Cinematic Era: 1897 Vintage

The famous Seal Rocks at Golden Gate Park are here shown. Sea lions in their wild state are lying on the rocks and swimming and diving in the water.

Boys diving into a river.

This one is modelled on the painting by Paul Delaroche and is an extension of the stage act known as “tableau vivant”.

Short recording of several parishioners leaving the city's basilica. It is considered the first Spanish film in history.

A woman from the Ashanti tribe bathes her child in a shallow bowl.

Alpine shooters perform various boxing exercises.

Two boys quarrel over a girl at a birthday party.

A group of women dressed up as Commedia dell'Arte characters dance together.

"Beautiful water effects at Haines' Falls, a most picturesque and charming mountain cataract. The wild and rugged surroundings are very impressive.

Children jump over each others’ backs in two lines advancing toward the camera.

A bunch of people exit the Church of Saint George.

One reel containing actuality footage of Sackville Street (now O'Connell Street). Some of the earliest known film footage of Ireland.

Workers leaving the Lumière factory.

Another parade film from the Lumiere company.

Liverpool, the sparse. Boats in Liverpool.

Panorama of Nice from the deck of a ship.

“A clever characteristic dance called the 'Yellow Kid.' Very unique. Stage is in the Sutro Baths, San Francisco, Cal., and the audience is composed largely of bathers.” (Edison Catalog)

Shows the wharf at San Francisco, Cal., with a large fleet of fishing boats at anchor.

New Pillow Fight, also titled Daughters' Pillow Fight, is the name of a very early short comedy film, released in 1897. This scene shows four little girls indulging in a pillow fight. Eventually, the feathers are flying all around.

Military in Germany.

The 'Laughing Waters' of Longfellow's 'Hiawatha.' A beautiful view of this picturesque and celebrated waterfall.

Great horse racing on the famous Hartford track, showing start and finish of a 2.04 3/4 heat run by the fastest harness horse in the world, John R. Gentry.

Swimmers jump into the water from the docks, as a small boat passes by.

Shows ten horses hitched to fashionable carts driven past the judges and grandstand to show their style, action and high-stepping movements. Among the drivers, Charles F. (Fatty ) Bates, the noted whip, shows up very prominently. The horses are all of very high class, and the action is of the very best. The film is clear, sharp and catchy.

Film produced by John Le Couteur for Gaumont, using a 60mm Demeny camera, showing part of the procession to commemorate Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee.

Master kisses maid behind a blanket on the clothes line and is seen by his wife.

A gardener is watering his flowers, when a mischievous boy sneaks up behind his back, and puts a foot on the water hose. The gardener is surprised and looks into the nozzle to find out why the water has stopped coming. The boy then lifts his foot from the hose, whereby the water squirts up in the gardener's face. The gardener chases the boy, grips his ear and slaps him in his buttocks. The boy then runs away and the gardener continues his watering. Three separate versions of this film exist, this is the third version.

A military horseback riding event from 1897.

Phantom ride shot from the engine front as a steam train pulling away from Wormit station in Fife, crossing the Tay rail bridge and passing south bound trains.

This Edison short takes us to San Jose, CA where we visit the Hotel Vendome (just as the title suggests).