The Films of Thomas Edison
Volume 4 (Containing 23 films)

Edison's laboratory was responsible for the invention of the Kinetograph (a motion picture camera) and the Kinetoscope (a peep-hole motion picture viewer). Most of this work was performed by Edison's assistant, William Kennedy Laurie Dickson, beginning in 1888. Motion pictures became a successful entertainment industry in less than a decade, with single-viewer Kinetoscopes giving way to films projected for mass audiences. The Edison Manufacturing Co. (later known as Thomas A. Edison, Inc.) not only built the apparatus for filming and projecting motion pictures, but also produced films for public consumption. Most early examples were actualities showing famous people, news events, disasters, people at work, new modes of travel and technology, scenic views, expositions, and other leisure activities. As actualities declined in popularity, the company's production emphasis shifted to comedies and dramas.

This collection features 341 Edison films. The earliest example is a camera test made in 1891, followed by other tests and a wide variety of actualities and dramas through the year 1918, when Edison's company ceased film production.

Here are some sample clips from four of the movies on this CD

Here is a description of each film on this CD

The gay shoe clerk CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., 1903. SUMMARY From Edison films catalog: 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 paper. The scene changes to a very close view, showing only the lady's foot and the clerk's hands tying the slipper. As her dress is slightly raised, showing a shapely ankle, the clerk's hands become very nervous, making it difficult for him to tie the slipper. The picture changes back to former scene. The clerk makes rapid progress with his fair customer, and while he is in the act of kissing her the chaperone looks up from her paper, and proceeds to beat the clerk with an umbrella. He falls backward off the stool. Then she takes the young lady by the arm, and leads her from the store.

General Lee's procession, Havana CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., 1899. SUMMARY 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 soldiers, file after file and company after company; filling the broad avenue from curb to curb and as far as the eye can reach with marching men. It is the Seventh Army Corps. Great crowds of people fill the sidewalks; and through the trees that line the promenade in the middle of the Prado, are seen carriages and vehicles following the parade. The crowning event of the Spanish-American war! The great procession on Evacuation Day.

Giant coal dumper CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., 1897. SUMMARY From Edison films catalog: Shows how a full carload of coal is loaded into a vessel every thirty seconds at the great Erie Railroad docks, Cleveland, Ohio. Great clouds of coal dust rise as each car is unloaded.

Glenroy Bros., [no. 2] CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., [1894] SUMMARY From Raff & Gammon price list: Farcical pugilists in costume.

Going through the tunnel CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., 1898. SUMMARY From Edison films catalog: 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.

Gold and diamond mines of South Africa (in 2 parts) CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : K.E.S.E., 1917. SUMMARY 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 operations at the Premier Mine in the town of Cullinan. Includes street scenes of Johannesburg and of Kimberley, the center of the world's largest diamond mining operations.

The good sport (in 4 parts) CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : George Kleine, 1918. SUMMARY 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.

Gordon Sisters boxing CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., 1901. SUMMARY Two women on a stage approach from either side of the painted backdrop of a garden and engage in a boxing match. Both the boxing gloves and the hits exchanged between the women seem genuine. One woman wears a modest white dress with long sleeves and a skirt to mid-calf, dark stockings, and laced boots. The other woman--taller, thinner, and perhaps younger--sports a shorter, dark, sleeveless dress and the same dark stockings and boots.

Grandma and the bad boys CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., 1900. SUMMARY The scene opens in the kitchen which is strewn with cooking utensils, indicating that grandma is busy preparing the Christmas pastry. Two bad boys of the red headed, freckled face type, enter. The mischievous expressions on their faces indicate that they have already planned a huge joke on grandma. One of the boys climbs to the kitchen table and takes down the old kitchen bracket lamp, which is equipped with a very large chimney, the other goes to the flour barrel and scoops out a quantity of flour, pouring it into the chimney of the lamp until it is filled to the top and packed down solidly. The lamp is then replaced in the bracket. Grandma, who is very near sighted enters, scratches a match, removes the lamp chimney for the purpose of lighting up for the evening, when a large quantity of flour falls upon her head, instantly changing her old gingham wrapper into a snow white frock and giving her a general ghost-like appearance. The flour sticks in her hair and fills her eyes, but this is where she turns the tables. Suspecting the bad boys, she immediately looks for them under the old kitchen table where she finds them, as they thought, safely hidden away and enjoying the joke. She grabs them by the heels, and throws them one after the other, head first into the flour barrel. She then sits them down upon the floor very forcibly with their faces toward the audience and they present a very ludicrous appearance in the mad scramble to remove the flour from their eyes and hair. This is a picture which cannot fail to provoke mirth.

The great train robbery (in 3 parts) CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., 1903. SUMMARY Part 1: This sensational and highly tragic subject will certainly make a decided "hit" whenever shown. In every respect we consider it absolutely the superior of any moving picture ever made. It has been posed and acted in faithful duplication of the genuine "Hold Ups" made famous by various outlaw bands in the far West, and only recently the East has been shocked by several crimes of the frontier order, which fact will increase the popular interest in this great Headline Attraction. Scene 1 -- Interior of Railroad Telegraph Office. Two masked robbers enter and compel the operator to set the "signal block" to stop the approaching train, also making him write a fictitious order to the engineer to take water at this station, instead of at "Red Lodge," their regular watering stop. The train comes to a standstill; conductor comes to the window, and the frightened operator delivers the order while the bandits crouch out of sight, at the same time keeping their revolvers trained on him. No sooner does the conductor leave than they fall upon the operator, bind and gag him, then hastily depart to catch the moving train. Scene 2 -- At the Railroad Water Tank. The bandit band are seen hiding behind the tank as a train stops to take water (according to false order). Just before she pulls out they stealthily board the train between the express car and the tender. Scene 3 -- Interior of Express Car. Messenger is busily engaged with his duties. Becoming alarmed at an unusual sound, he goes to the door, and peeping through the keyhole, discovers two men trying to break in. He starts back in a bewildered manner. Quickly recovering, his first thought is of the valuables in the strong box, which he hastily locks, and throws the key through the open side door. Pulling his revolver, he fortifies himself behind a pile of trunks, etc. In the meantime, the two robbers have succeeded in effecting an entrance. They enter cautiously. The messenger opens fire on them. A desperate pistol duel takes place, in which the messenger is killed. One of the robbers stands watch while the other tries to open the treasure box. Finding it locked, he searches the messenger for the key. Not finding it, he blows the safe up with dynamite. After securing the valuables and mail bags, they leave the car. Part 2: Scene 4 -- The Fight on the Tender. This thrilling scene was taken from the mail car showing the tender and interior of locomotive cab, while the train is running forty miles an hour. While some of the bandits are robbing the mail car, two others are seen climbing over the tender. One of them holds up the engineer, and the other covers the fireman. The latter secures a coal shovel and climbs up on the tender, where a desperate fight takes place with the outlaw. They struggle fiercely all over the tank, having several narrow escapes from being hurled over the side of the tender. Finally they fall, with the robber on top. He grabs a lump of coal, and strikes the fireman on the head, rendering him senseless. He then hurls the body from the swiftly moving train. The bandits then compel the engineer to bring the train to a stop. Scene 5 -- The Train Uncoupled. Shows the train coming to a stop. With the robbers' pistols close to his head, the engineer leaves the locomotive, uncouples it from the train, and pulls ahead about one hundred feet. Scene 6 -- Exterior of Passenger Coaches. The bandits compel the passengers to leave coaches with hands aloft, and line up along the tracks. One of the robbers covers them with large pistols in either hand, while the others ransack the travelers' pockets. A passenger makes an attempt to escape, but is instantly shot down. After securing everything of value, the band terrorize the passengers by firing their revolvers in the air, and then make safe their escape on the locomotive. Scene 7 -- The Escape. The desperadoes board the locomotive with their booty, command the engineer to start his machine, and disappear in the distance. Scene 8 -- Off to the Mountains. The robbers bring the engine to a stop several miles from the scene of the "Hold Up," and take to the mountains. Part 3: Scene 9 -- A Beautiful Scene in a Valley. The bandits come down the side of a hill on a run and cross a narrow stream. Mounting their horses, which were tied to nearby trees, they vanish into the wilderness. Scene 10 -- Interior of Telegraph Office. The operator lies bound and gagged on the floor. After a desperate struggle, he succeeds in standing up. Leaning on the table, he telegraphs for assistance by manipulating the key with his chin, and then faints from exhaustion. His little daughter enters with his dinner pail. Discovering his condition, she cuts the ropes, and throwing a glass of water in his face, restores him to consciousness. Arousing in a bewildered manner, he suddenly recalls his thrilling experience, and rushes forth to summon assistance. Scene 11 -- Interior of a Dance Hall. This typical Western dance house scene shows a large number of men and women in a lively quadrille. A "Tenderfoot" appears on the scene. He is quickly spotted, pushed to the center of the hall, and compelled to dance a jig, while the bystanders amuse themselves by shooting dangerously close to his feet. Suddenly the door opens and the half dead telegraph operator staggers in. The crowd gather around him, while he relates what has happened. Immediately the dance breaks up in confusion. The men secure their guns and hastily leave in pursuit of the outlaws. Scene 12 -- The Posse in Pursuit. Shows the robbers dashing down a rugged mountain at a terrible pace, followed closely by a large posse, both parties firing as they proceed. One of the desperados is shot and plunges head first from his horse. Staggering to his feet, he fires at his nearest pursuer, only to be shot dead. Scene 13 -- Battle to the Death. The remaining three bandits, thinking they had eluded their pursuers, have dismounted from their horses. After carefully surveying their surroundings, they begin to examine the contents of the mail bags. Deeply engaged in this work, they do not perceive the approach of the posse. The pursuers, having left their horses, steal noiselessly down upon them until they are completely surrounded. A desperate battle then takes place. After a brave stand, all of the robbers and several of the posse bite the dust. Scene 14 -- Realism. A life size picture of Barnes, leader of the outlaw band, taking aim and firing point blank at each individual in the audience. (This effect is gained by foreshortening in making the picture.) The resulting excitement is great. This section of the scene can be used either to begin the subject or to end it, as the operator may choose. The End.

Gun drill by naval cadets at Newport Training School CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., 1900. SUMMARY From Edison films catalog: Shows the cadets going through the gun drill, also loading, firing and charging. This is also a very stirring picture and is full of animation

Gymnasium exercises and drill at Newport Training School CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., 1900. SUMMARY From Edison films catalog: This picture shows the young cadets going through their daily exercises and drill, and is full of life, and photographically perfect.

Hadj Cheriff CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., [1894]

Herald Square CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., [1896] SUMMARY From Maguire & Baucus catalogue: Showing "Herald" building, street and elevated railroad.

Hockey match on the ice CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., 1898. SUMMARY From Edison films catalog: The skaters dart to and fro, swinging their hockeys and trying to hit the disc toward the goal.

Horse parade at the Pan-American Exposition CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Thomas A. Edison, Inc., 1901. SUMMARY There is a paved street in the foreground and on the curbing on the opposite side spectators have gathered to watch a parade. In the background are several large exposition buildings. A band in uniform passes the camera, and following that are many show horses of various types led by their handlers.

Horses loading for Klondike, no. 9 CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., 1897. SUMMARY From Edison films catalog: The wharf is crowded with live stock, and the huge derrick slowly drops the large box or sling into the bunch. Into this cradle a horse is led, and is slowly hoisted and swung over to the deck of the steamer. This picture is taken ten minutes before sailing time.

Hotel Del Monte CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., 1897. SUMMARY From Edison films catalog: Shows a party of tourists at this famous resort; located in Monterey, Cal., on the Southern Pacific Railroad. The magnificence of its surroundings is clearly shown.

Hotel Vendome, San Jose, Cal. CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Thomas A. Edison, Inc., 1897. SUMMARY This brief film shows an excursion party passing in the carriage drive of the Vendome Hotel, a major resort hotel in San Jose, south of San Francisco. The exact date of the film is unknown, but may be in October 1897. The camera faces north-northwest in the carriage drive, toward the main (east) entrance of the hotel. Two excursion stages, a surrey, and three small carriages circle past the camera with passengers waving, while other guests wave from the hotel steps. The light indicates an afternoon setting, which suggests a short trip to "take the waters" at nearby Alum Rock Springs, Azule Springs, or Congress Springs. Another possibility is an overnight trip to the James Lick Observatory on nearby Mount Hamilton to view the heavens through the 36-inch telescope. The Vendome Hotel was built in 1888 by public subscription for $500,000 to accommodate the expanding convention business of San Jose, a growing town set among orchards and farmland (now larger than San Francisco). Located on North First Street between Hobson and Hawthorne streets (on the 11-acre estate of former Mayor Joseph Belden), the hotel was a few blocks north of the center of town. Over the decade following its 1889 opening, the hotel increasingly became a first-class resort frequented by San Francisco and Bay Area society. Facilities included a ballroom, swimming pools, tennis courts, and stables. An annex added in 1903 was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. In 1930 the Vendome was demolished and replaced by custom-built homes.

How a French nobleman got a wife through the New York Herald personal columns (in 3 parts) CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., 1904. SUMMARY The picture opens with a "Personal" advertisement which actually appeared in the New York Herald of August 25th, 1904: "Young French Nobleman, recently arrived, desires to meet wealthy American girl; object matrimony; will be at Grant's Tomb at 10 this morning, wearing boutonniere of violets." The first scene shows the young "Nobleman" in his dressing room. He picks up the "Herald," and finally locates his "ad" with evident satisfaction. He then fastens a large bunch of violets to the lapel of his coat and departs for rendezvous. The next scene shows the "Nobleman" at Grant's Tomb, pacing impatiently back and forth. Soon a handsome young lady passes him, and seeing the violets, mutual recognition quickly follows. Another lady soon arrives, and others in rapid succession until the young Frenchman is completely surrounded. He finally escapes and runs for his life down the Riverside Drive, pursued by a dozen or more of his fair would-be captors, a stout lady in white bringing up the rear. He leads the girls a merry chase over sand banks, fallen trees, through bushes, over rail fences, and finally escapes, as he thinks, by wading into a pond up to his waist. The girls finally reach the pond and stand on the bank, imploring him to come ashore. But the Frenchman pays no heed to them. Finally the stout lady, who has been last throughout the entire race, arrives upon the scene, and without hesitating for an instant she dashes into the water and finally captures first prize and a titled husband in the bargain, again proving the old adage that "The race is not always to the swift."

Imperial Japanese dance CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., [1894] SUMMARY From Raff & Gammon price list: Three Japanese ladies in the costumes of their country.

Interrupted lovers CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., [1896] SUMMARY From Maguire & Baucus catalogue: Another instance where "the course of true love never runs smooth."

Jack and the beanstalk (in 3 parts) CREATED/PUBLISHED United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., 1902. SUMMARY A grand spectacular performance in nine scenes and one tableau, illustrating the most popular fairy story ever written.... From this very simple and popular fairy tale we have produced a most pleasing, interesting and mirth producing play in motion pictures, introducing therein many surprising new tricks and dissolving effects. The subject was carefully studied, and every scene posed with a view to following as closely as possible the accepted version of JACK AND THE BEANSTALK. We have, for the purpose of producing comedy (which in reality is the life of any animated picture play), in some instances departed slightly from the story, in that we have burlesqued a few of the features; as, for instance, where the butcher trades the hatful of beans with Jack for his mother's cow, we have introduced a burlesque animal made up of two men covered over with the head, horns and hide of a cow. This animal goes through many ludicrous antics, such as kicking, jig dancing, sitting down with legs crossed, etc., and finally, after strenuous efforts on the part of the butcher, suffers herself to be led away. Part 1: Scene 1 -- Trading the Cow. Jack's mother, being very poor, has dispatched him to the market to sell her only cow that they may not starve. The good fairy meets the village butcher at the bridge and informs him that Jack will pass that way with a cow which he can doubtless purchase for a hatful of beans, Jack being a very careless and foolish lad. The fairy vanishes, and Jack appears upon the scene leading the cow. The bargain is struck, and Jack runs away to show his mother what he considers a very gratifying price for their beautiful animal. Scene 2 -- Jack Returns with the Beans. Shows Jack's return to his mother's cottage, bringing the beans in his hat, and showing them to her in great glee, his mother's disappointment and scolding, which ends in Jack being sent supperless to bed, and the mother throwing the beans in the garden in great anger. Scene 3 -- Growing of the Beanstalk. A night scene in the garden, with beautiful moonlight and cloud effects. The good fairy appears, and waving her magic wand, commands the beanstalk to grow; and, lo and behold, from the hatful of beans that has been so ruthlessly thrown into the garden, a beanstalk of great size is seen to grow in a few moments, and to climb up the cliff above the clouds. Scene 4 -- Jack's Dream. Showing the interior of Jack's bedroom, with the moonlight streaming through the window. The good fairy appears and stands beside Jack's cot directing his dream. Jack dreams of the growing beanstalk and the award that awaits him who dares to climb it. Next he sees a vision of the Horn of Plenty, bags of the giant's gold and the talking harp, which dances before him in a weird manner. One by one these articles appear and disappear in the picture, coming as if from the dim distance, and as quickly and silently fading away. The climax of this scene is reached when the hen which lays the golden eggs walks into Jack's chamber. An egg is left on the floor, which suddenly grows to an enormous size, breaks in two, and there appears in its centre Jack's little fairy, who is afterward to make him happy for life. Scene 5 -- Climbing the Beanstalk. Jack awakens in the early morning, and looking out from his window, finds the enormous beanstalk which has grown above the clouds. Remembering his dream of the night before, he believes he can climb it with ease; but also remembering his mother's scolding for trading the cow for the beans, he is prompted to be cautious, and concludes to consult his mother. She protests vigorously against his climbing the beanstalk, but Jack sending her into the house on a pretext, starts up the beanstalk without her knowledge. The mother returns and is frantic when she finds Jack has gone up beyond her reach. She scolds and commands him to return, but the dauntless boy only laughs and continues to climb. His playmates, who are calling for Jack on their way to school, witness Jack's start on his perilous journey, and joining hands, they dance about the beanstalk in great numbers, cheering and waving their hats at the brave boy. Part 2: Scene 6 -- Jack Above the Clouds. Here we dissolve the view and show Jack two- thirds up the beanstalk, far above the clouds, with his mother's cottage and the hilltops a great distance below him. He is still tirelessly climbing his ladder of bean vines, and pauses as he reaches a dizzy height to wave his hat to his playmates and mother. Scene 7 -- Arrival at the Top of the Beanstalk. Jack arrives at the top of the beanstalk in what appears to be a fairyland. He is very tired and sleepy and lays down in a bed of moss to rest. He soon falls asleep, and his good fairy again appears and tells Jack the story of the giant, who, many years ago, killed and robbed his father (who was a knight residing in a castle), and drove his mother from their home. She then causes a vision of the giant's castle to appear before Jack, and commands him to go to the giant's house where great fortunes await him. Jack's enthusiasm is fired by the story of his father's wrongs, and he immediately sets out to obey the commands of the fairy. Scene 8 --The Giant's Kitchen. Shows Jack's arrival at the giant's house, and being admitted to the kitchen by the giant's wife. The giant suddenly enters, and in great fear lest he kill and eat the little boy, the good wife hides Jack in a large kettle. The giant comes in and roughly demands his supper, then his harp, bags of gold and the hen which lays the golden eggs. He finally falls asleep from the playing of the harp. Jack creeps from his hiding place in the kettle and steals the hen and as many of the bags of gold as he can carry away. Just as he leaves the kitchen door the giant awakens, and, seizing his great cudgel, chases our little hero, who is now thoroughly frightened. Part 3: Scene 9 -- Jack Descending the Beanstalk and Death of the Giant. The chase to the beanstalk has been very close, but Jack reaches it a little ahead of the giant. He throws the bags of gold down into his mother's garden and quickly scrambles down with the precious hen hanging over his shoulder. Reaching the ground first, he hastily commands his mother to bring him the ax, and vigorously chops at the beanstalk until it falls in a heap, bringing the giant to the ground with a mighty crash, breaking his neck and instantly killing him. Here the good fairy again appears and informs Jack that he has acted like a brave knight's son and that he deserves to have his inheritance restored to him. She waves her magic wand, and, lo! Jack's costume is changed from that of a peasant boy to a young knight, and his mother is likewise transformed from a peasant woman to a lady. Closing Tableau. A most beautiful scene, showing Jack and his mother seated in the fairy's boat, which is drawn by three beautiful swans, proceeding on their way to the castle which is to be their future home. The good fairy is seen to be flying through the air, guiding Jack and his mother on their way. In introducing this novel tableau, giving as it were an entirely new version to the ending of the story, we believe we are adding a feature which will be most pleasing to every child who witnesses the performance.... Note -- In this beautiful production, in changing from one scene to the other, transformations are made by beautiful dissolving and fading effects. There are no sudden jumps whatever, and the entire effect is at once pleasing, gratifying and comprehensive, and the audience finds itself following with ease the thread of this most wonderful of all fairy tales

This CD is created to run on both Windows and Macintosh computers using an HTML menu to navigate to the various movies. IMPORTANT: These CDs are designed to be played in your computer - not your DVD player.