World's 1st film studio

Edison's Black Maria

Description

Constructed, 1893

The Black Maria, Thomas Edison's pioneering film studio in West Orange, New Jersey, was the world's first film studio. Dedicated to producing film strips for the Kinetoscope, it played a crucial role in early cinema. The studio, costing $637.67, hosted the first public demonstration of films in May 1893. It produced diverse scenes, including magic shows, vaudeville acts, and sporting events, contributing to both fiction and non-fiction genres. The commercial success of Edison's Kinetoscope began in 1894.

Demolished, 1903

Despite its historical significance, the Black Maria was a small and uncomfortable workspace, eventually replaced by Edison as a glass-enclosed rooftop movie studio in New York City, the Black Maria was closed in January 1901, and Edison demolished the building.

Rebuilt, 1954

The U. S. National Park Service maintains a reproduction of the Black Maria, built in 1954 at what is now the Edison National Historic Site in West Orange. A previous reconstruction had been built and dedicated in May 1940 when MGM held the world premiere of Edison, the Man starring Spencer Tracy in theaters throughout The Oranges (West Orange, East Orange, South Orange, and Orange)

Related People & Organizations

Thomas Alva Edison

National Park Service

Timeline

1954

Images

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Images

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A historic photo of "Black Maria," the black papered building used as a film studio with several Edison employees nearby.

1954 - Rebuilt

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1954 - Rebuilt - Drawings and documents

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Model of Edison's first motion picture studio, the "Black Maria"

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37-24, 24th St, Suite 102, Long Island City, NY 11101