Prolific inventor Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) patented 1,093 inventions, including the phonograph, the kinetograph (a motion picture camera), and the kinetoscope (a 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. not only built the apparatus for filming and projecting motion pictures, but also produced the first ever films for public viewing.  Most early examples were reality based films showing famous people, news events, disasters, people at work, new modes of travel, technology, scenic views, expositions and other leisure activities. As public interest in real-life activities declined, the company's creative focus shifted toward comedies and dramas.

"I am experimenting upon an instrument which does for the eye what the phonograph does for the ear, which is the recording and reproduction of things in motion ...."

--Thomas A. Edison, 1888
 

Giant Coal Dumper
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.
 

Sutro Baths
Filmed August 22, 1897, at the Sutro Baths in San Francisco, California.  A springboard furnishes the bathers with much amusement; also a toboggan slide. 

Falls of Minniehaha
The "Laughing Waters" of Longfellow's "Hiawatha." A beautiful view of this picturesque and celebrated waterfall.  Filmed June 1897, at Haines' Falls in the Catskill Mountains, New York.

 

Loading Baggage for Klondike #6
This was the first ship sailing for the Klondike from Seattle during the gold rush of 1897.  Crowds of anxious gold seekers watch the loading of their outfits, clothing, kits and provisions into the hole of the "Williamette."
 

Buffalo Police on Parade
A street scene showing parade of the entire Buffalo Police Department, 16 men abreast, with military band.  Filmed June 10, 1897, in Buffalo, New York.
 

Hotel Del Monte
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.
 

Corner of Madison and State Streets Chicago
The busiest corner in Chicago. Cable cars and street traffic of all descriptions. Hundreds of shoppers. Fine perspective view looking north toward the Masonic Temple.  Filmed ca. June or July 1897, in Chicago, Illinois.
 

Lower Falls, Grand Canyon,
Yellowstone Park
Filmed on the Northern Pacific Railway at the time of the Klondike gold rush. Shows the railway company handling accommodating large numbers of people, baggage, freight and excursion parties.
 

Record of a Sneeze
Film made for publicity purposes, as a series of still photographs to accompany an article in Harper's Weekly magazine.  Filmed January 2-7, 1894, in Edison's Black Maria studio.
 

Cattle Driven to Slaughter
From Maguire & Baucus catalogue: A herd of long-horn cattle being driven through the Chicago stock yard gates to the slaughter house, where 280 of the animals were killed every hour of the day.
 

Buffalo Fire Department in Action
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. Several of the engines and wagons are drawn by three horses abreast.  Filmed early June 1897, in Buffalo, New York.
 

Return of Lifeboat
Shows a life boat coming through the breakers.  The surf is high and the stout boat is tossed about like a cork.  Illustrative of the work performed by the Life Saving Corps of the United States Government.  Filmed September 1897, at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California.
 

Fisherman's Luck
Two German anglers are fishing, with odd results. One gets a bite, and pulls in a length of stovepipe. The other is so astonished that he falls overboard.  Filmed August or September 1897.
 

Capsize of a Lifeboat
Daily practice 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.  Filmed September 1897, at the Presidio in San Francisco, California.
 

S.S. Queen Loading
Shows the S.S. "Queen" at Seattle with an immense crowd of gold miners crowding the decks of the boat and the docks, carrying aboard baggage, implements, etc.  Filmed August 6, 1897, in Seattle, Washington.

S.S. Queen Leaving Dock
Probably part of the "Northern Pacific Railway Series" (Edison films catalog):  Filmed August 7, 1897, in Seattle, Washington.
 

S.S. Coptic in the Harbor
Shows the vessel away from the dock and slowly turning. The four masts, smokestack and hull being faithfully reproduced. Clouds of smoke pour out of the funnel, and volumes of steam out of the exhaust pipe.  Filmed September 2, 1897, at San Francisco, California.
 

S.S. Coptic at Dock
Taken at the docks of the Pacific Steamship Co., San Francisco, Cal., which is operated in connection with the Southern Pacific Railroad Co. The "Coptic" is one of the best appointed, largest and fastest vessels that traverse the Pacific Ocean.  Filmed September 2, 1897, at San Francisco, California.
 

Hockey Match on Ice
The skaters dart to and fro, swinging their hockeys and trying to hit the disc toward the goal.  Filmed February 1898, at Crystal Lake, Newark, New Jersey.
 

Trick Bears
Bears performing.  Filmed June to September 1899, probably in Orange, New Jersey.
 

Fast Mail Northern Pacific Railroad
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.  Filmed July or August 1897, near Portland, Oregon.
 

Waterfall in the Catskills
Beautiful water effects at Haines' Falls, a most picturesque and charming mountain cataract. The wild and rugged surroundings are very impressive.  Filmed June 1897, at Haines' Falls in the Catskill Mountains, New York.
 

What Demoralized the Barber Shop
The shop is in the basement and has sidewalk-level windows. As the film progresses, the feet and legs of passerby can be seen by the occupants of the barbershop. Two females walk by the window. The men in the barbershop start doing ridiculous things.  Filmed November or December 1897, in Edison's Black Maria studio.
 

Horses Loading for Klondike #9
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.  Filmed August 7, 1897, in Seattle, Washington.
 

Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton ,Ca
This observatory, the gift of James Lick of Pennsylvania, was constructed at a cost of 700,000.   Being equipped with one of the most powerful telescopes that has ever been produced, it is famous the world over.  Filmed September 4, 1897, at Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton, California.
 

Sheep Run, Chicago Stockyards
A large flock of sheep being driven over the runs from the cars to the slaughter beds. The sheep, pressed by the driver and frightened by the surroundings and confusion, move very fast.  Filmed June or July 1897, in Chicago, Illinois.
 

Racing at Sheepheads Bay
The finish and weighing out of a running race with nine starters. Won by famous Clifford, Sloane up.  Filmed June 22, 1897, at Sheepshead Bay Race Track, Coney Island, New York.
 

Lurline Baths
The main feature is the toboggan slide which the bathers use, some sitting, others lying down, head first or feet first.  Filmed August 1897, at the Lurline Baths in San Francisco, California.

Love in a Hammock
A happy young couple are seated in a hammock under an old oak tree, ardently making love and evidently totally oblivious to all that is taking place about them. Two bad boys suddenly appear upon the scene, and one of them climbs into the tree while the other keeps watch.  Filmed December 1900 to early January 1901.
 

Champs Elysees
Driving scene on the Champs Elysees.  Near the main entrance. Hundreds of carriages and characteristic Parisian buses are passing.  Filmed in July 1900, on the Champs Elysees in Paris, France.
 

Panorama of Palace D L'Opera
Circular panoramic view of the Place de L'Opera.  The busiest square in all Paris.  Filmed July 1900, during the Paris Exposition in Paris, France.
 

A Storm at Sea
The picture was secured by lashing the camera to the after bridge of the "Kaiserine Maria Theresa", of the North German Lloyd Line, during one of its roughest voyages. The most wonderful storm picture ever photographed. Filmed June 19-27, 1900, on the Atlantic Ocean.
 

Panorama of Effile Tower
Showing the entire height of this wonderful structure from the base of the dome and return, looking down Champs de Mars.  Filmed July 1900, at the Paris Exposition in Paris, France.
 

The Mystic Swing
The professor shows his power to Mephisto by mysteriously placing a young lady in a swing. Mephisto then shows his power by making the young lady disappear from the swing, to the surprise of the professor.  Filmed March 1900.
 

Palace of Electricity
In the Exposition grounds with a close view of the Palace of Electricity.  Filmed July 1900, at the Paris Exposition in Paris, France.
 

The Unappreciated Joke
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.  But soon the joke will be on them!  Edison Manufacturing Co., 1903.
 

Street Car Chivalry
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 and forces her way into a seat.  Edison Manufacturing Co., 1903.
 

The Gay Shoe Clerk
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 clerk gets interested in something else!  Edison Manufacturing Co., 1903.
 

What Happened in the Tunnel
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.  He returns it and much more!  Edison Manufacturing Co., 1903.
 

Catching an Early Train
Surburbanite discovers he has overslept, jumps out of bed rushes to catch the train.  Edison Manufacturing Co., 1901.
 

The Old Maid Having her Picture Taken
A typical old maid, impersonated by Mr. Gilbert Saroni [sic], enters to have her picture made.  The photographer then sits her in a chair and poses her ready for her picture. Just as he is to press the button the camera explodes with a great puff of smoke.  Edison Manufacturing Co., 1901.
 

Fireboat "New Yorker" Answering an Alarm
The men are seen running on board the boat, taking their respective places, casting off the lines, etc. The boat is on its way to the fire in almost an instant.  Edison Manufacturing Co., 1903.
 

Panorama of Galveston Power House
Ruins of the Galveston power house.  At the first news of the disaster by cyclone and tidal wave that devastated Galveston, TX on Saturday, Sept. 8th, 1900.
 

The Clown and the Alchemist
Although we are led to believe that the ancient alchemists were all powerful, this picture somewhat reverses the order of things.  Filmed September to early November 1900, on Vitagraph's roof-top studio in New York, New York.
 

A Dull Razor
The razor is evidently giving him a great deal of trouble, as he catches hold of the brush and with a great show of impatience he hurriedly coats his face with the foaming soap and makes a second attempt at removing his beard.  Edison Manufacturing Co., 1900.
 

Philadelphia Express, Jersey Central Railway
The scene of the overhead crossing of the Pennsylvania and Jersey Central railroads at Elizabeth, N.J.  While a Pennsylvania train is passing over the arch, the Philadelphia Express on the Central Railroad comes dashing underneath at full speed, head on to the audience.  Filmed ca. June or July 1897, in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
 

Free-for-all at Charter Oak Park
Shows a part of the enormous crowd and the start and finish of the free-for-all pacing race, in which the fastest harness horse in the world, John R. Gentry (2:00-1/2), faced off against Star Pointer for a purse of $6,000.  Star Pointer won!  Filmed July 5, 1897, at Charter Oak Park race track, Hartford, Connecticut.
 

Exploding a Whitehead Torpedo
The torpedo was exploded in fifteen fathoms of water. The picture shows the water, mud and rocks being thrown high up in the air, and will give an idea of the destructiveness of one of these missiles.  Filmed late April to early May 1900, at Newport, Rhode Island.
 

Champs de Mars
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.  Filmed July 1900, at the Paris Exposition in Paris, France.
 

Fun in Camp (Military)
Showing a group of soldiers and Red Cross nurses being amused by a number of small children who are riding upon the backs of trick bears. A remarkably fine picture, with U.S. Infantry camp in the background.  Filmed ca. June to September 1899, probably in Orange, New Jersey.