national film registry (short)

An athlete swings Indian clubs.

Three men hammer on an anvil and pass a bottle of beer around.

A man (Thomas Edison's assistant) takes a pinch of snuff and sneezes. This is one of the earliest Thomas Edison films and was the second motion picture to be copyrighted in the United States.

The earliest extant sound film, but the phonograph soundtrack has been lost. It depicts William K.L. Dickson standing in the background next to a huge sound pickup horn connected to a Thomas Edison phonograph recorder.

In a medium closeup shot of the first kiss ever recorded on screen, two fervent lovers cuddle and talk passionately at a hair's breadth, just before the love-smitten gentleman decides to give his chosen one an innocent peck.

The first of eight short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson in which he chronicles the story of Rip Van Winkle. In this film, two men - one of them being Rip himself - toast and enjoy their drinks.

The second of eight short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson in which he chronicles the story of Rip Van Winkle. In this film, a dwarf carrying a barrel appears. Rip friendly takes the barrel from him.

The third of eight short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson in which he chronicles the story of Rip Van Winkle. In this film, Rip helps the dwarf carrying the barrel into the mountains.

The fourth of eight short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson in which he chronicles the story of Rip Van Winkle. In this film, Rip encounters several other dwarf-like mountain-dwellers.

The fifth of eight short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson in which he chronicles the story of Rip Van Winkle. In this film, Rip starts drinking with the mountain-men and gets severely drunk.

The sixth of eight short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson in which he chronicles the story of Rip Van Winkle. In this film, Rip passes out from drinking and falls asleep.

The seventh of eight short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson in which he chronicles the story of Rip Van Winkle. In this film, Rip awakes from his slumber, having significantly aged during his sleep.

The eighth and final of eight short black and white films from director William K.L. Dickson in which he chronicles the story of Rip Van Winkle. In this film, an elderly Rip crosses the mountain.

A burlesque on the John Rice/May Irwin kiss in "The Kiss" (1896).

Time-lapse photography is used to show the manual dismantling and demolition of New York's Star Theatre at 13th Street and Broadway over a period of about 30 days.

Short film which documents William McKinley's presidential inauguration.

Short film which documents President McKinley's escort to the Capitol building.

A group of bandits stage a brazen train hold-up, only to find a determined posse hot on their heels.

A fireman rushes into a carriage to rescue a woman from a house fire. He breaks the windowpanes and carries the woman to safety; after dangerous and uncertain moments he also saves the woman's son.

In one long take, the camera shows us the journey of a subway train as it makes its way from Union Square to the old Grand Central Station.

The fiend faces the spectacular mind-bending consequences of his free-wheeling rarebit binge.

Footage of the aftermath of the great San Francisco earthquake, which struck on the morning of April 18, 1906, destroying a large part of the city.

From the front of a cable car, a motion picture camera records a trip down Market Street, San Francisco, California, from a point between 8th & 9th Streets, Eastward to the cable car turnaround at the Ferry Building.

An unscrupulous and greedy speculator decides to corner the wheat market for his own profit, establishing complete control over the markets.

Like the legendary Sisyphus, deliverymen Laurel and Hardy struggle to push a large crated piano up a seemingly insurmountable flight of stairs.