Wildly famous after inventing the phonograph and electric light, Thomas Alva Edison-along with his brilliant assistant William Dickson-set his sights on another hotly contested prize: a "phonograph" that would capture and play back moving images. The eventual result-the kinetoscope-was the forerunner of modern movies, and another triumph for the "Wizard of Menlo Park." But while Edison was the driving force behind the motion picture, it took a great collaborative effort to create the technology. Did Edison claim too much credit? This remarkable program tells the complete story of the origin of motion pictures. Rare early films from the Edison Studios, new research and archival photographs bring this extraordinary story to life.

The Motion Picture

Vocabulary

• posterity
• visionary
• physiological
• collaborative
• vignettes
• sequential
• magnate
• intrigued
• innovations
• obsession
• elusive
• avid
• conceive
• synchronize
• synthesize
• caveat

Discussion Questions

1. Thomas Edison was perhaps the most famous man in the world during his lifetime. His inventions revolutionized the world, and he became synonymous with American ingenuity. But fame and fortune have their price. What was the price paid by Edison's family for his fame and fortune?
2. Thomas Edison was a man of his time, meaning that he was born at the right place and at the right time. How did Edison's era create the opportunity for Edison and his skill and inventions to succeed?
3. Thomas Edison was a man who lived his life working on the cutting edge of technology. How would Edison react to the advancements in technology since his death? What do you think his reaction would be to inventions such as the computer and the Internet?
4. How was Thomas Edison a businessman as much as an inventor? What did he have in common with the big business men of the late 19th and early 20th centuries?
5. Thomas Edison was known as "the Wizard of Menlo Park." What modern day "wizard" could you compare with Thomas Edison? Who might be the "Thomas Edison" of today?
6. While many of Thomas Edison's inventions revolutionized the way America and the world lived, some of his inventions were just too far ahead of their time to be successful. In what ways was Thomas Edison ahead of his time? Which of his inventions were just too futuristic for his era?
7. How is Thomas Edison an American icon?
8. Did Edison take too much credit for the work done by his collaboration with William Dickson?
9. How have motion pictures influenced life and history in the twentieth century?

Extended Activities

1. Using Daniel Roget's theory of persistence of vision, create a motion picture of your own by drawing a sequence of illustrations. Staple these drawing together at the bottom, and then rapidly flip through them.
2. Imagine that you are a reporter and you are present at the 1894 world premiere of the first commercial motion picture. Write a column for your readers that would convey the novelty and excitement of the debut of motion pictures.