"Considered to be the first motion picture given legal status by copyright acceptance. The forty-five frames it contains were sent in for copyright as a still picture. The action consists of a man, Fred Ott, sn More
Strong-man Eugene (Eugen) Sandow poses in a long shot on a bare stage against a black background, wearing only tight trunks and laced sandals. He begins with his arms folded against his chest, looking off scree More
"Madison Square, New York is shown just after the turn of the century. There is normal traffic consisting of streetcars and horse-drawn vehicles"--Early motion pictures. H33285 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: More
Taken at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, Cal., with a large fleet of fishing boats at anchor. From a single camera position, several small fishing vessels can be seen tied to the Wharf. Several men unload fis More
"Another of those stirring fire scenes which have proved so popular. There are ten pieces of apparatus in the picture. Every piece fully manned is under full headway, and is shown almost head-on to the beholder More
"Taken during the Klondike excitement. The streets are crowded with miners buying outfits and supplies. Mule trains, trolley cars and hurrying pedestrians give life and bustle to the scene. 50 feet."--Edison fi More
"The water breaks over the rocks, and is dashed into silvery spray, high into the air. Exceptionally fine water effects. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog, no. 105. "Southern Pacific Company Series: The Southern P More
"Shows a part of the enormous crowd and the start and finish of the free-for-all pacing race, in which the fastest harness horse in the world, John R. Gentry (2:00-1/2), the coming Star Pointer and Frank Agan c More
"A large indoor swimming pool can be seen. The camera was directed toward a slide from which people can be seen entering the pool in rapid succession"--Early motion pictures. "At San Francisco. The main feature More
A woman in a white gown performs a skirt dance, using her arms to produce circles and other patterns within the folds of her costume. Her legs and feet appear to be bare. 60590 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: More
"The world famous hotel, with crowded piazzas, which forms the background, is one of the best in the State of Califonia and is the principal stop for tourists en route to the famous Lick Observatory. The pictur More
In this outside scene, a small African American boy--dressed in a cap, leggings, and suit with short pants--dances on a table or other flat, raised surface. Surrounding and encouraging him with hand claps is a More
"Pacific Coast Life Saving Service series: These subjects are illustrative of the work performed by the Life Saving Corps of the United States Government, and show the methods in vogue at one of the most import More
"Another view in which the figures show larger. A springboard furnishes the bathers with much amusement; also a toboggan slide. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. "A large indoor swimming pool is shown, as well as More
"Beautiful water effects at Haines' Falls, a most picturesque and charming mountain cataract. The wild and rugged surroundings are very impressive. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. 43413 U.S. Copyright Office Co More
From F.Z. Maguire catalogue: Shows the vessel away from the dock and slowly turning. The vessel is seen to good advantage, the four masts, smokestack and hull being faithfully reproduced. Clouds of smoke pour o More
"Shows ten horses hitched to fashionable carts driven past the judges and grandstand to show their style, action and high-stepping movements. Among the drivers, Charles F. (Fatty ) Bates, the noted whip, shows More
"A herd of long-horn cattle being driven through the Chicago stock yard gates to the slaughter house, where 280 of the animals are killed every hour of the day"--Maguire & Baucus catalogue. Part of the Erie Rai More
"This was the first ship sailing for the Klondike from Seattle during the gold rush of 1897. The picture shows the excitement and enthusiasm that attended the great Klondike exodus. Crowds of anxious gold seeke More
"The crew of seven dressed in cork jackets, push the boat through the surf; they clamber in and row out to the wreck. 50 ft."--Edison films catalog. "Pacific Coast Life Saving Service series: These subjects are More
"The famous Seal Rocks at Golden Gate Park are here shown. Sea lions in their wild state are lying on the rocks and swimming and diving in the water. 50 ft."--Edison films catalog. "Pacific Coast Life Saving Se More
"Here is a twelve car train dashing along at a high rate of speed. It is seen first in the distance and approaches and passes by the camera. As it takes less than 30 seconds to show this 50 foot strip on a Proj More
"Shows a party of tourists at this famous resort; located in Monterey, Cal., on the Southern Pacific Railroad. The magnificence of its surroundings is clearly shown. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. "Southern Pa More
"The scene of the overhead crossing of the Pennsylvania and Jersey Central railroads at Elizabeth, N.J. While a Pennsylvania train is passing over the arch, the Philadelphia Express on the Central Railroad come More
"Taken at the above University, noted the world over, being the personal gift of the late Senator Leland Stanford. The view shows an immense arch in the background through which are seen coming groups of studen More
"The background of this picture is the Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton, Cal. This observatory, the gift of James Lick, of Pennsylvania, was constructed at a cost of $700,000, being equipped with one of the mos More
The Leander Sisters perform a clever, characteristic dance called the "Yellow Kid." Stage is in the Sutro Baths, San Francisco, Cal., and the audience is composed largely of bathers. One sister appears to be dr More
"One of the sights of San Francisco. A 50-foot slide is used by the bathers, who toboggan down its slippery surface in all positions. The bathers are clad in black trunks, making fine contrast with the flesh ti More
In front of a large backdrop with the words "Admiral Cigarette" are four people in costume: Uncle Sam, a clergyman, an Indian, and a businessman. To their left is a very large Admiral Cigarette box, that breaks More
A man in formal dinner clothes and a woman in a white ruffled dress with a flower corsage and white shoes execute various dance steps designed as exhibition dancing. The set is bare, without backdrops or props. More
"Shows James T. Kelly and Dorothy Kent, of Waite's Comedy Company, in the famous Bowery dance. The dancers are dressed in costumes characteristic to the surroundings, and the dance as shown is an exact reproduc More
"Erie Railroad Series: The following subjects present novel and interesting views along the line of the Erie, such as do not always come within the observation of the general tourist. We are indebted to the cou More
"A large flock of sheep being driven over the runs from the cars to the slaughter beds. The sheep, pressed by the driver and frightened by the surroundings and confusion, move very fast"--Maguire & Baucus catal More
"Shows the steamer backing out from the docks of the Northern Pacific R.R. Co. at Seattle Wash., with its immense load of passengers waving adieux to relatives and friends"--F.Z. Maguire & Co. catalog. 60556 U. More
"The finish and weighing out of a running race with nine starters. Won by famous Clifford, Sloane up. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. 43414 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 31July1897; 43414. More
"Shows the wharf at San Francisco, Cal., with a large fleet of fishing boats at anchor. The crews are engaged in mending nets, arranging lines, etc., all of which lend action to the view. The figures are clear More
"Daily practise [sic] of life boat crew, showing boat being upset purposely by the men. As these boats are self-righting and self-bailing, the scene is particularly interesting. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. More
From F.Z. Maguire catalogue: Shows the vessel after she has been fully turned and on her way across the Pacific. The boat shows large and clear with smoke coming from the stack. In the foreground is a constantl More
"An original dance by the Leander Sisters, performed at the Sutro Baths, San Francisco, Cal. One is dressed as Cupid, with the accompanying wings, bow and arrow; the other represents Psyche. The dance is full o More
Opens on a stage with a painted backdrop of a lake surrounded by forest. A bearded man wrapped in a dark cloak and wearing a dark fur shako--apparently the novel's character of Major Devinsky--stands stage left More
"The wharf is crowded with live stock, and the huge derrick slowly drops the large box or sling into the bunch. Into this cradle a horse is led, and is slowly hoisted and swung over to the deck of the steamer. More
"Two German anglers are fishing, with odd results. One gets a bite, and pulls in a length of stovepipe. The other is so astonished that he falls overboard. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. 52618 U.S. Copyright O More
"The busiest corner in Chicago. Cable cars and street traffic of all descriptions. Hundreds of shoppers. Fine perspective view looking north toward the Masonic Temple. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. "Erie Rail More
"A long line of horses, mules and ponies are led, driven and ridden into the yards, where they are sold and distributed"--Edison films catalog. 43408 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 31July189 More
This film shows the arrest and conveyance of a Chinese man in Chinatown, watched by a crowd of onlookers. The precise date of this film and the arrest charge are uncertain. It is possible that the arrest was co More
"Taken in Havana Harbor from a moving launch, and shows the wreck of the "Maine" surrounded by wrecking boats and other vessels. The warped and twisted remains show how thoroughly this immense mass of iron and More
"The long train is just coming out of the tunnel. An engine and a header, nineteen freight cars, a caboose and a pusher engine creep slowly round the curve and up the steep grade. Fine smoke effects. Magnificen More
"This picture was taken in front of Gen. Wheeler's headquarters at Camp Wikoff during Gen. Alger's tour of inspection of the camp. The two distinguished military men are seen overlooking the immense camp ground More
"A file of Spanish soldiers line up the Cubans against a blank wall and fire a volley. The flash of rifles and drifting smoke make a very striking picture. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. 46696 U.S. Copyright O More
"Taken near the Union Works, San Francisco, Cal., immediately after the launching of the Japanese Man-of-war "Chitose." The scene opens with the pleasure yacht "Unadilla" passing in the immediate foreground, he More
"This picture has been very popular wherever it has been shown on the Biograph. To begin with, the film is unusually fine photographically, and the picture is taken from a point of view which shows the immense More
"Imagine forty or fifty soldier boys each with a pail of water on the ground before him, sousing and spattering and scrubbing away for dear life. Soap and towels too. Every man jack of them looks as if he were More
Soldiers in Spanish-American War uniforms moving boxes towards a steamship on the dock. 38238 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 22June1898; 38238. Original main title lacking. Date is copyright More
Men carrying rifles and bedrolls boarding ship via gangway. 38246 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 22June1898; 38246. Original main title lacking. Date is copyright and production date; unable More
"Taken at San Francisco, Cal., at the Golden Jubilee. This picture shows a procession of the resident Chinese of San Francisco, carrying banners, flags, etc. They are followed by an immense float drawn by four More
"Taken at San Francisco, Cal., at the Golden Jubilee. In the foreground are seen crowds of people, all being very close to the camera. The first float is drawn by four white horses and is at least twenty feet l More
"Here is a detail of the 34th Michigan Regiment engaged in road making. Under command of Captain Dodd of Troop E, 3rd Regular Cavalry, they are road making, that the siege guns may go to the front. The chaparra More
"Company F, 1st Ohio Volunteers, initiating a new man. Nineteen times he bounces in the blanket, and each toss is funnier than the last one. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. 38240 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright More
"Shows the despatch boat of the "New York Journal" steaming through the water, having aboard the war correspondents. This is one of the fastest yachts engaged in the business. She approaches rapidly and as she More
"Various equipages pass, including a tally-ho and six white horses. A peculiar, open-end trolley car comes along; bicycle riders and pedestrians. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog, no 105. "Southern Pacific Compan More
"This picture was taken after the Battle of Las Guaymas [i.e., Las Guásimas], and shows a large number of wounded soldiers embarking in a rowboat from an extemporized dock, on their way to the hospital ship "O More
"American infantry troops dressed in field uniforms of the Spanish-American War can be seen close to the foreground of the camera position. Three companies of men, in columns of fours, march by the camera. In t More
"The commander of the 5th Army Corps rides forward with a party of officers. He wears a white helmet, a broad expanse of shirt bosom and a general air of avoirdupois. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. 46694 U.S. More
"The skaters dart to and fro, swinging their hockeys [i.e., hockey sticks] and trying to hit the disc toward the goal. 150 feet"--Edison films catalog. 13572 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 2 More
"Taken at Fingal, Cal., where the world-renowned "Sunset Limited" trains pass each other. One runs on a side track, and the other dashes by at a high rate of speed. Switch is then turned, and the train passes o More
From the Biograph picture catalogue: 29 feet. This picture shows Col. Roosevelt, accompanied by Lieut. Greenway and other prominent officers of the Rough Riders, galloping up to his headquarters, where he dismo More
On a bare stage with a black background stands a woman with short, curly hair, wearing a dark dress with a sleeveless top, low-cut bodice, mid-calf length skirt, and layers of petticoats. Smiling at the camera, More
A young, dark-haired woman performs a period "Oriental" dance (commonly known as a belly dance) with some Turkish styling. She performs distinctive dance movements that include shoulder shimmies with pelvic mov More
"On the way to Santa Monica, Cal., the train approaches, runs through and emerges from a tunnel. Train passes in opposite direction. Camera is at front end of train, giving a very novel view. 100 feet"--Edison More
Crowds of people watch a parade of Buffalo Bill's Wild West in Newark, New Jersey. In the procession are mounted cavalry, American Indians, Arabs, Cossacks, Turks, Abysinnians, hosts of other riders, and many c More
"A wide plain, dotted with tents, gleaming white in the bright sunshine. Soldiers moving about everywhere, at all sorts of duties. In the background looms up a big cigar factory; giving the prosaic touch to the More
"Taken at San Francisco, Cal., at the Golden Jubilee. In the foreground is shown an immense concourse of people, including ladies and children, while the background is formed by very high buildings, from the wi More
"Shows a phase of the war excitement as it affects newpaper men at Key West, Florida. About a dozen war correspondents of the different New York papers are running up the street in a bunch to get to the cable o More
"A group of escaped reconcentrados, saved from the fate of starvation imposed by the Butcher, Weyler. They stand in line waiting, each man with his tin dish and cup. One expects to see just such men as these, a More
Shows the departure from San Francisco of two troop ships, the S.S. Australia and the S.S. City of Sydney, bound for Manila during the Spanish-American War. The first ship shown is the Australia with many troop More
"A charge full of cowboy enthusiasm by Troop "I," the famous regiment, at Tampa, before its departure for the front"--Biograph picture catalogue. H32832 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: American Mutoscope & Bio More
"A view taken on the West Side Drive in Central Park. Shows a continuous stream of handsome rigs and turnouts passing in both directions. Pedestrians watch the gay carnival. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. 7346 More
Shows troops of the First Regiment, California Volunteers, boarding the Pacific Mail steamer City of Peking to serve in the Philippine theater of the Spanish-American War. The film was shot at the Pacific Mail More
"The steamer "Mascotte" has reached her dock at Port Tampa, and the 2d Battalion of Colored Infantry is going ashore. Tide is very high, and the gang plank is extra steep; and it is laughable to see the extreme More
"The camera was changed after the former subject had been photographed [i.e., Launch of Japanese man-of-war "Chitosa"] and the ship [Chitose] is seen nearly head-on, bow first, still floating backward into the More
"Here was built the peerless battleship "Oregon." The scene is taken at lunch hour, and shows a great throng of employees leaving the shop. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog, no. 94, March 1900, p. 21. "Southern P More
Taken at Hacienda de Soledad, Sabinas Mexico, and shows a herd of 900 cattle being driven out of the corral, after having been branded. This immense herd, driven by Mexican cowboys, comes through the gates head More
Some men in military uniform, others in civilian clothes, bringing cups and cutlery to wash, tents and building in background. Actual washing not shown. 38243 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; More
"A great pack train approaches rapidly, following the gray bell-mule. Cowboys dash to and fro, keeping them bunched. Clouds of dust arise as they pass"--Edison films catalog. About 12,000 mules were taken to Cu More
"Of the thousand and more men who left New York for the Cuban Campaign, scarcely three hundred were able to shoulder their rifles to march before the Biograph camera at Camp Wikoff. The picture shows many of th More
"First comes the famous Marine Band of the "Brooklyn," with the mascot goat alongside the bass drum. The 300 Marines follow in rapid marching order, a sixteen file front in each company. 150 feet"--Edison films More
The following is a scene-by-scene description of the film: The first segment of the film was probably shot from the back of a passenger car being pushed up the grade by a locomotive (as was standard practice). More
A three-quarter front view of the Statue of Liberty. The statue was erected twelve years earlier, in 1886. 52060 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 3Sept1898; 52060. Camera, J. Stuart Blackton, More
"Mexican International R. R. Series: the interesting views catalogued below were photographed by our artists, while enjoying the special privileges extended to Mr. Edison's party. Under a broad and intelligent More
"A most excellent picture of the grim old fortress which stands at the entrance of Havana Harbor. The high ramparts and lofty battlements look very formidable. Parts of the stronghold date back to the seventeen More
"From the upper windows of a ruined mill the Cubans fire at a scouting party of Spaniards, who return the volley. Fine smoke effects. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. 46695 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Thoma More
Photographed from one camera position behind home plate, the film shows a baseball game in progress. The Reading pitcher has just let a Newark batter walk to first. He gets up on his toes, ready to head for sec More
A young, dark-haired woman performs a dance inspired by George du Maurier's character Trilby, in an early modern dance style reminiscent of Isadora Duncan. She dances barefoot without stockings and is dressed i More
"This boat was the first one to leave for the South with troops. On board is a battalion of the 5th U.S. Infantry. She is a sidewheeler, and the churn of her wide paddles makes the white foam seethe and boil as More
View from the James River of the launching of the battleship Kentucky at Newport News, Va. Built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, the Kentucky is launched shortly after the U.S. battleship More
"Here is a freight train of thirty cars loaded with baggage and ambulance supplies for the 9th U.S. Cavalry. In the foreground a score of troopers are pulling, lifting and hauling an ambulance from a flat car. More
"Taken at Key West, Fla., March 27, 1898. First comes a detachment of sailors and marines in the left foreground, while at the right is seen a crowd of small colored boys, which precedes any public procession i More
"Shielded by a thick bit of timber at a turn of the road stands a company of mounted men, awaiting the order to advance. In the foreground, left as the flotsam of battle, is a dead horse from the shelter of whi More
Opens on a stage with a painted backdrop of what appears to be clouds or rolling waves. From the left of the frame enters Eugenie Fougère, shot in profile but with her face turned toward the camera. She wears More
A New York harbor pilot boat passes close enough for members of the crew to be seen [Frame: 0471]. Following the sailing vessel is a steamship [Frame: 0780]. "A close view of an eighty footer, schooner-rigged, More