William K.L. Dickson Movies

The first movie audiences took particular delight in scenes of rushing, churning water. These scenes of Niagara Falls were taken in September 1896,...

“This view was taken upon Mr. McKinley's lawn at his home in Canton, Ohio. Mr. McKinley appears walking across the lawn in company with his...

"A well-known character, in a dance that created considerable excitement when first introduced in America."

A series of short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson which chronicle the adventures of Rip Van Winkle.

A scene from Charles Hoyt's 'A Milk White Flag': A brass band marches out, led by bandmaster Steele Ayers. When Ayers reaches his position, he turns...

Two boxers miss their punches - until they don't.

Annabelle (Whitford) Moore performs one of her popular dances. For this performance, her costume has a pair of wings attached to her back, to suggest...

Eugen Sandow, who claims to be the strongest man in the world, appears in the Edison Company's film studio.

Annabelle (Whitford) Moore performs her popular serpentine dance routine. She twirls around, and as she does so, she uses her long skirts to create a...

In a long, diaphanous skirt, held out by her hands with arms extended, Broadway dancer Annabelle Moore performs. Her dance emphasizes the movement of...

Experimental film made to test the original cylinder format of the Kinetoscope and believed to be the first film shot in the United States. It shows...

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.

From Edison films catalog: One of the most peculiar customs of the Sioux Tribe is here shown, the dancers being genuine Sioux Indians, in full war...

Annabelle Dances in William K.L. Dickson's 1894 short film

This scene of an African-American woman vigorously scrubbing a black baby was immensely popular with early audiences, and was featured on...

Thomas Edison's machinist, Fred Ott, holds a bird in his hand.

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.

A charming representation of the Mikado dance by three beautiful Japanese ladies in full costume. Very effective when colored.