Pan-American Exposition by Night
Also known as [Night Panoramic View of Electric Tower and Temple of Music]
(1901) United States of America
B&W : 75 feet
Directed by [?] Edwin S. Porter and/or A. White or James H. White?
Cast: [no cast].
Edison Manufacturing Company production; distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company. / Cinematography by Edwin S. Porter and [?] A. White or James H. White? / © 17 October 1901 by Thomas A. Edison [H9784]. Released 19 October 1901. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The production was shot at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Edison telegraphic orders code name: Unhagata.
Documentary: Actuality.
Synopsis: [From Edison promotional materials] PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION BY NIGHT. Unhagata. A great feature of the Pan-American Exposition, as unanimously conceded by all visitors, was the electric illumination of the Exposition grounds at night. After a great deal of experimenting and patience, we succeeded in securing an excellent picture of the buildings at the Pan-American as they appeared when lighted up at night. All the buildings from the Temple of Music to the Electric Tower are shown, including the Electric Tower itself. The emotional and sensational effects were also secured by starting the panoramic view by daylight and revolving the camera until the Electric Tower forms the center of the field of the lens. Our camera was then stopped and the position held until night, when we photographed the coming up of the lights, an event which was deemed by all to be a great emotional climax at the Pan-American Exposition. Immediately the lights are burning to their fullest brilliancy, the camera is again set in motion and revolved until the Temple of Music is reached. The motion is then reversed and the camera goes back until it rests on the Electric Tower, thus supplying the climax to the picture. The great searchlights of the Tower are being worked during the entire time the picture is being exposed, and the effect is startling. The picture is pronounced by the photographic profession to be a marvel in photography, and by theatrical people to be the greatest winner in panoramic views ever placed before the public. Class A 75 ft. 11.25.
Survival status: Print exists in the Library of Congress film archive.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Architecture - Buildings - Electric lights - Fairgrounds - Night scenes - Pan-American Exposition (1901) - Panoramas - USA: New York: Buffalo
Listing updated: 13 April 2024.
References: Film viewing : Niver-Early p. 236 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb; Website-LoC.
Home video: DVD.
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