request for info on kiosk operation

[david]

Hi
I am planning to setup a embedded PC to run a digital sign (basically a 
PC and large screen monitor). I intend to use X without any window 
manager, with apps like mplayer and some static jpeg display program 
using X directly.

Can anyone point me to documentation that would cover this?

My first attempts with startx and xinitrc, have mplayer unable to find 
running Xserver or the Xserver closing when the app closes.

Thanks
David