In the early 1900s when motion pictures first came about, theaters weren’t commonplace, especially in towns and villages. To make films more accessible, groups of individuals dressed in magician-like garb, carried projectors and reels in caravans, set up tents and screened these films. Because of the nature of their work, these people were called “Itinerants”.
Source: THE ITINERANT PROJECTIONIST: Joe Rinaudo shares passion for silent film – AMPERSAND