William K.L. Dickson Movie Trailers

Pope Leo XIII Resting on His Way to His Summer Villa Trailer (1898)

01 June 1898

The pope resting.

Rats and Terrier No. 3 Trailer (1894)

01 September 1894

Sequel to Rats and Terrier No. 2

Monkeyshines, No. 2 Trailer (1890)

21 November 1890

Experimental film that follows up on the results of "Monkeyshines, No. 1". Once again, an Edison company worker moves around in front of the motion picture camera.

Annie Oakley Trailer (1894)

01 November 1894

A short Edison Black Maria studio film featuring famed sharpshooter Annie Oakley, known as “Little Sure Shot.

Pope Leo XIII Walking at Twilight, No. 1 Trailer (1898)

01 June 1898

The pope taking a twilight walk.

Pope Leo XIII Leaving Carriage and Being Ushered Into Garden, No. 104 Trailer (1898)

01 December 1898

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

Fire Rescue Scene Trailer (1894)

01 December 1894

"Firemen in working uniform, rubber coats, helmets, and boots. Thrilling rescue from burning building.

Dance Trailer (1894)

01 December 1894

A lively, eccentric dance by Frank Lawton, Etta Williamson and Rosa France of Charles Hoyt's "Milk White Flag".

Lasso Thrower Trailer (1894)

06 October 1894

Champion Lasso Thrower Vicente Oropeza (aka. Vincente Ore Passo/Bisento Orapeso/Vincenti Orapazza) shows his skills.

Repairing the Broken Bridge at Frere Trailer (1899)

01 December 1899

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

Annabelle in Flag Dance Trailer (1896)

01 January 1896

Sandow and Peerless Annabelle were the first performers filmed by the new American Mutoscope Co. Annabelle reprised her Butterfly Dance and several others, among them this example of American patriotism.

Cock Fight, No. 2 Trailer (1894)

15 January 1894

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.

Carmencita Trailer (1894)

14 March 1894

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.

The Barber Shop Trailer (1894)

01 January 1894

“Interior of Barber Shop. Man comes in, takes off his coat; sits down, smokes; is handed a paper by attendant, who points out a joke; both laugh.

Indian War Council Trailer (1894)

01 December 1894

This 1894 film depicts a staged “war council” featuring a group of Sioux men in traditional dress, seated in deliberation as Buffalo Bill Cody addresses them.

Hard Wash Trailer (1896)

01 June 1896

This scene of an African-American woman vigorously scrubbing a black baby was immensely popular with early audiences, and was featured on Biograph’s programs in London and Paris, as well as various locations in the U.

Buffalo Dance Trailer (1894)

23 September 1894

Long before Hollywood started painting white men red and dressing them as 'Injuns' Edison's company was using the genuine article! Featuring for what is believed to be the Native Americans first appearance before a motion picture camera 'Buffalo Dance' features genuine members of the Sioux Tribe dressed in full war paint and costume! The dancers are believed to be veteran members of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.

A West Indian Woman Bathing a Baby Trailer (1895)

02 January 1895

Directed by W.K.L Dickson.

Charge of the French Cuirassiers – Paris Trailer (1897)

08 September 1897

After launching production in London Dickson traveled to the Continent; the first stop was Paris, where this restaging of a familiar Lumière subject was made.

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

06 September 1898

During Queen Vilhelminas coronation.

Bath Scene Trailer (1897)

28 January 1897

"This view was made at the Scheveningen Baths. It shows a number of bathers enjoying themselves in the surf.

Highland Dance Trailer (1894)

01 April 1894

Early Edison film.

Capuchin Monks in Vatican City Trailer (1898)

01 May 1898

A group of monks in procession carrying a large crucifix in Vatican City, 1898.

The Cock Fight Trailer (1894)

01 January 1894

Two gamecocks fight in the Edison Company film studio. This feature was remade later in the same year, with additional detail added.

Rip Van Winkle Trailer (1896)

01 August 1896

An abridged version of the tale of Rip Van Winkle, a lazy American man, who wanders off one day with his dog Wolf into the Kaatskill mountains where he runs into an odd group of small men drinking and playing.

A Bar Room Scene Trailer (1894)

01 May 1894

"Showing the wind-up of a political discussion. Dramatis personae: A Democrat, a Republican, a Bar Maid, and a Policeman.

A Blast at the Solvay Quarries Trailer (1898)

01 January 1898

Miners at the Solvay Quarries leave their drilling machine to flee from a planned blast in the rock face.

Mr. Hurry-up Trailer (1907)

08 February 1907

Mr. Hurry-Up gets dressed in a rush, and then races down to breakfast. After a few quick bites and a couple gulps of coffee, he races out the door and heads to work.

Rudge-Whitworth – Britain’s Best Bicycle Trailer (1902)

27 May 1902

This advertisement shows a happy woman with her bicycle. A man rides up, sweaty from exertion, for his bike is much heavier than the woman's superior Rudge and Whitworth bicycle.

A Camp of Zingaree Gypsies Trailer (1897)

01 January 1897

Roma families eat, drink, dance, and play

Neapolitan Dance at the Ancient Forum of Pompeii Trailer (1898)

02 January 1898

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.

Tapping a Blast Furnace Trailer (1899)

01 January 1899

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

Fred Ott Holding a Bird Trailer (1894)

01 January 1894

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

Panoramic View of Frere Camp Taken from the Front of an Armoured Train, November 29th, 1899 Trailer (1899)

01 January 1899

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

Dancing Darkies Trailer (1896)

02 January 1896

"A company of little darkies showing off their paces to the music of the banjo."

Robetta and Doretto, No. 1 Trailer (1895)

16 May 1895

Scene represents section of the interior of a Chinese Opium Den.

Military Exercise - Aldershot Trailer (1898)

18 February 1898

Military subjects were consistent crowd-pleasers, and this film showing a near fatal accident was especially popular.

Corbett and Courtney Before the Kinetograph Trailer (1894)

17 November 1894

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

Sioux Ghost Dance Trailer (1894)

23 September 1894

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 paint and war costumes.