Historic Films Stock Footage Archive: VM-743

00:00:43 0	EPILEPTIC SEIZURE, NOS. 1-9, WALTER G. CHASE (1905). THIS WALTER G. CHASE FILM ABOUT EPILEPTIC SEIZURES WAS PHOTOGRAPHED FROM A SINGLE CAMERA POSITION AGAINST A BACKDROP OF DARK CANVAS. THE PATIENTS WERE PLACED ON THE GROUND IN FRONT OF THE BACKDROP AND THEN THEIR SEIZURES WERE PHOTOGRAPHED. THE SUBJECTS WERE BOTH MALES AND FEMALES OF VARIOUS AGES. PATIENTS ARE SHOWN ENDURING MUSCLE STRICTURES. ACCORDING TO THE MOTION PICTURE WORLD OF MARCH 23, 1907, THIS FOOTAGE, PHOTOGRAPHED AT THE CRAIG COLONY OF EPILEPTICS AT SONYEA, NEW YORK, TOOK TWO MONTHS TO COMPLETE. SOME PATIENTS ARE CLOTHED; OTHERS ARE NAKED.
00:20:15 1172	AN EXECUTION BY HANGING, AM&B (1905) THIS FILM, PHOTOGRAPHED FROM A SINGLE CAMERA POSITION, SHOWS WHAT APPEARS TO BE A PUBLIC EXECUTION OF A WOMAN. THE SET LOOKS LEGITIMATE AND SO DOES THE EXECUTION. HOWEVER, THERE IS SOME STOP ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY BEFORE THE ACTUAL SPRINGING OF THE TRAP. TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE, THE PRODUCER, AM&B, PHOTOGRAPHED TWO FILMS: AN EXECUTION BY HANGING AND REPRIEVE FROM THE SCAFFOLD. MRS. MAY ROGERS, CONVICTED MURDERESS, ACTUALLY WAS GRANTED A REPRIEVE AT THE LAST MOMENT. SEE ALSO: READING THE DEATH SENTENCE AND REPRIEVE FROM THE SCAFFOLD.
00:21:26 1243	EXECUTION OF A SPY, AM&B (1902) THIS SHOWS AN EXECUTION BY GUN FIRE, PHOTOGRAPHED FROM A SINGLE CAMERA POSITION. IN THE PRESENCE OF A PRIEST, AMERICAN ARMY TROOPS IN STANDARD MILITARY POSITION FIRE UPON A MAN WHO IS BOUND AND BLINDFOLDED.
00:22:16 1293	FANCY DIVING, AM&B (1902) THE FILM, PHOTOGRAPHED FROM A SINGLE CAMERA POSITION, SHOWS WHAT APPEARS TO BE A PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL. SEVERAL PERSONS WITH LITTLE OR NO DIVING ABILITY JUMP OFF A THREE-FOOT DIVING BOARD IN A DISORGANIZED FASHION. THE FILM WAS REGISTERED FOR COPYRIGHT WITH THE TITLE "FANCY DRIVING," BUT IT WAS RELEASED AS "FANCY DIVING." TOM BATHHOUSE, NEW YORK CITY.
00:23:16 1353	FATTY & MABEL AT THE SAN DEIGO EXPOSITION, KEYSTONE (1915). A GAY COMEDY THAT BEGINS ON ONE OF THE MAIN STREETS OF SAN DIEGO IN FRONT OF THE U.S. GRANT HOTEL AND CONTINUES AT THE FAIRGROUNDS OF THE SAN DIEGO EXPOSITION. THE FILM SEQUENCES WERE PHOTOGRAPHED IN THE VARIOUS CONCESSIONS OF THE EXPOSITION. ONE OF THE CONCESSIONS SHOWN IS A DEMONSTRATION OF THE RACK AND TANK METHOD OF DEVELOPING MOTION PICTURE FILMS. THERE IS AN INCIDENT INVOLVING THE ROYAL HAWAIIAN DANCERS AT THE HAWAIIAN VILLAGE, AS WELL AS A FIGHT AROUND A LARGE FOUNTAIN ON THE EXPOSITION GROUNDS IN WHICH MABEL NORMAND, ROSCOE ARBUCKLE, MINTA DURFEE, AND SOME POLICEMEN ALL TAKE PART.
00:38:37 2274	FILIPINOS RETREAT FROM TRENCHES, EDISON (1899) [SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR] THE CAMERAMAN PLACED HIS EQUIPMENT TO CONVEY THE IMPRESSION OF A TRENCH IN A JUNGLE. MANY FILIPINO INFANTRY TROOPS ARE FIRING AT THE AMERICANS. AS THE FILM PROGRESSES, THERE IS A VOLLEY FROM RIFLES OFF CAMERA CAUSING A GREAT DEAL OF SMOKE. THE MEN IN THE TRENCHES ADJACENT TO THE CAMERA FALL DOWN AS IF WOUNDED OR DEAD. AT THE END OF THE FILM, THE TRENCH IS OVERRUN WITH AMERICAN TROOPS CARRYING A FLAG.
00:40:13 2370	FIRE & FLAMES AT LUNA PARK, CONEY ISLAND, EDISON (1904) IN ORDER TO PHOTOGRAPH THIS FILM, THE CAMERA WAS PLACED FAR ENOUGH BACK FROM THE SCENE AND HIGH ENOUGH FROM THE GROUND TO ALLOW THE LENSES TO PICK UP THE SCENES OF THE ARRIVAL OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT PIECES OF FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT, SUCH AS HOOK-AND-LADDER WAGONS, PUMPERS, PERSONNEL CARTS, HOSE CARTS, ETC. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ACTION, A SIMULATED FIRE IN A FIVE STORY BUILDING CONSTRUCTED AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION IN AN AMUSEMENT PARK, THE CAMERA PHOTOGRAPHED THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRE ENGINES. THE FILM RECORDS A DEMONSTRATION OF EVERY FORM OF FIRE APPARATUS KNOWN AT THE TIME, AND INCLUDES PEOPLE JUMPING FROM THE BUILDING INTO RESCUE NETS. AS THE FILM ENDS, A CURTAIN IS DRAWN TO OBSURE THE ACTION FROM THE SPECTATORS AND THE CAMERA.
00:43:21 2558	A FIRE IN A BURLESQUE THEATRE, AM&B (1904) THIS WAS PHOTOGRAPHED AS IF FROM THE AUDIENCE AT A VAUDEVILLE HOUSE. THE FIRST SCENE SHOWS A CONSTRUCTED FLAT DEPICTING THE BACK OR ALLEY SIDE OF A BURLESQUE THEATER. THERE IS A DOOR ON EITHER SIDE OF WHICH IS A POSTER ADVERTISING THE BURLESQUE SHOW. SMOKE CAN BE SEEN ISSUING FROM THE DOOR. TWO MEN DRESSED IN FIREMEN'S UNIFORMS AND CARRYING LADDERS RUSH FROM THE WINGS TO ONE OF THE WINDOWS WHERE SEVERAL SCANTILY CLAD WOMEN CAN BE SEEN .THE REMAINDER OF THE FILM CONCERNS ITSELF WITH THE WOMEN CLIMBING DOWN THE LADDER AND RUNNING OFF STAGE.
00:44:11 2608	FIRING BY SQUAD, GATLING GUN, EDISON (1897) THIS FILM IS OF A MILITARY DEMONSTRATION. THE GATLING GUN CREW APPEAR AND FIRE BY SQUAD TO DEMONSTRATE THE FIRING POWER OF AN EIGHT-MAN SQUAD. SMOKELESS POWDER WAS NOT YET BEING USED. SEE ALSO: GATLING GUN CREW IN ACTION AND MOUNT AND DISMOUNT, GATLING GUN.
00:45:10 2667	FLOOD SCENE IN PATERSON, N.J., EDISON (1903) THE CAMERA POSITION COVERS A FLOOD IN A BUSINESS DISTRICT. MANY PEOPLE AND HORSE-DRAWN VEHICLES CAN BE SEEN PASSING THE CAMERA.
00:47:04 2781	FROM SHOW GIRL TO BURLESQUE QUEEN, AM&B (1903) A YOUNG WOMAN IS STANDING NEXT TO SOME SCREENS, EITHER BEHIND OR IN THE WINGS OF A STAGE OR A DRESSING ROOM ON A STAGE. SHE BEGINS TO REMOVE HER CLOTHING - FIRST THE DRESS, THEN A SLIP, ANOTHER SLIP AND ANOTHER - DOWN TO HER FOURTH PETTICOAT. WITH A VERY FETCHING SMILE, SHE GOES BEHIND A SCREEN. SEVERAL OTHER ARTICLES OF CLOTHING FALL TO THE FLOOR, HAVING BEEN TOSSED OVER THE SCREEN. IN THE LAST SCENE, THE YOUNG WOMAN EMERGES. SHE IS HALF-CLOTHED BUT IS WEARING LONG STOCKINGS. THE DRESSING ROOM DOOR OPENS AND A MAN IN A BAND COSTUME LOOKS APPROVINGLY AT WHAT HE SEES.
00:48:17 2854	THE GERRY SOCIETY'S MISTAKE, AM&B (1903) FOUR YOUNG WOMEN ARE SITTING AT MAKE-UP TABLES IN A BACKSTAGE DRESSING ROOM. THEY ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF UNDRESS AND ARE EVIDENTLY PREPARING TO PERFORM. ONE OF THE YOUNG LADIES RISES, TIGHTENS HER DANCING SHOES, AND PERFORMS SOME PIROUETTES. WHILE SHE IS DANCING, THE DOOR OPENS AND A POLICEMAN IN UNIFORM AND TWO MEN IN STREET CLOTHES COME IN AND ATTEMPT TO ARREST THE WOMEN FOR INDECENT CONDUCT. THE GIRLS PLEAD WITH THE POLICEMAN, AND FINALLY REMOVE THEIR JEWELRY, TAKE MORE OUT OF TRUNKS, AND GIVE IT ALL TO HIM AND PUSH THE MAN OUT OF THE DOOR. AS THE FILM ENDS, THE WOMEN ARE EXPRESSING THEIR JUBILATION AT THEIR TRIUMPH OVER THE LAW. THE GERRY SOCIETY WAS A GROUP THAT TRIED TO KEEP CHILDREN UNDER SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE OFF THE STAGE.
00:49:16 2913	GIRLS DANCING CAN-CAN, AM&B (1902) EIGHT WOMEN, FOUR DRESSED IN FULL-LENGTH SKIRTS AND FOUR IN BLOOMERS AND BOOTS, GO THROUGH AN ORGANIZED DANCE ROUTINE IN FRONT OF A PAINTED BACKDROP ON THE STAGE. SEE ALSO: GIRLS PLAYING SEE-SAW AND GIRLS SWINGING.
00:49:50 2947	THE "GLEN ISLAND" ACCOMPANYING PARADE, EDISON (1898) [SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR; HUDSON RIVER, NEW YORK CITY WELCOME TO ADMIRAL SAMPSON'S FLEET AFTER THE BATTLE OF SANTIAGO BAY] PHOTOGRAPHED FROM A SINGLE CAMERA POSITION LOCATED ON A PIER, A LARGE PADDLE WHEEL EXCURSION SHIP CAN BE SEEN PASSING THE CAMERA. THE SHIP WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF A WELCOMING COMMITTEE FOR ADMIRAL SAMPSON. THE FILM ONLY SHOWS THE PASSENGER SHIP AS IT GOES BY.
00:51:15 3032	GOING TO THE HUNT, MEADOWBROOK, AM&B (1902) THE SUBJECT IS A FOX HUNT. THE CAMERA TAKES IN THE CLUB HOUSE AND STABLES. AS THE FILM PROGRESSES, APPROXIMATELY TWENTY HORSEBACK RIDERS ACCOMPANIED BY A GROUP OF DOGS CAN BE SEEN THROUGH THE ARCHWAY OF ONE OF THE BUILDINGS. THESE HORSE-DRAWN, FOUR-WHEELED VEHICLES FILLED WITH PASSENGERS CAN ALSO BE SEEN AT THE END OF THE FILM. SEE ALSO: THE MEADOWBROOK HUNT CLUB, LONG ISLAND.
00:52:11 3088	GOO GOO EYES, EDISON (1903) THE PICTURE BEGINS WITH A TIGHT HEAD CLOSE-UP OF A MAN MADE UP TO RESEMBLE AN UGLY WOMAN. THROUGHOUT THE FILM, THE MAN COSTUMED AS A WOMAN GRIMACES AND CONTORTS HIS FACE CONTINUALLY. HE CONVEYS THE IMPRESSION OF A RAPIDLY TALKING WOMAN WHO IS ATTEMPTING TO DESCRIBE AN INCIDENT. IN ORDER TO BETTER ILLUSTRATE THE STORY, HE CROSSES HIS EYES AND TWISTS HIS MOUTH UNTIL THE FILM ENDS. UGLY WOMAN!
00:53:26 3163	GOVERNOR ROOSEVELT AND STAFF, AM&B (1902) A PARADE LED BY TEDDY ROOSEVELT WAS PHOTOGRAPHED FROM A SINGLE CAMERA POSITION, AND GOVERNOR ROOSEVELT CAN BE SEEN ONLY IN THE FIRST FEW FEET OF FILM. THE REMAINDER SHOWS HIS STAFF AND MILITARY ESCORT. DEWEY HOMECOMING, NEW YORK.
00:54:56 3253	THE GREAT BALTIMORE FIRE, AM&B (1904) THE CAMERA PANS FOR APPROXIMATELY 360 DEGREES TO SHOW THE RUINS OF THE CITY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AFTER THE GREAT FIRE OF 1904. THERE ARE GOOD SCENES OF OLD FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT, FIREMEN IN ACTION, AND THE CHARRED RUINS OF A CITY. BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.
00:57:39 3416	THE GREAT FIRE RUINS, CONEY ISLAND, EDISON (1903) IN ORDER TO PHOTOGRAPH THE CATASTROPHE, THE CAMERAMAN PLACED HIS CAMERA IN SEVERAL POSITIONS THROUGHOUT THE DEVASTATED AREA. THE OPENING SCENES, AS THE CAMERA PANS, SHOW THE REMAINS OF A NUMBER OF BUILDINGS DESTROYED BY FIRE AND WORKMEN WRECKING THE DANGEROUS STANDING WALLS. OTHER CAMERA POSITIONS SHOW CLOSER VIEWS OF FIRES STILL BURNING BECAUSE OF SHORTED POWER LINES, DEMOLITION OF BRICK WALLS LEFT STANDING, ETC.