William K.L. Dickson

Watched by crowds, Sir Redvers Buller, Lady Buller, the Mayor of Southampton and others walk along the gangway leading to the ship towards the camera. Sir Redvers pauses to be introduced to one of the ship's officers before embarking. According to BFI programme notes, the filmmaker William K.L. Dickson can be seen bottom left, attempting to introduce himself to General Buller as he passes. Film companies were in competition to film reportage of the Boer War and Dickson was one of those filmmakers keen to do so.

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A folk dance staged in the ruins of Pompeii. With the Arch of Tiberius in the near distance and Arch of Caligula in far distance. A troop of soldiers, or possibly more performers, march past. W K L Dickson who is directing the action can apparently be seen on far right of picture.

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A British Mutoscope & Biograph production.

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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.

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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.

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William K.L. Dickson and William Heise shake hands in this early experimental film.

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William K.L. Dickson brings his hat from his one hand to the other and moves his head slightly, as a small nod toward the audience. This was the first film produced by the Edison Manufacturing Company to be shown to public audiences and the press.

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A camera sits on top of a moving train, providing a panoramic view of Ealing (western London) as the train moves.

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Scene from the second act of The Prince of Wales Theatre production.

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Ambulances and British troops crossing the Tugela River over the pontoon bridge near Trichardt's Drift, during the British retreat from Spion Kop in the Boer War, 25 January 1900.

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Recovering from a severe illness (likely typhoid), W.K.L. Dickson received word from London that the audience's enthusiasm for the military was lessening. He sent back this celebration of the expanding empire in response, capturing the annexation ceremony of 28 May 1900. "Thanks to the Biograph, which faithfully recorded this magnificent scene," Dickson later wrote, "the people of the world who were not as fortunate as those present will see what it saw, and doubtless sing 'God Save The Queen'".

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Single shot of a column of Gordon Highlanders marching out of their camp at Ladysmith to meet General Buller's relief column.

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Naval ratings pulling along naval guns during the Boer War.

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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.

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British officers (Royal Engineers) supervising repair work on a bridge at Frere, spanning the Blaauw Krantz River, South Africa, during the Boer War.

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"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."

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[DUPLICATE of the other 'Panoramic View of Frere Camp']

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

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"A magnificent picture of the launching of the 'Oceanic,' which up to that time was the largest vessel ever floated. The view is taken from a pier out over the water; the vessel coming stern on towards the camera and passing it by. A tremendous wave is thrown among the spectators crowded at the side of the pier, and the great excitement prevailing is very evident in the picture." (Belfast)

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Signalling from a British trench during the Boer war.

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

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Showing the tapping of the furnace, and the running of the molten metal into the moulds at Elswick yard.

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"The Worthing Station is some distance from the shore, and whenever there is a wreck the life-boat is dragged to the scene on a huge truck drawn by eight horses. Our picture shows the life-boat responding to an alarm. The horses start out from the station at a gallop, and the members of the crew run beside the boat. This negative is unusually fine photographically."

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"Many spectators who have viewed this picture on the Biograph have insisted that they have experienced the pangs of seasickness. The picture was taken from the deck of one tug which was tumbling and tossing in the immense rollers, while the tug that was being photographed was similarly affected. At times the billows break over the bow of the tiny craft and almost bury it from sight in the spray. One of the biggest hits of the Biograph."

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A sweet little girl is seated in the bow of a life-boat feeding crackers to a magnificent St. Bernard dog, while a tabby cat dozes and blinks at her side.

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A folk dance staged in the ruins of Pompeii. With the Arch of Tiberius in the near distance and Arch of Caligula in far distance. A troop of soldiers, or possibly more performers, march past. W K L Dickson who is directing the action can apparently be seen on far right of picture.

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"This picture was taken from the front of a rapidly moving launch through one of the most beautiful stretches of the Grand Canal, showing many magnificent historical palaces. The photographic work is unusually fine."

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

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Pelicans being released for feeding into their enclosure at London Zoological Gardens.

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

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Several members of European Royalty, including the Duke and Duchess of York, and Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, seated round a tea-table in the grounds of Clarence House.

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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 variety of patterns. Each print consists of Annabelle's serpentine dance from 1894-1897.

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“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 Secretary, who hands him a telegram, which he reads with apparent satisfaction. The characteristic walk and gestures of Mr. McKinley will be noted with interest by his friends.” (AMB Picture Catalogue)

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

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Former lightweight boxer Billy Edwards, now a trainer and writer of the sport, takes on a challenger named Warwick in an exhibition match. The match is scheduled for five rounds of 20 seconds each. A large crowd has gathered behind the ring to watch the fight.

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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.

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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.

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"A glove contest between trained cats. A very comical and amusing subject, and is sure to create a great laugh." (by Edison Films)

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

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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.

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An athlete demonstrating various poses.

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Two gamecocks are fighting inside a wire cage, while two spectators look on in the background. The two men agree to make a bet on the outcome. One of them shows his money to the other, who is commenting on the fight.

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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.

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