Thomas Edison's Black Maria Movie Studio, West Orange, New Jersey, circa 1894
Add to SetSummary
Thomas Edison constructed the world's first film production studio behind his West Orange, New Jersey, laboratory in 1893. The Black Maria -- a slang term for the prisoner transport vans the building resembled -- was covered with tar paper, had a removable roof, and rotated on a track to capture sunlight. Here, lab assistants filmed short movies for Edison's Kinetoscope motion picture viewer.
Thomas Edison constructed the world's first film production studio behind his West Orange, New Jersey, laboratory in 1893. The Black Maria -- a slang term for the prisoner transport vans the building resembled -- was covered with tar paper, had a removable roof, and rotated on a track to capture sunlight. Here, lab assistants filmed short movies for Edison's Kinetoscope motion picture viewer.
Artifact
Photographic print
Subject Date
circa 1894
Creators
Unknown
Keywords
United States, New Jersey, West Orange
Motion pictures (Visual works)
Edison, Thomas A. (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931
Collection Title
On Exhibit
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Object ID
84.1.1630.P.188.5616
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Paper (Fiber product)
Linen (Material)
Technique
Gelatin silver process
Color
Black-and-white (Colors)
Dimensions
Height: 7.5 in
Width: 11 in
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