Coptic S.S. "Coptic" sailing away /, Egypt
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
Fisherman's Wharf / motion picture
"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
Capsize of lifeboat / motion picture
"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
Cuban ambush / motion picture. 19th century, Library of Congress colle...
"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
General Lee's procession, Havana /
From Edison films catalog: A magnificent view of the Prado, from the balcony of the United States Club. The procession is headed by a troop of horsemen. Prominent among them is General Lee. Then come the soldie... More
Breaking of the crowd at military review at Longchamps /
This picture shows thousands of people leaving their seats in the grand stand and going across the parade grounds toward Paris. A very sharp and clear picture. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog. D18580 U.S. Copyri... More
An artist's dream / motion picture
"The scene opens in the interior of an artist's studio. Mephisto appears mysteriously and signals the pictures to come to life. They step down from the frames and walk forward, admiring their costumes. Mephisto... More
The enchanted drawing / - vaudeville film
"Upon a large sheet of white paper a cartoonist is seen at work rapidly sketching the portrait of an elderly gentleman of most comical feature and expression. After completing the likeness the artist rapidly dr... More
Champs de Mars / motion picture - Exposition Universelle International...
"Shows all the prominent buildings on this thoroughfare, ending with a close view of the base of the Eiffel Tower, with the Trocadero Palace in the background. 135 feet"--Edison films catalog, no. 105. D16382 U... More
Execution of Czolgosz, with panorama of Auburn Prison /
The film begins by showing railroad cars in the foreground with the overshadowing walls of a state prison in the background. The second camera position, from a higher elevation, pans slowly showing the yard int... More
Spanish dancers at the Pan-American Exposition /
The film was photographed from the area back of the midway of the Pan-American Exposition. The immediate background indicates the camera was in front of the living quarters of the gypsy dancing troupe. Several ... More
Bathing at Atlantic City / - movie film screenshot
"A panoramic view taken from Young's Pier, showing the boardwalk, the auditorium pier, new steel pier, beach and bathing. Without an exception the only film on the market showing at least 50,000 people. This gr... More
Street car chivalry / motion picture
"Scene shows interior of crowded street-car. A young lady enters and every man in the car offers her his seat. Presently an elderly stout lady with arm full of bundles enters. All male passengers immediately bu... More
Edison kinetoscopic record of a sneeze, January 7, 1894 /
"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
Waterfall in the Catskills /. 19th century, Library of Congress collec...
"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
S.S. "Coptic" in the harbor /. 19th century, Library of Congress colle...
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
Hockey match on the ice /. 19th century, Library of Congress collectio...
"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
Sunset Limited, Southern Pacific Ry. /
"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
U.S. Infantry supported by Rough Riders at El Caney /
"Up the road comes a detachment of infantry, firing, advancing, kneeling and firing, again and again. The advance of the foot soldiers is followed by a troop of Rough Riders, riding like demons, yelling and fir... More
"Columbia" winning the Cup /. 19th century, Library of Congress collec...
"The decisive moment in the great International Yacht Races is shown in this picture. Against a background of well defined clouds, the Light Boat is seen marking the finishing line in this great aquatic struggl... More
Why Mrs. Jones got a divorce / - Public domain portrait print
"The scene opens by showing a pretty cook mixing bread in the kitchen. Jones comes in unexpectedly from a trip and carries a dress suit case. He inquires for his wife and is told by the cook that she is absent.... More
Dick Croker leaving Tammany Hall /
"A very lifelike picture of the famous New York politician and Tammany Hall boss. This picture was taken on Sunday morning as he was leaving the 14th Street Wigwam, accompanied by a number of prominent New York... More
President McKinley's funeral cortege at Washington, D.C. /
The photographer covered the subject, the funeral cortege of President McKinley, from many different positions along the line of march. The people shown are those who preceded the hearse and those who followed ... More
Duke of York at Montreal and Quebec /
"This film shows the citation, presentation, and dedication of a bridge by the Duke of York, later King of England and grandfather of Queen Elizabeth. Many high-ranking military officials of both England and Ca... More
What happened in the tunnel / - movie film screenshot
"Interior of railroad coach. Pretty young lady and colored maid occupying seat. Young man in rear seat tries to attract young lady's attention. She drops her handkerchief. Young man picks it up and hands it to ... More
[Newark athlete. Fragment 1] /. 19th century, Library of Congress coll...
Experimental film made with the Edison-Dickson-Heise experimental horizontal-feed kinetograph camera and viewer, using 3/4-inch wide film. Camera, W.K.L. Dickson and William Heise. Incomplete: [Newark athlete. ... More
A morning alarm / motion picture
From Maguire & Baucus catalogues: This shows the Fire Department leaving headquarters for an early morning fire. The scene is remarkable for its natural effect. The opening of the engine house doors, the pranci... More
Launch of life boat /. 19th century, Library of Congress collection
"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
N.Y. Journal despatch yacht "Buccaneer" /
"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
Blanket-tossing a new recruit /
"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
South Spring Street, Los Angeles, Cal. /
"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
Astor Battery on parade /. 19th century, Library of Congress collectio...
"As they appeared in New York on Saturday, January 21 [i.e., January 23], 1899 on their return from active service in the Philippines. The picture is taken as they cross Broadway, Union Square, north. First com... More
Filipinos retreat from trenches /
"An incident of the Battle of the Trenches at Candabar [sic]. The enemy threw up a high earth embankment during the night, and are defending it with great stubbornness. The pits are crowded with Filipinos, who ... More
The Astor tramp / motion picture
"A side-splitting subject, showing the mistaken tramp's arrival at the Wm. Waldorf Astor mansion and being discovered comfortably asleep in bed by the lady of the house. Length 100 feet, complete with words of ... More
Uncle Josh's nightmare / motion picture
"On a set of a man's bedroom, a woman can be seen helping a middle-aged man to retire. As soon as he falls asleep, an apparition appears at the edge of the room. The man begins to grapple with the vision and fe... More
Swiss village, no. 2 / - Exposition Universelle Internationale de 1900...
"The scene opens by showing the village girls driving home a herd of cows, and shows the native peasantry of Switzerland returning from their daily occupation--watching the herds. After driving the cattle to th... More
Congress of nations / motion picture
"A new and sensational film, which deals in a highly up-to-date manner with the international situation. A magician steps upon the stage carrying a hoop covered with white paper. Then in quick succession the fl... More
Charge of Boer cavalry [no. 1] /
"Shows a wild charge of Mounted Boer up a steep hill. The action of the picture is spirited and photographically it is an excellent film. The opening scene shows a bleak hillside with the Boer cavalry in the di... More
Catching an early train / - movie film screenshot
H10604 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 9Nov1901; H10604. Camera, Edwin S. Porter. Duration: 0:36 at 16 fps. LC copy does not include the railroad station footage. It ends with the suburbanite... More
Babies rolling eggs / motion picture
"Some small children in winter clothing face the camera in a semicircle. They throw what appear to be eggs down the incline toward the camera position. From left and right of the camera, a great number of young... More
Midway of Charleston exposition /
The film, photographed from a single-camera position, shows people walking on the midway at the Charleston Exposition. Very few objects are discernible because of the distance. H16713 U.S Copyright Office Copyr... More
San Francisco Chinese funeral /
This film shows most of the ceremonial portion of the funeral procession of Tom Kim Yung (1858-1903), military attache to the Chinese Legation to the United States. The funeral procession took place at 1:00 pm ... More
Coaches arriving at Mammoth Hot Springs /
"The following pictures were taken by our artists at various points on the Northern Pacific Railway...The scene is the broad piazza of the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, and shows the arrival of tourists. Up dashes... More
European rest cure / motion picture
"On the gangplank of one of the large ocean liners leaving New York is shown an old gentleman kissing his wife and daughter good-bye before leaving on a tour abroad for a much needed rest from business cares an... More
Sandow / - vaudeville film motion picture
10777 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright (under title Souvenir strip of the Edison Kinetoscope): W.K.L. Dickson; 18May1894; 10777. Performer: Eugen Sandow. Camera, William Heise. Duration: 0:40 at 16 fps. Accordin... More
May Irwin kiss / motion picture
From Maguire & Baucus catalogue: An osculatory performance by May Irwin and John Rice. The most popular subject ever shown. From Edison films catalog: By May Irwin and John Rice. They get ready to kiss, begin t... More
Interrupted lovers / motion picture
From Maguire & Baucus catalogue: Another instance where "the course of true love never runs smooth." From Edison films catalog: The watchful father disturbs a dream of bliss, and the bucolic lover is taught a l... More
Procession of floats / motion picture
"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
U.S. troops and Red Cross in the trenches before Caloocan /
"Our troops have driven the Filipinos out of the trenches, and, after firing one or two volleys, press on in pursuit. The enemy returns the fire and the forward rush is marked by a trail of dead and wounded. Fo... More
Burning of the Standard Oil Co's tanks, Bayonne, N.J. /
From Edison films catalog: This picture shows a street scene at Constable Hook, Bayonne, N.J. In the background rise immense volumes of dense black smoke from the burning oil, reaching high in the heavens. Outl... More
Panoramic view of Tremont Hotel, Galveston /
From Edison films catalog: This picture shows several buildings which were wrecked and also shows a rear view of this hotel, which is on the highest point of land in Galveston, and in which several thousand peo... More
Panorama of Place de L'Opera /. 19th century, Library of Congress coll...
From Edison films catalog: The busiest square in all Paris. 75 feet. $11.25. D16389 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 9Aug1900; D16389. Duration: 1:14 at 16 fps. MAVIS 1627559; Panorama of Plac... More
The magician / motion picture. 19th century, Library of Congress colle...
"The scene opens on a theatrical stage. The magician enters from the wings, and making a bow to the audience, removes his coat and hat, and they disappear mysteriously into the air. He then takes a white handke... More
"Columbia" winning the Cup - movie film screenshot
"The decisive moment in the great International Yacht Races is shown in this picture. Against a background of well defined clouds, the light boat is seen marking the finishing line in this great aquatic struggl... More
Esquimaux village / motion picture
"The first of three camera positions shows a low building resembling an igloo beside a small pool, and an ice floe. Dark-complexioned people dressed as Eskimos run up and down alongside the pool, and a dog pull... More
What demoralized the barber shop /
Shows several men in a basement barbership who become excited by women walking past the window. The ankles and knees of the passersby are visible to the men below, causing pandemonium among the barbershop custo... More
President McKinley's speech at the Pan-American Exposition /
The film begins by showing the introductory speaker at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo. The speaker introduces the incumbent president of the United States, William F. McKinley. The remainder of the film... More
Fireboat "New Yorker" in action /
A demonstration by the famous fireboat "New Yorker." The picture shows the fireboat with all its nozzles spurting water as it goes back and forth in front of the camera. Put in service on February 1, 1891 as En... More
The unappreciated joke / motion picture
"Scene, interior of a street-car. A stout man enters and sits down alongside of a friend and proceeds to read a comic paper. He shows a joke in the paper to his friend, and they both laugh heartily. The friend ... More
Annual parade, New York Fire Department /
"Taken in front of the reviewing stand at Madison Square, New York City. Shows the arrival of Mayor McClellan, and other New York officials. The parade is headed by Chief Croker and battalion chiefs. The fireme... More
[End of school day at coeducational school] /
A factual film in which exuberant boys and girls, apparently high school students, walk through the arches of a school building and down the steps. Most of the boys wear caps and most of the girls wear fancy ha... More
Rube and Mandy at Coney Island /
"The first scene shows a country couple entering Steeplechase Park. They proceed to amuse themselves on the steeplechase, rope bridge, the "Down and Out" and riding the bulls. The scene then changes to a panora... More
The good sport / motion picture
A domestic comedy about a wealthy young woman whose poor inventor husband becomes rich when he perfects the first elevator that ever stopped even without a floor. LP12317 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Thomas... More
Feeding the doves / motion picture
From Maguire & Baucus catalogues: A farm yard picture, showing a young girl and her baby sister scattering grain to the doves and chickens. The fluttering birds and excited fowls give an abundance of action to ... More
Buffalo Fire Department in action /
"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
Cuban volunteers embarking / motion picture
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
Love and war / motion picture. 19th century, Library of Congress colle...
"An illustrated song telling the story of a hero who leaves for the war as a private, is promoted to the rank of captain for bravery in service, meets the girl of his choice, who is a Red Cross nurse on the fie... More
Panoramic view of the Place de l'Concord [sic] / - Exposition Universe...
From Edison films catalog: Taken from an automobile. This picture was taken during the fashionable driving hour, making a complete circle of the Place de la Concorde, passing hundreds of carriages and busses. T... More
Bird's-eye view of dock front, Galveston /
"Showing dismantled cars, wrecked warehouses, schooners and tugs that had been stranded on the docks; also the tents that had been rigged up for the poor people who had been left entirely homeless. 75 feet"--Ed... More
Panorama of esplanade by night /
"The first objects visible in this film, which was taken at night, are the glowing light globes that outline the buildings closest to the camera position. The camera slowly pans, encompassing the complete area ... More
Move on / motion picture - movie film screenshot
Filmed in New York's Lower East Side, the scene is a street where several pushcart vendors have gathered to sell their goods. In the foreground are fruit and vegetable carts. An elevated railroad track crosses ... More
The gay shoe clerk / - movie film screenshot
"Scene shows interior of shoe-store. Young lady and chaperone enter. While a fresh young clerk is trying a pair of high-heeled slippers on the young lady, the chaperone seats herself and gets interested in a pa... More
New York City dumping wharf / - movie film screenshot
The film shows a wharf where a barge is being loaded with trash from two-wheeled, horse-drawn wagons. The trash is dumped off the edge of the pier onto the barge, where men with shovels are spreading the piles ... More
Rube and Mandy at Coney Island /
"The first scene shows a country couple entering Steeplechase Park. They proceed to amuse themselves on the steeplechase, rope bridge, the "Down and Out" and riding the bulls. The scene then changes to a panora... More
A rube couple at a county fair /
From Edison films catalog: Scene I--Driving into the Grounds. Scene II--Machinery department. Scene III--Getting weighed. Scene IV--On the Pike. Scene V--Looking at the big pumpkins. Scene VI--Cattle parade. Sc... More
Gold and diamond mines of South Africa /
Shows how gold and diamonds are extracted from the earth and processed in the province of Transvaal in South Africa. Pictures gold mining operations at the Joch Mine near Johannesburg and diamond mining operati... More
Glenroy Bros. motion picture - Drawing. Public domain image.
From Raff & Gammon price list: Farcical pugilists in costume. 15.00. Copyright: no reg. Performers: Glenroy Brothers. Camera, William Heise. Duration: 0:18 at 30 fps. MAVIS 180327. Filmed October 6, 1894, in Ed... More
Passaic Falls / motion picture. 19th century, Library of Congress coll...
From Maguire & Baucus catalogue: A beautiful picture of the falls of the Passaic River, near Paterson, N.J. Copyright: no reg. Camera, William Heise. Duration: 0:19 at 30 fps. MAVIS 183875. Filmed ca. July 1896... More
Cattle driven to slaughter /. 19th century, Library of Congress collec...
"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
Loading baggage for Klondike, no. 6 /
"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
Pillow fight / motion picture. 19th century, Library of Congress colle...
"A comic subject, clear, bright and characteristic. Shows four girls in their night dresses, engaged in an animated pillow fight. During the action the pillows become torn, and the feathers fly over their heads... More
Turkish dance, Ella Lola - movie film screenshot
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
Champs Elysees / motion picture
"Near the main entrance. Hundreds of carriages and characteristic Parisian buses are passing. 75 feet"--Edison films catalog. D16384 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 9Aug1900; D16384. Duration... More
Hooligan assists the magician /
From Edison films catalog: This is a new adventure in which our friend, Mr. Hooligan, appears in an entirely new capacity. On a stage a professor of magic is performing some wonderful experiments, and when he r... More
The kiss / motion picture. 19th century, Library of Congress collectio...
From Edison films catalog: Nothing new, but an old thing done over again and done well. Some one has attempted to describe a kiss as "something made of nothing," but this is not one of that kind, but one of tho... More
Panorama of gorge railway /. 19th century, Library of Congress collect...
"One of the most interesting places in the vicinity of Niagara Falls is the Whirlpool Rapids, where the immense volume of water which passes from the Falls, speeds along through its rocky and tortuous passage t... More
Building a harbor at San Pedro /
"This picture was secured from a launch furnished by Mr. Eager, President of the California Construction Co., who are fulfilling this $5,000,000 contract. Here is seen the largest derrick in the world at work, ... More
Esquimaux leap-frog / motion picture
"The film, photographed from a single camera position, shows buildings resembling igloos on ice floes, in front of which persons clothed as Eskimos play a game of leapfrog"--Early motion pictures. This shows se... More
President McKinley's funeral cortege at Buffalo, N.Y. /
"This starts with the funeral procession leaving the Milburn house on Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, N.Y., headed by the mounted police of Buffalo, followed by Companies I and F, of the 14th U.S. Infantry, under per... More
What happened on Twenty-third Street, New York City /
"The scene as suggested by the title is made on 23d Street, New York City. In front of one of the large newspaper offices on that thoroughfare is a hot air shaft through which immense volumes of air is forced b... More
Steamscow "Cinderella" and ferryboat "Cincinnati"
"The film, photographed from a camera positioned on a dock, shows a large steam scow passing the camera location; simultaneously, a large paddle-wheel ferryboat passes in the opposite direction. The weather was... More
Mining operations, Pennsylvania coal fields /
The film opens on an area covered with snow where the following operations are visible: track laying, and dirt moving by explosion, grader, steam shovel, and steam engine. H54720 U.S Copyright Office Copyright:... More
The dinosaur and the missing link, a prehistoric tragedy /
Uses clay animation to tell a story of prehistoric times. Three suitors, named the Duke, Stonejaw Steve, and Theophilus Ivoryhead, compete for the hand of Miss Araminta Rockface. Ivoryhead, an unassuming weakli... More
American falls from above, American side /
From Maguire & Baucus catalogue: Shows glittering ice background and a group of photographers preparing to take pictures. 67877 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 12Dec1896; 67877. Camera, Willi... More
Fast mail, Northern Pacific R. R. /
"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
Going through the tunnel /. 19th century, Library of Congress collecti...
"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
Parade of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. No. 2
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
Military camp at Tampa, taken from train /
"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
Native daughters / motion picture
"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
Cuban refugees waiting for rations /
"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