The Kinetoscope

American Experience | PBS

27 Jan 201503:33

Summary

TLDRIn 1889, Thomas Edison was inspired by French scientist Jules Marais's chrono photography during a visit to Paris. This led Edison to collaborate with George Eastman to develop film with sprocket holes for motion picture technology. Edison and his assistant, William Dixon, created the Kinetoscope, a coin-operated viewing cabinet for short films. The first Kinetoscope parlor opened in Manhattan in 1894, captivating the public with its novel entertainment experience.

Takeaways

🌟 Thomas Edison was inspired by French scientist Jules Marais's chrono photography during his 1889 visit to Paris.
🎥 Edison's innovation was influenced by Marais's method of filming birds using a converted gun to take rapid pictures.
📹 Edison collaborated with George Eastman to develop film with sprocket holes for motion picture technology.
🔧 Edison's motion picture technology required precise machinery to advance and stop the film at high speeds.
🤝 Edison worked closely with his assistant, William Dixon, who was instrumental in the device's optical design.
📽️ Dixon produced the first films for Edison's company, contributing to their extensive catalog.
🏬 The Kinetoscope, a coin-operated people viewing cabinet, was the first motion picture entertainment device.
🚚 The first batch of kinetoscopes was shipped to various locations, including Atlantic City and Chicago, in April 1894.
🌐 The world's first commercial Kinetoscope parlor was set up in a former shoe shop near Herald Square in Manhattan.
👀 The public was highly attracted to the novelty of the Kinetoscope, leading to a successful opening and widespread curiosity.

Q & A

What significant event during Edison's visit to Paris in 1889 inspired his work on motion picture technology?
-Edison was inspired by French scientist Jules Marais's chrono photography, which captured 12 consecutive images per second on a long continuous piece of film.
How did Jules Marais's method of filming birds influence Edison?
-Marais had been filming birds by converting a gun into a camera, allowing him to take rapid pictures by pulling the trigger. This method influenced Edison to experiment with roll film motion picture technology.
What was the technical challenge Edison faced in developing motion picture technology?
-Edison had to develop film that could stop and advance quickly to capture and display images 20-30 times a second, and also be sensitive and durable enough for the process.
Who did Edison collaborate with to develop the film with sprocket holes?
-Edison worked with George Eastman to develop the film with sprocket holes, which was crucial for the advancement of the film in the camera.
What was Edison's contribution to the development of the motion picture camera?
-Edison developed a terrific camera that could advance the film, stop it, and advance it again in a precise manner necessary for motion picture technology.
Who was responsible for the optics of Edison's motion picture device?
-Edison's assistant, William Dixon, who was also a sometime photographer, was largely responsible for the optics of the device.
What was the name of the device that Edison's company used to show short films to the public?
-The device was called a Kinetoscope, a coin-operated people viewing cabinet designed to show short loops of film.
When and where were the first Kinetoscopes shipped to?
-The inaugural batch of kinetoscopes was shipped from West Orange in April 1894 to Atlantic City, Chicago, and a small storefront in Manhattan near Herald Square.
What was the public's initial reaction to the Kinetoscope?
-The public was overwhelmed and attracted to the novelty of the Kinetoscope, leading to a large influx of curiosity seekers and customers.
What did the Kinetoscope parlor in Manhattan, a former shoe shop, become known as?
-It became known as the world's first commercial Kinetoscope parlor, marking a significant milestone in the history of motion picture entertainment.
What was the purpose of the short features produced by the Edison company for the Kinetoscope?
-The short features were meant to be shown one at a time on the Kinetoscope, providing a new form of entertainment to the public.

Outlines

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🎥 Edison's Inspiration and Motion Picture Innovation

Thomas Edison found inspiration for motion picture technology during a visit to Paris in 1889, where he met French scientist Jules Marais. Marais' chrono photography, which captured 12 images per second on a continuous film, influenced Edison to experiment with roll film for motion pictures. Edison faced challenges in creating a film that could withstand rapid advancement and high sensitivity. He collaborated with George Eastman to develop film with sprocket holes and machinery to advance and stop the film. Edison's assistant, William Dixon, contributed to the optics and began producing the first films, which were part of the Edison company's catalog. These films were intended for a coin-operated viewing cabinet called a Kinetoscope. The first Kinetoscope parlor opened in a former shoe shop near Herald Square, Manhattan, in 1894, attracting a curious public with its novel entertainment.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Chrono photography

Chrono photography is a technique that captures multiple images in rapid succession, often used to analyze motion. In the video, Jules Marais used this method to film birds, capturing 12 consecutive images per second on a continuous piece of film. This technique was influential to Edison's development of motion picture technology, as it demonstrated the potential for capturing and analyzing movement through a series of still images.

💡Roll film

Roll film refers to a long strip of photographic film that is wound onto a spool for use in a camera. Edison experimented with roll film to develop motion picture technology, as it was necessary to have a film that could withstand the constant stopping and starting required for capturing moving images. The development of film with sprocket holes by Edison and George Eastman was a significant step in creating a practical film medium for motion pictures.

💡Kinetoscope

The Kinetoscope was an early motion picture exhibition device that allowed individuals to view short loops of film through a peephole viewer. It was Edison's company's first foray into commercializing motion picture technology. The script mentions the Kinetoscope as a coin-operated people viewing cabinet, which was a novel and attractive form of entertainment that drew public curiosity and marked the beginning of commercial motion picture exhibition.

💡George Eastman

George Eastman was an American inventor and founder of the Eastman Kodak Company, known for his contributions to the development of photography and motion picture film. In the video, Edison worked closely with Eastman to develop film with sprocket holes, which was crucial for the advancement of motion picture technology. Eastman's collaboration with Edison exemplifies the importance of collaboration in technological innovation.

💡William Dixon

William Dixon was Edison's assistant and a sometime photographer who played a significant role in the development of the motion picture device. He was largely responsible for the optics of the device, which is a critical aspect of capturing and projecting clear images. Dixon's work on the optics and his production of the first films for Edison's company highlight the multidisciplinary nature of technological advancements in motion pictures.

💡Motion picture technology

Motion picture technology refers to the collection of methods and machinery used to capture, record, and project moving images. Edison's work with roll film, sprocket holes, and the development of a camera that could advance the film in a controlled manner were all part of creating a viable motion picture technology. The script emphasizes the complexity of this technology, requiring precise control over the film's movement to capture and display images at a rate that creates the illusion of motion.

💡Optics

Optics is the branch of physics that studies the behavior and properties of light, including its reflection, refraction, and the use of lenses to manipulate light. In the context of the video, Dixon's work on the optics of the motion picture device was essential for ensuring that the images captured and projected were clear and lifelike. The development of motion picture technology required a deep understanding of optics to create the necessary lenses and mechanisms for projecting images.

💡Sprocket holes

Sprocket holes are the perforations along the edges of film that engage with sprockets in a camera or projector to advance the film frame by frame. Edison's collaboration with Eastman to develop film with sprocket holes was a key innovation in motion picture technology, as it allowed for the precise and consistent movement of film through the camera and projector, which is necessary for capturing and displaying motion.

💡Coin-operated

A coin-operated device is a machine that requires payment, usually in the form of coins, to function. The script mentions that the Kinetoscope was a coin-operated people viewing cabinet, indicating that it was an early example of pay-per-view entertainment. This business model was innovative for its time and contributed to the commercial success of the Kinetoscope, as it allowed for a self-service system that could be used by the public.

💡Inaugural batch

The inaugural batch refers to the first group or set of items produced or released. In the video, the inaugural batch of kinetoscopes shipped to various locations marked the beginning of the commercial distribution of this new entertainment technology. The term signifies the start of a new era in motion picture entertainment and the commercialization of Edison's invention.

Highlights

Edison found inspiration in Paris in 1889 from French scientist Jules Marais's chrono photography.

Marais captured 12 consecutive images per second using a converted gun as a camera.

Edison was influenced to experiment with roll film motion picture technology.

The challenge was creating film that could withstand rapid image capturing.

Edison collaborated with George Eastman to develop film with sprocket holes.

They developed a camera that could advance and stop film at precise intervals.

William Dixon, Edison's assistant, was responsible for the optics of the device.

Dixon began producing the first films for Edison's company.

The Edison company created a catalog of short features for a coin-operated viewing cabinet called a Kinetoscope.

The Kinetoscope was the world's first motion picture entertainment device.

The inaugural batch of kinetoscopes was shipped to various locations in April 1894.

The first commercial Kinetoscope parlor opened in a former shoe shop near Herald Square, Manhattan.

Curiosity seekers were allowed to try the machines before the official opening.

The public was overwhelmed by the novelty of the motion picture technology.

The Kinetoscope parlor became a popular attraction due to the unique experience it offered.