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Film, Video Panorama of Blackwell's Island, N.Y.

About this Item

Title

  • Panorama of Blackwell's Island, N.Y.

Summary

  • This film was photographed from a boat heading south along the eastern shore of Blackwell's Island (known today as Roosevelt Island). The island lies in the East River, between Manhattan (which can be seen in the background) and Long Island City, Queens. It is approximately one and three-quarters of a mile long, extending from 51st Street to 88th, and at the time of the filming was the location for a number of New York City's charitable and penal institutions. The film opens showing the lighthouse at the north end of the island (Hallet's Cove) [Frame: 0186]. As the boat enters the east channel of the river, the stacks of a large brewery on Manhattan are visible in the distance [0542]. The camera pans along the island's granite seawall (built by inmates of the Penitentiary and Workhouse) and the following buildings, in order of appearance, are shown: the New York City Lunatic Asylum [0956]; the Workhouse [1274]; the Almshouse [1524]; piers for the Queensborough (or 59th Street) Bridge, which upon completion in 1908 will span 135 feet above the island [2388]; the Almshouse keeper's house (originally the home of the Blackwell family, who had once owned the island) [2730]; the Penitentiary [3646]; Charity Hospital [4140]. The film ends before reaching the southern tip of the island.

Names

  • Porter, Edwin S., camera.
  • Thomas A. Edison, Inc.
  • Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)

Created / Published

  • United States : Thomas A. Edison, Inc., 1903.

Headings

  • -  Roosevelt Island (New York, N.Y.)
  • -  Islands--New York (State)--East River
  • -  Roosevelt Island Light (New York, N.Y.)
  • -  N.Y. City Lunatic Asylum
  • -  Workhouses--New York (State)--New York
  • -  Almshouses--New York (State)--New York
  • -  Queensboro Bridge (New York, N.Y.)
  • -  Blackwell House (New York, N.Y.)
  • -  Blackwell's Island Penitentiary (New York, N.Y.)
  • -  Charity Hospital (New York, N.Y.)

Genre

  • Actualities (Motion pictures)
  • Silent films
  • Short films
  • Nonfiction films

Notes

  • -  H32034 U.S. Copyright Office
  • -  Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 20May1903; H32034.
  • -  Duration: 2:23 at 15 fps.
  • -  Camera, Edwin S. Porter.
  • -  Footage for 16 mm. viewing print and dupe neg pic from document titled, "Major footage count incorrectly printed in Early motion pictures catalog" in M/B/RS Paper Print Collection acquisition file.
  • -  Paper print shelf number (LC 2121) was changed when the paper prints were re-housed.
  • -  Additional holdings for this title may be available. Contact reference librarian.
  • -  Photographed May 9, 1903. Location: East River, New York.
  • -  Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as digital files.
  • -  Source used: Niver, K. Early motion pictures, p. 237.
  • -  Early motion pictures : the Paper Print Collection in the Library of Congress / by Kemp R. Niver. Library of Congress. 1985.
  • -  35 mm dupe neg pic renumbered: FPE 5367 to FZA 2328.

Medium

  • viewing print 1 film reel of 1 (62 ft.) : si., b&w ; 16 mm.
  • viewing print 1 film reel of 1 (ca. 150 ft.) : si., b&w ; 35 mm.
  • dupe neg pic 1 film reel of 1 (62 ft.) : si., b&w ; 16 mm.
  • dupe neg pic 1 film reel of 1 (ca. 150 ft.) : si., b&w ; 35 mm.
  • paper pos 1 roll (ca. 150 ft.) : si., b&w ; 35 mm.
  • paper pos (copy 2) 1 roll of 1 (ca. 150 ft.) : b&w ; 35 mm.

Call Number/Physical Location

  • FLA 5135 (viewing print)
  • FEB 9436 (viewing print)
  • FRA 2087 (dupe neg pic)
  • FZA 2328 (dupe neg pic)
  • Box 0494A (paper pos)
  • Box 5553B (paper pos, copy 2)

Repository

  • Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA dcu

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 00694366

Online Format

  • image
  • video

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

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Credit Line: Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division.

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Porter, Edwin S., Camera, Inc Thomas A. Edison, and Paper Print Collection. Panorama of Blackwell's Island, N.Y. United States: Thomas A. Edison, Inc, 1903. Video. https://www.loc.gov/item/00694366/.

APA citation style:

Porter, E. S., Thomas A. Edison, I. & Paper Print Collection. (1903) Panorama of Blackwell's Island, N.Y. United States: Thomas A. Edison, Inc. [Video] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/00694366/.

MLA citation style:

Porter, Edwin S., Camera, Inc Thomas A. Edison, and Paper Print Collection. Panorama of Blackwell's Island, N.Y. United States: Thomas A. Edison, Inc, 1903. Video. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/00694366/>.