Cinematic Era: 1897 Vintage

Panoramic view of Constantinople.

A group of workers, aided by a steam-roller, are leveling the ground during the construction of the Jonage canal, a diversion of the Rhône river, which was built in order to supply the hydroelectric plant of Cusset.

An actuality short showing everyday life in the South Kensington area of London — pedestrians, carriages, and street activity near the museum/park quarter, filmed as part of the Lumières’ London views.

A black poodle runs up and down steps.

Early film of annual Henley race, c. 1896-1897

An early French short film.

A magician's trick.

"A fascinating skirt dance by the well-known roof garden favorite."

La Poupée is a series of three short films inspired from a comedy in four acts of the same name by Edmond Audran, performed for the first time at the Théâtre de la Gaieté in Paris on 21 October 1896. Young Lancelot, a novice from a very poor convent, is forced to marry to be entitled to an inheritance from his rich uncle. The prior, wanting to take advantage of this opportunity, finds a solution. The novice will marry an automaton and return to the convent. But a real young woman, the daughter of the automatized mannequins maker, decides to take the place of the doll.

Presents views of a parade in Montreux, including carts and donkeys covered with flowers, horsedrawn floats, bicycles, and people in native dress.

A man enters and pays homage to the lady standing before him. He turns away, and the lad takes off her clothes and reveals herself as a young man: Fregoli.

Roma families eat, drink, dance, and play

Short from (1897)

As a train comes to a halt, workers begin to unload the gravel it is transporting.

Clarence Dock

This single camera position film shows an officer and six enlisted men of the army as they demonstrate the assembly drill of a gatling gun. See also: gatling gun-firing by squad, and gatling gun crew in action.

A steam roller equalizes the ground along a railroad track. The Canal de Jonage in France.

"This view was made at the Scheveningen Baths. It shows a number of bathers enjoying themselves in the surf. Several picturesque Holland boats are moored in the background."

The hen house occupies the entire left foreground of the picture, running back to the nearby road. The main foreground is filled with tall grass swept by the wind, the naturalness of which effect is remarkable. A thief appears 'round the corner, carrying a tattered sack. He suspiciously approaches the window, from which two fowl are handed to him by a black confederat, who himself suddenly appears at the window, falling out head first but clinging tenaciously to a fluttering white bird.

Panorama of Constantinople from the river.

A large ship embarking.

A view of the entrance to the Stockholmsutställlningen, the World Exhibition in Stockholm.

A legless beggar sits in front of a church. Some people pass him by, others give him some money. Finally a flic demands his permit. The beggar hands it to hi and while it is being examined, gets up on his legs and flees.

At the Armour & Co. Chicago yard. Two railroad tracks dominate the center and right half of the frame as we look down about 40 meters where an overpass crosses...

One of the sights of San Francisco. A 50-foot slide is used by the bathers, who toboggan down its slippery surface in all positions...

More 19th century city life.

Taken on the S.P. Railroad, near tunnel No. 9. The train comes rushing out of the tunnel and passes at full speed...

The finish and weighing out of a running race with nine starters. Won by the famous Clifford, Sloane up.

From Edison films catalog: Taken during the Klondike excitement. The streets are crowded with miners buying outfits and supplies. Mule trains, trolley cars and hurrying pedestrians give life and bustle to the scene. 50 feet. $7.50. Advertised as part of the "Northern Pacific Railway Series" (Edison films catalog): The following pictures were taken by our artists at various points on the Northern Pacific Railway. We are greatly indebted to their officials who afforded us every opportunity in their power to obtain these splendid views. Many of the scenes are incident to the excitement prevailing at the time of the Klondike gold rush. They show the resources of this company for handling large numbers of people, baggage, freight and excursion parties, and give to prospective tourists and merchants an idea of the facilities with which this road handles traffic of all kinds (p. 9). (LoC)

Small glimpse of Paris city life.

A bill poster comes upon a blank wall, and immediately puts up a poster advertising a movie show at one location.

Several shots of the carnival in Nice, floats and parade costumes, passing along the crowded streets.

Panorama from the Tower of the Brooklyn Bridge, 1897.