films commenced almost immediately after the invention of the motion picture. The first erotic film was the 7-minute 1896 film Le Coucher de la Mariée directed by Frenchman Albert Kirchner (under the name 'Léar') which had Louise Willy performing a bathroom striptease.
