Collection Items

  • Film, Video
    Albany, N.Y., fire department
    Title from Edison films catalog, no. 135: Fire department of Albany, N.Y. | Title from Edison films catalog, no. 288: Fire department, Albany, N.Y.
    "A sidewalk crowd on a main street of Albany, N.Y., watches as fourteen pieces of horse-drawn fire equipment quickly pass by"--The George Kleine Collection catalog.
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Kleine (George) Collection (Library of Congress)
    • Date: 1901
  • Film, Video
    [Claremont Theatre, N.Y.] "Shows the entrance to the Claremont Theatre in New York City at 135th St. and Broadway where Edison is showing Gertrude McCoy and Bigelow Cooper in On the Stroke of Twelve. Large numbers of men, women and children leave the theater, some as many as two or three times. Delivery boys, a wagon, automobiles and a boy on rollerskates pass by"--The George Kleine Collection...catalog.
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Kleine (George) Collection (Library of Congress)
    • Date: 1915
  • Film, Video
    Esquimaux game of snap-the-whip
    Title from Edison films catalog, no. 135: Scene in the Esquimaux Village | Variant title from American Film Institute catalog: Scene in Esquimaux Village | Eskimo game of snap-the-whip
    "The film, photographed from a single camera position, shows a large tent of animal skins in front of which are two spectators watching two participants perform a game of skill using whips"--Early motion pictures. The picture [shows] a number of Esquimaux picking nickels from cracks in a board with their dog whips, in which sport they are very expert. In the background will be...
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Porter, Edwin S. - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1901
  • Film, Video
    Esquimaux leap-frog
    Title from Edison films catalog, no. 135: Scene in the Esquimaux Village | Eskimo leap-frog
    "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 several Esquimaux at the game of "Misheetak," or leap frog, which differs somewhat from the civilized game, and is quite amusing, the photography of which is perfect.
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Porter, Edwin S. - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1901
  • Film, Video
    Esquimaux Village
    Eskimo Village
    "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 pulls a sled. Next, some sled dogs are led in front of the camera. The last camera position shows the same dogs running into a tent made from...
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Porter, Edwin S. - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1901
  • Film, Video
    Skating on lake, Central Park
    Skating in Central Park | Skating in Central Park, N.Y. City | Skating on 72nd St. lake Central Park
    The view is of a frozen lake in Central Park crowded with ice skaters. The film is of such poor quality that it is difficult to tell if the apparent "snow" is real or just scratches on the film.
    • Contributor: Armitage, F. S. - American Mutoscope and Biograph Company - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)
    • Date: 1902-01-01
  • Film, Video
    Pan-American Exposition by night The film begins with a slow pan over the tower building of the exposition, which was lighted by electric lights. The pan goes from a daylight shot of the grounds to what appears to be a special effects situation involving back lighting of the scene. "A great feature of the Pan-American Exposition, as unanimously conceded by all visitors, was the electric illumination of the...
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Smith, James Blair - Porter, Edwin S. - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1901
  • Film, Video
    Panoramic view of Electric Tower from a balloon "Here we have recorded a very novel scene, the camera having been placed in the basket of the captive balloon at the Pan-American Exposition. It was then slowly elevated to the top of the Tower, a distance of 465 feet, and slowly lowered until it reached the ground, keeping the Tower in view all the time during the ascent and descent, ending with a...
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Porter, Edwin S. - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1901
  • Film, Video
    Spanish dancers at the Pan-American Exposition
    Variant title from Edison films catalog, no. 135: Gypsy dance at the Pan-American Exposition
    "The picture was taken in the Gypsy tent at the Pan-American Exposition and shows ten beautiful Gypsy girls executing the famous Gypsy dance that created such a furor at the Exposition. Features of the well known couchee couchee are introduced by some of the dancers. The scene is both artistic and entrancing. 75 ft."--Edison films catalog, no. 135.
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)
    • Date: 1901
  • Film, Video
    Women of the ghetto bathing
    Title from Biograph production log: Ladies day at public baths | Title from American Mutoscope & Biograph picture catalog: Ladies day at the public baths
    The subject is a group of women and girls in a public swimming pool wearing turn-of the-century bathing attire. Many women and girls are playing in the pool, while others climb out and jump into the pool. The water in the the pool appears to be about four feet deep and the pool is very crowded. According the Biograph picture catalogue, the scene takes...
    • Contributor: Niver (Kemp) Collection (Library of Congress) - American Mutoscope and Biograph Company - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Marvin, Arthur W.
    • Date: 1902
  • Film, Video
    Buffalo Bill's Wild West parade
    Parade of Buffalo Bill's Wild West
    The film shows a parade down Fifth Avenue, New York. In the foreground many children, both black and white, can be seen following alongside the parade. The participants in the parade include cowboys, Indians, and soldiers in the uniform of the United States Cavalry on horseback and riding horse-drawn coaches. Buffalo Bill can be seen on horseback, lifting his hat to the crowd.
    • Contributor: Armitage, F. S. - American Mutoscope and Biograph Company - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)
    • Date: 1901-01-01
  • Film, Video
    Circular panorama of Electric Tower
    Title in Edison films catalog, no. 135: Circular panorama of the Electric tower | Title in Edison films catalog, no. 288: Circular panorama, Electric Tower
    "A most interesting picture at the Pan-American Exposition structure was taken from the north side of the Electric Tower. It presented the most perfect and diversified views of the Transportation Building, Mexican Plaza, the Stadium and the north side of the Electric Tower"--Edison films catalog, no. 135.
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Porter, Edwin S. - White, James H. (James Henry)
    • Date: 1901
  • Film, Video
    Horse parade at the Pan-American Exposition
    Title from Edison films catalog, no. 288: Horse parade at Pan-American Exposition
    "An excellent picture secured on the Esplanade of the Pan-American Exposition, showing the live stock exhibitor's exhibition of prize winners at the Pan-American. Here we show some of the most beautiful horses ever presented, the animals having been gathered from all sections of North America. The exhibition begins with Kentucky thoroughbreds, who prance by the camera and form a decided contrast with the great...
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)
    • Date: 1901
  • Film, Video
    Japanese Village "At the beginning of the film, at a distance of about one-hundred feet, is a two-story building with a balcony, some tropical plants, and a telephone pole. A young Japanese man appears directly in front of the camera. He is accompanied by two small Japanese boys attired in tight knee britches and rather loose sleeved blouses. The three of them exhibit their gymnastic powers...
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)
    • Date: 1901
  • Film, Video
    Shooting the Chutes, Luna Park, Coney Island
    Title from Biograph production log: Shooting the Chutes, Luna Park
    "The camera was positioned to view the Shoot-the-Chutes concession from the best location. A special added attraction for the entertainment of the spectators is a man in a swimming suit who rides down the Shoot-the-Chutes on one ski"--Early motion pictures.
    • Contributor: Niver (Kemp) Collection (Library of Congress) - American Mutoscope and Biograph Company - Bitzer, G. W. - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)
    • Date: 1903
  • Film, Video
    Sorting refuse at incinerating plant, New York City The subject is a group of about thirty men and boys who are sorting combustible refuse, mostly paper, and stuffing it into large sacks. In the background a man in a hat with an emblem on it can be seen unloading trash from a large wagon.
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Porter, Edwin S.
    • Date: 1903-01-01
  • Film, Video
    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 firemen march in double columns reaching across the street from curb to curb and are followed by engines, hook and ladder trucks, water-towers, etc. The life-saving crews carry scaling...
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Porter, Edwin S.
    • Date: 1904
  • Film, Video
    Automobile race for the Vanderbilt Cup
    Variant title from Biograph production logs: International auto race--Vanderbilt Cup | Variant title from Biograph photo catalog v. 6: Internat'l automobile race for the Vanderbilt Cup | Variant title from the AFI catalog: film beginnings, 1893-1910: International automobile race for the Vanderbilt Cup | Variant title from Biograph bulletins, 1896-1908, p. 225: Great international automobile race for the Vanderbilt Cup | Variant title from Biograph bulletins, 1896-1908, p. 257: Vanderbilt Cup races
    "By special arrangement with the committee of the Automobile Club of America, we were given preferred positions at three different points on the course during the automobile race for the Vanderbilt Cup. A most exciting picture throughout, showing the most dramatic features of the event. As a picture it is much more interesting than any automobile race that has ever been made, as apparently...
    • Contributor: Weed, A. E. - American Mutoscope and Biograph Company - Bitzer, G. W. - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)
    • Date: 1904
  • Film, Video
    Children in the surf, Coney Island "Seven small children can be seen from the low angle camera position; the camera is pointed out to sea. The children are holding hands and wading in the surf. Beyond them can be seen three adults. At the end of the film, there is only one child in a white bathing costume holding a sailboat. Beyond the child toward the ocean is a large...
    • Contributor: American Mutoscope and Biograph Company - Bitzer, G. W. - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)
    • Date: 1904
  • Film, Video
    New York City "ghetto" fish market "A fine panoramic view of this busy market on a Friday morning. Immense throngs of people are seen passing along the stands and making their selections of fish. A great character study. 165 feet"--Edison films catalog.
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Smith, James Blair
    • Date: 1903-01-01
  • Film, Video
    Sham battle at the Pan-American Exposition "On the closing day of the Pan-American Exposition, Saturday, November 2nd, 1901, a sham battle took place at the Stadium on the Pan-American Exhibition grounds, between the six tribes of American Indians and the United States Infantry stationed at Buffalo. The battle was most exciting and realistic, there being about 250 American Indians clad in their picturesque dress and fully decorated in their war...
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)
    • Date: 1901
  • Film, Video
    The Brooklyn Handicap-1904
    Variant title from Biograph production logs: Running of the Brooklyn Handicap, 1904
    "This is in every respect one of the most interesting horse race pictures ever made. Our photographers had the advantage of a clear day, and the race was one of the greatest ever run in the United States. Having had four cameras at the track, we were able to secure: 1st, A view of the horses leaving the paddock and the parade to the...
    • Contributor: American Mutoscope and Biograph Company - Bitzer, G. W. - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)
    • Date: 1904
  • Film, Video
    Rube and Mandy at Coney Island
    Title in Edison films catalog: Rube and Mandy's visit to 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 panorama of Luna Park, showing Rube and Mandy doing stunts on the rattan slide, riding on the miniature railway, shooting the chutes, riding the boats in the old mill, and...
    • Contributor: Thomas A. Edison, Inc - Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress) - Porter, Edwin S.
    • Date: 1903