Welcome to the recreation of Thomas Edison’s “Black Maria”, the world’s first motion picture studio.
Edison and his associates designed the unusual building you see above. It reminded folks of police paddy wagons known as “Black Marias,” so the studio took on that nickname. In it, Edison‘s team made films with a light-hungry, immovable Kinteograph camera. They papered the walls with tar paper to cut distracting reflections and built an unusual roof that they could open to let in light to expose their film. The whole building stood on a circular track, so that the crew could turn it to follow the sun throughout the day. What was the cost of this, the world’s first motion picture studio? $638.
Click here to view the earliest copyrighted film entitled "Fred Ott's Sneeze." It was recorded in the Black Maria on January 7, 1894. It depicts Fred Ott, an employee of Edison, as he sneezes for the camera.
Click here to view Thomas Edison’s 1,093 patent applications.