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Edison, Thomas, 1847 - 1931

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 11 February 1847 - 18 October 1931

Biography

Thomas Alva Edison was born on 11 February 1847 in Ohio, USA. From an early age, he developed a strong business sense and an interest in science. Among other things, he spent his early career working as a vendor in trains, as a telegraph operator, newspaper seller and printer. During his lifetime, Edison set up fourteen companies and became one of the most prolific inventors of all times in the fields of electricity, mass communication, sound recording and motion pictures.

By 1876, he had established his first laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, where many of his early inventions were developed and he established the world's first film studio, the Black Maria, where over one thousand films were made.

In the early 1890s, Edison patented the Kinetograph filming camera and in 1891 he built a Kinetoscope or peep-hole viewer, where the paying public could watch his films, which he exported to Europe. This gave him total control over the making of motion pictures as well as their public showing. However, inventors and early film pioneers in Britain and elsewhere in Europe soon started to copy his machines and produce their own films, negating Edison the monopoly over the market by the mid 1800s. Still his work in motion pictures was very influential internationally.

Edison died on 18 October 1931.

Found in 7 Collections and/or Records:

Annabelle Butterfly Dance Film, August 1894

 Item
Reference code: 178D12.10
Scope and Contents

Nitrate film by Edison [EMP 48]. Prod., f./ph: W. K. L. Dickson, William Heise; cast: Annabelle Whitford Dancing routine, showing a woman doing a butterfly dance.

Dates: August 1894

Annie Oakley Film, 1 November 1894

 Item
Reference code: 178D12.12
Scope and Contents

Nitrate film by Edison [EMP 86]. Prod., f./ph: W. K. L. Dickson, William Heise; cast: Annie Oakley, showing famous sharpshooter performer Annie Oakley shooting at a target.

Dates: 1 November 1894

Carmencita No. 2 Film, 10 - 16 March 1894

 Item
Reference code: 178D12.9
Scope and Contents

Nitrate film by Edison [EMP 28.1]. Prod., f./ph: W. K. L. Dickson, William Heise; cast: Carmencita Dancing routine, showing a woman dancing on a stage.

Dates: 10 - 16 March 1894

Film, 1894 - 1896

 Series
Reference code: 178D12
Scope and Contents

Nitrate films made by Robert Paul and Birt Acres, showing brief scenes of topical events, popular entertainmet, family groups and fiction. These films were part of the repertoire travelled by showman George Williams around the British fairs.

Dates: 1894 - 1896

George Williams Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0118
Scope and Contents

Collection of early films related to the first year of film-making in America and the United Kingdom and nineteenth century magic lantern slides, letter, film catalogues and photographic plates.

Dates: 1890 - 1896

Hornbacker-Murphy Fight Film, August 1894

 Item
Reference code: 178D12.11
Scope and Contents

Nitrate film by Edison [EMP 68]. Prod., f./ph: W. K. L. Dickson, William Heise; cast: Eugene Hornbacker, [Dan?] Murphy Boxing fight, showing a boxing match.

Dates: August 1894

New Bar Room Film, 17 January 1895

 Item
Reference code: 178D12.13
Scope and Contents

Nitrate film by Edison [EMP 110]. Prod., f./ph: W. K. L. Dickson, William Heise. Film showing comedy a bar brawl.

Dates: 17 January 1895