Thomas Alva Edison's Early Motion-Picture Experiments

Harold G. Bowen

In the year 1887, Thomas Alva Edison conceived the idea of devising an instrument by means of which, used in combination with his phonograph, “all motion and sound would be recorded and reproduced simultaneously.” Historical objects, documents, photographs and prints from early movies have recently been discovered in the archives of the Thomas Alva Edison Foundation and Museum in West Orange, N.J. This paper will reveal for the first time some aspects of the development of motion pictures from an idea in Edison's mind to his contributions to the technological and artistic aspects of the infant industry.

Print ISSN
Published
1955-09
Content type
Original Research
DOI
10.5594/J15629