History of the Kinetograph, Kinetoscope, and Kinetophonograph facts for kids
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| Author |
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|---|---|
| Illustrator | William Kennedy Dickson |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | History |
| Published | 1895 |
| Publisher | Museum of Modern Art |
| Pages | 55 |
| OCLC | 82046841 |
History of the Kinetograph, Kinetoscope, and Kinetophonograph is a book written by siblings William Kennedy Dickson and Antonia Dickson about the history of film. The brother Dickson wrote from his experiences working for Thomas Edison at his "Black Maria" studio in West Orange, New Jersey; Edison himself prefaced the book. Emphasis is placed on the eponymous devices: the kinetograph, the kinetoscope, and the kinetophonograph. Dickson helped to develop these devices, which facilitate the capturing and exhibition of motion pictures.
Considered the first book of history on the subject of film, it was published in 1895 as a monograph. The Museum of Modern Art acquired the book in 1940 and later reprinted it in 1970 and 2000. The book has been received positively by literary critics and film scholars, who saw it as a valuable primary source and early look at the film industry.
Conception and contents
History of the Kinetograph, Kinetoscope, and Kinetophonograph is a collection of essays on the history of film, written by the motion picture pioneer William Kennedy Dickson and his sister, science writer Antonia Dickson. The Dicksons had lived in England before moving to the United States in 1879. In 1883, at age 23, the brother Dickson earned the employment of Thomas Edison at his Machine Works company in New York City. In 1888, Edison commissioned Dickson for the development of what would become the kinetoscope, an early means of playing back motion picture film. Dickson moved later to Edison's "Black Maria" film production studio in West Orange, New Jersey; the bulk of History recounts his experiences working at this studio.
The 55-page monograph contains 54 illustrations rendered by William. The mechanics of primordial motion picture cameras and exhibition are explained, with eponymous emphasis given to the kinetograph, the kinetoscope, and the kinetophonograph. Dickson worked with Edison on the development of these devices, which respectively capture pictures on film, play films back, and combine picture with sound. Antonia and William give credit to the other architects of film and their works, as well as the performers and subjects who star in those works. A preface penned by Edison appears at the book's start.
