1896 in film

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The following is an overview of the events of 1896 in film, including a list of films released and notable births.

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Events[]

Ad for Vitascope Hall, New Orleans, offering "an entirely new series of pictures".
  • January – In the United States, the Vitascope film projector is designed by Charles Francis Jenkins and Thomas Armat. Armat begins working with Thomas Edison to manufacture it.
  • January 14 – Birt Acres demonstrates his film projector, the Kineopticon, the first in Britain, to the Royal Photographic Society at the Queen's Hall in London. This is the first film show to an audience in the U.K.[1]
  • February 20 – In London:[2]
    • Robert W. Paul demonstrates his film projector, the Theatrograph (later known as the Animatograph), at the Alhambra Theatre.
    • The Lumière Brothers first project their films in Britain, at the Empire Theatre of Varieties, Leicester Square.
  • April – Edison and Armat's Vitascope is used to project motion pictures in public screenings in New York City.
  • May 14 – Tsar Nicholas II of Russia is crowned in Moscow, the first coronation ever recorded in film.
  • July 11 – First films screened in Venezuela by Luis Manuel Méndez and Manuel Trujillo Durán at the Baralt Theatre in Maracaibo.[3]
  • July 26 – "Vitascope Hall" opens on Canal Street, New Orleans, the first business devoted exclusively to showing motion pictures at a fixed location [1]
  • September 28 – The Pathé Frères film company is founded.
  • October 19 – "Edisonia Hall" in Buffalo, New York, the first building constructed specifically for showing motion pictures. [2]
  • November 3 - Marius Sestier films the Melbourne Cup, a major sporting event in Australia.
  • In France, magician and filmmaker Georges Méliès begins experimenting with the new motion picture technology, developing early special effect techniques, including stop motion. Films that year included The Devil's Castle, A Nightmare, A Terrible Night.[4]
  • William Selig founds the Selig Polyscope Company in Chicago.
  • Demeny-Gaumont work on a 60 mm format, first known as Biographe (unperforated), then Chronophotographe (perforated).
  • Casimir Sivan and E. Dalphin create a 38 mm format.

Notable films released in 1896[]

Alexandre Promio[]

The pioneer filmmaker, Alice Guy, debuted this year.

Alice Guy-Blaché[]

  • The Cabbage Fairy
  • Le chapeau de Tabarin
  • Le clubmen
  • Les concierges
  • Les démolisseurs
  • Chez le barbier

Birt Acres[]

Maybe a surviving print of the film Arrival of a Train at Vincennes Station.
Screenshot of A Nightmare.

Gabriel Veyre[]

  • Carga de rurales, a Mexican short black-and-white silent documentary film.
  • Un duelo a pistola en el bosque de Chapultepec (Duel au pistolet).

Georges Méliès[]

For all films directed by Méliès in 1896, see Georges Méliès filmography § 1896.

Louis Lumière[]

Contrary to myth, Arrival Of A Train At La Ciotat it was not shown at the Lumières' first public film screening on 28 December 1895 in Paris, France: the programme of ten films shown that day makes no mention of it. Its first public showing took place in January 1896.

M.H. Laddé[]

Robert W. Paul[]

William Heise[]

The first kiss ever on film is in 1896 involving the great Canadian star May Irwin and John C. Rice.
  • Feeding The Doves
  • The Kiss, starring May Irwin and John Rice. First kiss on film. May be considered the first romantic film.

William K.L. Dickson[]

  • Dancing Darkies, an American, short, black-and-white, silent documentary film.

Others[]

Births[]

Lilyan Tashman was an American vaudeville, Broadway, and film actress.
  • January 20
  • April 8 – Einar Juhl, Danish actor (died 1982)
  • April 26 – Ruut Tarmo, Estonian actor (died 1967)
  • May 16 – Gilda Langer, German actress (died 1920)
  • June 28 – Constance Binney, American actress, singer, dancer (died 1989)
  • July 16 – Evelyn Preer, American actress, singer (died 1932)
  • July 25 – Jack Perrin, American actor (died 1967)
  • August 14 – Theodor Luts, Estonian film director, cinematographer (died 1980)
  • August 18 – Jack Pickford, Canadian-born American actor (died 1933)
  • August 30 – Raymond Massey, Canadian-born American actor (died 1983)
  • October 1 – Abraham Sofaer, American actor (died 1988)
  • October 6 – David Howard, American film director (died 1941)
  • October 23 – Lilyan Tashman, American actress (died 1934)
  • October 30 – Rex Cherryman, American actor (died 1928)
  • November 16 – Lawrence Tibbett, American actor, singer and radio personality (died 1960)
  • December 10 – Torsten Bergström, Swedish actor and director (died 1948)

Debut[]

  • Alice Guy as a director in Les démolisseurs
  • May Irwin as an actress in The Kiss (1 April)
  • John C. Rice as an actor in The Kiss (1 April)
  • Cissy Fitzgerald as an actress in 50 feet of actuality film of Fitzgerald by Edison; presumably elements from the 1894 play The Gaiety Girl
  • Robert B. Mantell as an actor in Select Scenes from 'Monbars'

External links[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Birt Acres". EarlyCinema.com. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
  2. ^ Mast, Gerald; Kawin, Bruce F., eds. (2007). "Birth". A Short History of the Movies (abridged 9th ed.). Pearson Education. ISBN 9780321418210.
  3. ^ "Zulia Monuments: Teatro Baralt". Institutional Assets and Monuments of Venezuela (in Spanish). 2016-08-04. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  4. ^ Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era. Midnight Marquee Press. p. 14. ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.
  5. ^ Malthête, Jacques; Mannoni, Laurent (2008), L'oeuvre de Georges Méliès, Paris: Éditions de La Martinière, p. 337, ISBN 9782732437323
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