Little Tich and his Big Boot Dance (1900)
Filmed in 1900 and released 1903, this film directed by Clément Maurice, shows the English performer Little Tich performing his famous “Big Boot Dance”….more
Novelty
The Somersault Man (1923)
A short silent clip from a Dutch newsreel showing a man somersaulting through the streets. Housed at: Open Images | From: Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision…more
The Knife-Throwing Mother and her Children (1950s)
The knife-thrower Louella Gallagher throws knives at her daughters Connie Ann, 5, and Colleena Sue, 2.5 yrs old, in Austin, Texas. As the newscaster comments: “…more
WW2 U.S. Soldier Drag Show (1942)
Universal Newsreel showing WW2 soldiers of Fort Slocum in a “Girlie Show” – an all singing, dancing, and cross-dressing version of “Swing Fever”. Accordin…more
Farmer plays a song with ‘hand-farts’ (1933)
Universal Newsreel from 1933 showing Cecil H. Dill, a farmer from Traverse City, Michigan, demonstrating his ability to render popular melodies by pressing his hand…more
Dog Factory (1904)
A rather dark and bizarre Edison short. Two men are operating a ‘dog factory’, using a device that they call a Dog Transformator. A man brings three dogs into t…more
VD is for Everybody (1969)
From the Internet Archive courtesy of the A/V Geeks: “The American Social Health Association was always experimenting with new ways to educate the public about ve…more
Annie Oakley (1894)
Annie Oakley was probably the most famous marksman/woman in the world when this short clip was produced in Edison’s Black Maria studio in West Orange, New Jersey….more
Trapeze Disrobing Act (1901)
A naughty little skit from 1901 filmed by the Edison company. Housed at: Internet Archive | From: Library of Congress Underlying Work: PD Worldwide | Digital Copy: …more
The Unappreciated Joke (1903)
A very short silent comedy from Edison’s studios, directed by Edwin S. Porter Housed at: Internet Archive Underlying Work: PD U.S. & PD 70 years | Digital Copy: N…more