Dumb question... why is a Trailer called a "Trailer" (1 Viewer)

[Steve Owen]

I was just having this discussion with someone at work and neither of us knew. Why is a trailer called a trailer? It doesn't trail anything. And when did they cease being called "previews" and start being called "trailers".

-Steve

 

[Dan M]

Because in the old days movie clips for upcoming releases came after the movie, thus they 'trailed' the main feature.
True story.....
------------------

 

[Artur Meinild]

And on VHS, there were also trailers *after* the main features...
------------------
~ Stud. Polyt. ~ Artur Meinild ~

 

[Glenn Overholt]

Because a reel of film came in certain lengths (like 40 min each), if the movie ended at 25, they'd be left with a 'trailer' of 15 minutes, and they'd use it up instead of whacking it off.
Glenn

 

[Janna S]

I thought I'd read that the previews did indeed come before the main film, so the filmstrip of the previews was the last thing hanging on the reel, thus it "trailed" (hung off the film reel).