William K.L. Dickson
William Kennedy Laurie Dickson was a Scottish inventor and the Edison Manufacturing Company's official photographer. In 1889, he was assigned to turn the concept of a the proposed motion picture device, named the Kinetoscope, into a reality. The first working prototype was... Read full bio →
Ten Pickaninnies
Imagine ten pickaninnies turned loose and on mischief bent. Farmer catches one leaving but Nine. Nine Happy Snowballs on a Swing elate. One gets knocked out then there are Eight. Eight Black Cherubs, swimming at "Eleven," Mammy catches "Rastus," that leaves Seven. Seven Jolly Coons on a Tramp play tricks.
Sandow
Strong-man Eugene Sandow flexes his muscles and strikes a few poses in front of a black background. This was a short film shot by William K.L. Dickson for the American Mutoscope Company and is not the 1894 Edison film shot at the Black Maria.
Rip's Twenty Years' Sleep
The sixth of eight short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson in which he chronicles the story of Rip Van Winkle. In this film, Rip passes out from drinking and falls asleep.
Rip's Toast to Hudson
The fifth of eight short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson in which he chronicles the story of Rip Van Winkle. In this film, Rip starts drinking with the mountain-men and gets severely drunk.
Rip's Toast
The first of eight short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson in which he chronicles the story of Rip Van Winkle. In this film, two men - one of them being Rip himself - toast and enjoy their drinks.
Rip Passing Over the Mountain
The eighth and final of eight short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson in which he chronicles the story of Rip Van Winkle. In this film, an elderly Rip crosses the mountain.
Rip Meeting the Dwarf
The second of eight short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson in which he chronicles the story of Rip Van Winkle. In this film, a dwarf carrying a barrel appears. Rip friendly takes the barrel from him.
Rip Leaving Sleepy Hollow
The fourth of eight short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson in which he chronicles the story of Rip Van Winkle. In this film, Rip encounters several other dwarf-like mountain-dwellers.
Exit of Rip and the Dwarf
A series of short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson which chronicle the adventures of Rip Van Winkle.
Awakening of Rip
The seventh of eight short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson in which he chronicles the story of Rip Van Winkle. In this film, Rip awakes from his slumber, having significantly aged during his sleep.
Annabelle Serpentine Dance
In a long, diaphanous skirt, held out by her hands with arms extended, Broadway dancer Annabelle Moore performs. Her dance emphasizes the movement of the flowing cloth. She moves to her right and left across an unadorned stage. Many of the prints were distributed in hand-tinted color.
The Pickaninny Dance, from the 'Passing Show'
A scene representing Southern plantation life before the war. A jig and a breakdown by three colored boys.
Fire Rescue Scene
"Firemen in working uniform, rubber coats, helmets, and boots. Thrilling rescue from burning building. Smoke effects are fine." - from the Edison Catalog
Edison Kinetoscopic Record of a Sneeze
A man (Thomas Edison's assistant) takes a pinch of snuff and sneezes. This is one of the earliest Thomas Edison films and was the second motion picture to be copyrighted in the United States.
Dickson Experimental Sound Film
William K.L. Dickson plays the violin while two men dance. This is the oldest surviving sound film where sound is recorded on the phonograph.
Corbett and Courtney Before the Kinetograph
James J. Corbett and Peter Courtney meet in a boxing exhibition.
Chinese Opium Den
Lost film from 1894, directed by William K.L. Dickson.
Carmencita
Performing on what looks like a small wooden stage, wearing a dress with a hoop skirt and white high-heeled pumps, Carmencita does a dance with kicks and twirls, a smile always on her face.
Caicedo (with Pole)
"King of the slack wire. His daring feats of balancing as he performs his thrilling feats in midair show that he is perfectly at home." (from Edison Films)
Annabelle Butterfly Dance
Annabelle (Whitford) Moore performs one of her popular dances. For this performance, her costume has a pair of wings attached to her back, to suggest a butterfly. As she dances, she uses her long, flowing skirts to create visual patterns.
The Barbershop
Customer gets a lightning-fast shave.
Blacksmith Scene
Three men hammer on an anvil and pass a bottle of beer around.
Newark Athlete
Experimental film fragment made with the Edison-Dickson-Heise experimental horizontal-feed kinetograph camera and viewer, using 3/4-inch wide film.