Directing

William K.L. Dickson

Born August 3, 1860 · Chateau St. Buc, Minihic-sur-Ranse, France

Died September 28, 1935 · aged 75

William Kennedy Laurie Dickson was a Scottish inventor and the Edison Manufacturing Company's official photographer. In 1889, he was assigned to turn the concept of a the proposed motion picture device, named the Kinetoscope, into a reality. The first working prototype was unveiled in May 1891 and the design of system was essentially finalised by the fall of 1892. The completed version of the Kine…

Known For

King John

King John · 1899

Based on Shakespeare's play, Act V, Scene vii: King John is in torment, and his supporters fear that his end is near. As he writhes in agony, he is attended by Prince Henry, the Earl of Pembroke, and Robert Bigot. Prince Henry tries repeatedly to comfort his delirious father, but to no avail - John's pain is too great.

Annie Oakley

Annie Oakley · 1894

MovieDocumentaryWestern

A short Edison Black Maria studio film featuring famed sharpshooter Annie Oakley, known as “Little Sure Shot.” Born Phoebe Ann Oakley Mozee in Ohio in 1860, she rose to global fame performing with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. Accompanied (likely) by her husband and fellow marksman Frank Butler, Oakley’s diminutive stature belied her legendary marksmanship.

Blacksmithing Scene

Blacksmithing Scene · 1893

Blacksmithing Scene

Three men hammer on an anvil and pass a bottle of beer around. Notable for being the first film in which a scene is being acted out.

The Royal Procession to the Church before the Ceremony (Coronation of Wilhelmina)

The Royal Procession to the Church before the Ceremony (Coronation of Wilhelmina) · 1898

The Royal Procession to the Church before the Ceremony (Coronation of Wilhelmina)

MovieDocumentary

Queen Vilhelminas coronation.

The Queen and the Queen Mother on the Palace Balcony Responding to the Call of the Populace (Coronation of Wilhelmina)

The Queen and the Queen Mother on the Palace Balcony Responding to the Call of the Populace (Coronation of Wilhelmina) · 1898

The Queen and the Queen Mother on the Palace Balcony Responding to the Call of the Populace (Coronation of Wilhelmina)

MovieDocumentary

Queen Vilhelmina greeting the crowds after the coronation.

Arrival of the Queen at the Palace, Amsterdam, Sept 6th (Coronation of Wilhelmina)

Arrival of the Queen at the Palace, Amsterdam, Sept 6th (Coronation of Wilhelmina) · 1898

Arrival of the Queen at the Palace, Amsterdam, Sept 6th (Coronation of Wilhelmina)

MovieDocumentary

Queen Wilhelmina arrives to the palace during her coronation.

Review of the Royal Netherland Guards in the Costumes of the Middle Ages (Coronation of Wilhelmina Guard of Honor)

Review of the Royal Netherland Guards in the Costumes of the Middle Ages (Coronation of Wilhelmina Guard of Honor) · 1898

Review of the Royal Netherland Guards in the Costumes of the Middle Ages (Coronation of Wilhelmina Guard of Honor)

MovieDocumentary

Parade of guards during Queen Wilhelminas coronation.

The Royal Procession from the Church after the Ceremony (Coronation of Wilhelmina)

The Royal Procession from the Church after the Ceremony (Coronation of Wilhelmina) · 1898

The Royal Procession from the Church after the Ceremony (Coronation of Wilhelmina)

MovieDocumentary

During Queen Vilhelminas coronation.

Filmography

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King John

King John · 1899

Based on Shakespeare's play, Act V, Scene vii: King John is in torment, and his supporters fear that his end is near. As he writhes in agony, he is attended by Prince Henry, the Earl of Pembroke, and Robert Bigot. Prince Henry tries repeatedly to comfort his delirious father, but to no avail - John's pain is too great.

Director

Annie Oakley

Annie Oakley · 1894

MovieDocumentaryWestern

A short Edison Black Maria studio film featuring famed sharpshooter Annie Oakley, known as “Little Sure Shot.” Born Phoebe Ann Oakley Mozee in Ohio in 1860, she rose to global fame performing with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. Accompanied (likely) by her husband and fellow marksman Frank Butler, Oakley’s diminutive stature belied her legendary marksmanship.

Director

Blacksmithing Scene

Blacksmithing Scene · 1893

Blacksmithing Scene

Three men hammer on an anvil and pass a bottle of beer around. Notable for being the first film in which a scene is being acted out.

Director

The Royal Procession to the Church before the Ceremony (Coronation of Wilhelmina)

The Royal Procession to the Church before the Ceremony (Coronation of Wilhelmina) · 1898

The Royal Procession to the Church before the Ceremony (Coronation of Wilhelmina)

MovieDocumentary

Queen Vilhelminas coronation.

Director

The Queen and the Queen Mother on the Palace Balcony Responding to the Call of the Populace (Coronation of Wilhelmina)

The Queen and the Queen Mother on the Palace Balcony Responding to the Call of the Populace (Coronation of Wilhelmina) · 1898

The Queen and the Queen Mother on the Palace Balcony Responding to the Call of the Populace (Coronation of Wilhelmina)

MovieDocumentary

Queen Vilhelmina greeting the crowds after the coronation.

Director

Arrival of the Queen at the Palace, Amsterdam, Sept 6th (Coronation of Wilhelmina)

Arrival of the Queen at the Palace, Amsterdam, Sept 6th (Coronation of Wilhelmina) · 1898

Arrival of the Queen at the Palace, Amsterdam, Sept 6th (Coronation of Wilhelmina)

MovieDocumentary

Queen Wilhelmina arrives to the palace during her coronation.

Director

Review of the Royal Netherland Guards in the Costumes of the Middle Ages (Coronation of Wilhelmina Guard of Honor)

Review of the Royal Netherland Guards in the Costumes of the Middle Ages (Coronation of Wilhelmina Guard of Honor) · 1898

Review of the Royal Netherland Guards in the Costumes of the Middle Ages (Coronation of Wilhelmina Guard of Honor)

MovieDocumentary

Parade of guards during Queen Wilhelminas coronation.

Director

The Royal Procession from the Church after the Ceremony (Coronation of Wilhelmina)

The Royal Procession from the Church after the Ceremony (Coronation of Wilhelmina) · 1898

The Royal Procession from the Church after the Ceremony (Coronation of Wilhelmina)

MovieDocumentary

During Queen Vilhelminas coronation.

Director

Coronation of Queen Wilhelmina of Holland (No. 1)

Coronation of Queen Wilhelmina of Holland (No. 1) · 1898

Coronation of Queen Wilhelmina of Holland (No. 1)

MovieDocumentary

Carriages carrying Queen Wilhelmina arrive in Amsterdam

Director

Caicedo (with Pole)

Caicedo (with Pole) · 1894

Caicedo (with Pole)

MovieDocumentary

King of the slack wire. His daring feats of balancing as he performs his thrilling feats in midair show that he is perfectly at home.

Producer

Dickson Experimental Sound Film

Dickson Experimental Sound Film · 1894

Dickson Experimental Sound Film

William K.L. Dickson plays the violin while two men dance. This is the oldest surviving sound film where sound is recorded on the phonograph.

Director

Carmencita

Carmencita · 1894

MovieDocumentary

The first woman to appear in front of an Edison motion picture camera and possibly the first woman to appear in a motion picture within the United States. In the film, Carmencita is recorded going through a routine she had been performing at Koster & Bial's in New York since February 1890.

Director

Wrestling Match

Wrestling Match · 1894

Wrestling Match

MovieDocumentary

Early short film.

Director

Danse serpentine (Annabelle)

Danse serpentine (Annabelle) · 1895

Danse serpentine (Annabelle)

MovieDocumentary

In a long, diaphanous skirt, held out by her hands with arms extended, Broadway dancer Annabelle Moore performs. Her dance emphasizes the movement of the flowing cloth. She moves to her right and left across an unadorned stage. Many of the prints were distributed in hand-tinted color.

Director

Edison Kinetoscopic Record of a Sneeze

Edison Kinetoscopic Record of a Sneeze · 1894

Edison Kinetoscopic Record of a Sneeze

MovieDocumentary

A man (Thomas Edison's assistant) takes a pinch of snuff and sneezes. This is one of the earliest Thomas Edison films and was the second motion picture to be copyrighted in the United States.

Producer

Buffalo Bill

Buffalo Bill · 1894

MovieWesternDocumentary

The famous army scout in an exhibition of rifle shooting. A fine picture of the principal, and beautiful smoke effects.

Director

Duncan Smoking

Duncan Smoking · 1891

Unfound film from 1891, directed by William K.L. Dickson and William Heise. The film stars James C. Duncan.

Director

Glenroy Brothers (Comic Boxing)

Glenroy Brothers (Comic Boxing) · 1894

Glenroy Brothers (Comic Boxing)

MovieDocumentaryComedy

The Glenroy Brothers perform a portion of their vaudeville act, "The Comic View of Boxing: The Tramp & the Athlete", which depicts a boxer with a classic style trying to contend with an opponent who uses a very unorthodox approach.

Director

Corbett and Courtney Before the Kinetograph

Corbett and Courtney Before the Kinetograph · 1894

Corbett and Courtney Before the Kinetograph

MovieDocumentary

James J. Corbett and Peter Courtney meet in a boxing exhibition.

Director

Chinese Opium Den

Chinese Opium Den · 1894

Chinese Opium Den

Lost film from 1894, directed by William K.L. Dickson.

Director

Rip Meeting the Dwarf

Rip Meeting the Dwarf · 1896

Rip Meeting the Dwarf

Director

Pope Leo XIII Being Seated Bestowing Blessing

Pope Leo XIII Being Seated Bestowing Blessing · 1898

Pope Leo XIII Being Seated Bestowing Blessing

MovieDocumentary

Probably the first video of a Pope: Leo XIII sits in his chair with guards and attendants, then blesses the viewers.

Director

Horse Shoeing

Horse Shoeing · 1893

MovieDocumentaryDrama

One of the pictures to be seen in the machine, for example, was that of a blacksmith shop in which two men were working, one shoeing a horse, the other heating iron at the forge. One would be seen to drive the nail into the shoe of the horse's hoof, to change his position and every movement needed in the work was clearly shown as if the object was in real (life). In fact, the whole routine of the two men's labor and their movements for the day was presented to the view of the observer.

Director

A Watermelon Feast

A Watermelon Feast · 1896

A Watermelon Feast

An African American family eats watermelons.

Director