Cinematic Era: 1899 Vintage

Fun at the beach.

"Grandpa sits nodding in his armchair in the kitchen, where a sout, jolly washerwoman is washing clothes. While the woman leaves the tub to talk to a book agent, a small boy enters, and ties grandpa's chair to a towel which is hanging over the tub. The washerwoman begins vigorously wringing the clothes. The towel is drawn into the wringer, and as grandpa is sitting with his feet on the stove and the chair tilted back, a collision is brought about by the towel pulling grandpa and the tub together. This is a crowning success as a comic picture."—Edison Catalog

This picture is very novel and interesting. It gives the complete trip from the station at the New York City end of the bridge to the station at the Brooklyn end, as seen from the front end of a third rail car running at high speed. The entire trip consumes three minutes of time, during which abundant opportunity is given to observe all the structural wonders of the bridge, and far distant river panorama below.

The Jewish ex-officer Alfred Dreyfus's degradation. He stands in a military quadrant and the Adjutant proceeds to tear off his medals; Dreyfus is compelled to pass in front of the troops in disgrace. Star Film catalog #216, this is part of Melies's Dreyfus Affair film series and is the second installment. It is one of two installments that has either been destroyed or never restored, and is thus not currently available to the public.

Shielded by a thick bit of timber at a turn of the road stands a company of mounted men, awaiting the order to advance...

Panorama of the battleships "Sardegna" and "Sicilia" at the naval review of Cagliari.

Traffic and crowd in front of the stalls of a street market.

A short clip of Wilhelmina and her mother Emma in a horse-drawn carriage, receiving flowers from the crowd.

30 seconds of actual snowball fighting from 1899. A quick glimpse of a time gone by

Film produced by William K. Dickson’s British Mutoscope and Biograph Company.

A two-wheeled convoy of Victorian gentlewomen in a charming early film enigma.

The famous Parisian chanteuse in the rag-time cakewalk 'Hello, Ma Baby,' with which she made such a sensation at the New York Theatre.

Showing Central Park in the background.

"Showing the entire trip from Brooklyn to New York. The immense towers stand out clear and distinct against the sky. The best picture of the Brooklyn Bridge yet secured."

Maître Labori is seen approaching the bridge of Rennes in company with Colonel Picquart and M. Gast, Mayor of Rennes. They notice that they are followed by another man to whom Colonel Picquart calls Labori's attention. They, however, consider his proximity of no importance, and continue to speak together. As soon as their backs are turned, the man draws a revolver and fires twice at Maître Labori, who is seen to fall to the ground. The culprit makes his escape, pursued by Colonel Picquart and M. Gast.

Well-known horse-women and their mounts riding before the judge's stand at the Open Air Horse Show, Manhattan Field, N.Y. City.

Close shot of 4.7" naval gun pointing to the left with group of British naval ratings standing around it. The gun fires and the men run up to reload, the begin to pull the gun forward.

"An interesting picture of the great inter-collegiate eight-oared boat race of 1899. The picture is taken from the judge's boat, and shows the start and first part of the race."

"In his characterization of Capt. Dreyfus and Emile Zola."

A man makes twenty complete changes in two minutes, combining with them dances. The changes are made in full sight of the audience. Biondi, Fregoli and Mons change behind the scenes.

A group of acrobats form human pyramids.

Probably part of the "Alaska and Yellowstone National Park Series" in the "Northern Pacific Railway Series"

From a single camera position, two young women are photographed lighting a cigarette. After several puffs, one of the young ladies becomes faint, and the other one tries to revive her fallen friend.

A horsedrawn double-decker bus sits immobile at the centre of the image, with a flurry of horse-drawn carriages and omnibuses swirling around it. Then the vehicle, loaded with passengers, finally sets off, headed either for Batignolles or Montparnasse Station, revealing in the background a swarm of chaos that is enough to make one’s head spin. Carriages, horses, pedestrians and wagons intersect in all directions.

Herbert Campbell is filmed here in the Biograph studio, which was situated at that time on the Thames Embankment. Campbell is dressed as 'Little Bobby' for the 1899-1900 Drury Lane pantomime 'Cinderella'. He is seated at table in front of large meal, with a glass of beer beside him. He eats messily, then drinks the beer in one and grins at the camera.

Beginning of a race.

Showing the rolling sea, upon which gradually appears a cloud of mist. From this evolves the figure of Christ, who proceeds to walk on the waves. The rolling movement of the water and the sudden apparition certainly give a most startling effect, illustrating the biblical miracle of Christ walking on the water.

A magician produces a living portrait of himself.

Panorama of a mountainside railroad.

Rowdy patrons visit an Old West saloon.

Short clip of passing troops at the Dewey Arch.

The Astor Battery became famous after the Spanish-American war and these young men are on display in this Edison short, which was shot on Saturday, January 21, 1899. We see a parade cross Broadway onto Union Square with the mounted police, the band and then the Astor Battery. The footage of this short is still in very good condition, which adds a lot considering how little footage is available of these men.

This commercial traveler has evidently had a wet day judging from the strange things he sees at his hotel. The hall boy shows him to his room, puts down his grips, and then disappears through the ceiling. Drummer pushes button five times for a drink, and waiter appears through the floor. Drummer turns to sit down on the bed it disappears. He fights with the waiter, is overcome, and waiter locks him in a trunk and sits on it. After a while he opens the trunk; behold, it's empty. Drummer appears mysteriously, picks up a big book, hits waiter on head, and drives him through the floor. Drummer dances in delirious glee.

A man demonstrates a human-powered water wheel that irrigates a rice field.

"Rodzajowe scenki warszawskie" is a Polish silent film directed by Bolesław Matuszewski, showcasing everyday life and urban scenes from Warsaw at the turn of the 20th century. The film features a series of genre-based scenes, providing a fascinating glimpse into the social and cultural dynamics of Warsaw, captured through the lens of one of the earliest Polish filmmakers. The film serves as an important historical document, reflecting the vibrancy and character of the city during this time period.

Panorama of a mountainside railroad.

Sailors clamber up the rigging. Filmed at Portsmouth.

The second Kremo family acrobat film for the Lumiere. Involves one gag in which the adult is simultaeously flipping two children with his legs.

Silas Hayseed arrives in town and proceeds to put up a hotel noted for its 'tables,' which are all made of hard wood. The country yokel is shown to his room and divests himself of his best Sunday-go-to-meetin' clothes. His little bunch of whiskers that adorn his chin seem to be as proud of him as his Melindy Jane, whom he left in Grassville, back over yonder. He is finally undressed and tumbles into bed, resolving meanwhile to dream of the good prices he will realize in his produce. While pondering over matters, he looks around and discovers a Ghost standing in the middle of the room. Silas becomes scared, begosh, and leaping out on the floor begs the Ghost to do him no harm. The Ghost suddenly vanishes and the Hayseed is about to jump into bed again when Satan appears from under the sheets and scares him to such an extent that he is willing to promise him even a box of fresh rooster eggs if he will only go away.

In this spirited and suggestive film, an aggressive young man is drenched in rich, high-protein comeuppance, after he attempts to tell a dairymaid her buttery business.

Phantom train ride along the French Riviera in Monte Carlo, Monaco

A parade of soldiers.

The cook in the kitchen leaves a pan of potatoes while she answers the door bell. Willie takes advantage of her absence to put the potatoes in the refrigerator and fill the pan with water, putting it up on the cupboard. Bridget returns and tries to get the pan down with an umbrella, and succeeds in giving herself a ducking, much to Willie's delight.

A spy rejects a bandage and is shot by a firing squad.

A man with a tin of Van Houten Cocoa is treated to a splash of water.

"This scene shows a crowd of newsboys running to meet the 'World' newspaper delivery wagon, and falling back to the point of distribution. There is a mad scramble for papers, and fight between two of the gamins."

Street scene: Arch de Triumph.

Recreation of military maneuvers in the Philippines in the Spanish-American War.

The infamous Dreyfus is finally brought before a court martial.