Early Cinema: Edison Manufacturing Company Films, 1894-1896
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Created by: Thomas A. Edison, Inc.
Last Updated: 2026-03-23
Collection Details
Pioneering motion pictures from the Edison Manufacturing Company, filmed at the Black Maria studio in West Orange, New Jersey. These short films represent the earliest days of cinema, including some of the first copyrighted motion pictures. The collection includes historically significant works from the National Film Registry that demonstrate the birth of filmmaking as an art form and technological innovation.
Considered to be the first motion picture given legal status by copyright acceptance, this 5-second film shows Edison employee Fred Ott sneezing. The forty-five frames were originally sent for copyright as a still picture, then...
Keyword:
Early cinema, Edison films, Silent film, First copyrighted film, Kinetoscope, Black Maria studio, and Film history
Subject:
Motion pictures--United States--History, Silent films, and Copyright--Motion pictures--United States
Creator:
Thomas A. Edison, Inc.
Contributor:
Dickson, W. K.-L. (William Kennedy-Laurie), Heise, William, and Ott, Frederic P.
An 18-second film featuring actors May Irwin and John C. Rice performing a kiss scene from the New York stage comedy 'The Widow Jones' by John J. McNally. Filmed at the request of the New York World newspaper, this became the...
Keyword:
Early cinema, Edison films, Silent film, National Film Registry, May Irwin, and Black Maria studio
Subject:
Motion pictures--United States--History, Silent films, and Kissing in motion pictures
