The Century of Cinema: 1901

Curated by Karl Wratschko and Mariann Lewinsky
A surprising quantity of films from 1901 are still in existence today for us to see and project on a screen, as they were 120 years ago. However, what has radically changed is their context. The rental system of distribution did not exist: films were bought, not rented, by travelling showmen. Producers organised daytime screenings for buyers in their company offices. Pathé frères had a system of voyageurs (travellers) in place for the international sales of phonographs and cylinders, and in February 1901 employed a rep fluent in German and English to sell films in Austria, Germany and London. The London-based Warwick Trading Company directed by Charles Urban distributed not only its own productions but also that of other companies, notably Lumière and Méliès. London became the centre for both the distribution of American films in Europe and European films in the USA.
A travelling showman in Austria recorded that he ordered his films directly from Pathé or Gaumont in Paris, Warwick and Urban in London, Deutsche Bioskop in Berlin and Lubin in Philadelphia. Every three to four weeks he received a box from Pathé containing a selection of the latest films. Enclosed was a note asking him to return any that he did not want. Then the invoice was sent. Since he mentions Urban (who broke away from Warwick in 1903) the description might not entirely apply to 1901, but it gives a vivid impression of how exhibitors got their films before the rental system came in.
Programming was in the hands of the exhibitors. They combined the individually bought films and sometimes inserted local actualities shot by themselves or commissioned from a regional producer. In Emilia-Romagna the most popular types of shows as documented by original flyers from 1901 were: first, showmen travelling with programmes made up from 12 to 20 Lumière vues; second, magicians or illusionists presenting live acts and five to six short films plus a long féerie such as Cendrillon (Méliès, 1899) or Aladin et la lampe merveilleuse (Pathé, 1900) as a finale; third, so-called ‘Serate Nere’ for men only, presenting mildly erotic scenes.
Showmen either used theatrical venues and cafés-chantant for their screenings or they travelled with their own venues: gorgeous fairground tents, the first cinema palaces. It was an international business. Entrepreneurs such as Leilich, Kullmann, Böcher and Bläser came from old German or Swiss dynasties of fairground people. They tried to spend the winter season in the mild climates of Italy: Böcher stayed in Bologna in Piazza VIII Agosto for three months (October 1901-January 1902) and Kullmann’s Cinematografo Gigante for two months (December 1901 to January 1902).
Mariann Lewinsky and Karl Wratschko
Program
La Poupée – Acte I. Choeur des prêtres – Acte II. Le Curé et les mannequins – Acte III. La Poupée
La Poupée – Acte I. Choeur des prêtres – Acte II. Le Curé et les mannequins – Acte III. La Poupée
A Photograph Taken from Our Area Window
A Photograph Taken from Our Area Window
Artistic Creation
Artistic Creation
Marley’s Ghost
Marley’s Ghost
The Magic Sword
The Magic Sword
Quo vadis?
Quo vadis?
Visit to Pompeii
Visit to Pompeii
The Sick Kitten
The Sick Kitten
Are You There?
Are You There?
Charlemont
Charlemont
Stop Thief!
Stop Thief!
The Big Swallow
The Big Swallow
Fire!
Fire!
Revue de Krasnoïe Selo: charge des hussards de l’impératrice
Revue de Krasnoïe Selo: charge des hussards de l’impératrice
99e régiment d’infanterie: anneaux et trapèze
99e régiment d’infanterie: anneaux et trapèze
Panorama de la Corne d’Or
Panorama de la Corne d’Or
Défilé des vétérans en costumes anciens: II. Vue de près
Défilé des vétérans en costumes anciens: II. Vue de près
Douche après le bain
Douche après le bain
Le Village de Namo: panorama pris d’une chaise à porteurs
Le Village de Namo: panorama pris d’une chaise à porteurs
Monsieur et Madame sont pressés
Monsieur et Madame sont pressés
Bersagliers cyclistes à la revue
Bersagliers cyclistes à la revue
Le Khédive et son escorte
Le Khédive et son escorte
Manoeuvres des pompiers au palais royal de Florence
Manoeuvres des pompiers au palais royal de Florence
Panoramic View of the Morecambe Sea Front
Panoramic View of the Morecambe Sea Front
Danse basque
Danse basque
Water toboggan (montagnes russes sur l’eau)
Water toboggan (montagnes russes sur l’eau)
North Sea Fisheries, North Shields
North Sea Fisheries, North Shields
Pont de Brooklyn
Pont de Brooklyn
Caravane de chameaux
Caravane de chameaux
Les Chapeaux, I
Les Chapeaux, I
Par le trou de la serrure
Par le trou de la serrure
Over the Tay Bridge on an Express Train
Over the Tay Bridge on an Express Train
Une idylle sous un tunnel
Une idylle sous un tunnel
The Countryman and the Cinematograph
The Countryman and the Cinematograph
Ride on a Tram Car through Belfast
Ride on a Tram Car through Belfast
Tynemouth Swimming Gala in the Haven, North Shields
Tynemouth Swimming Gala in the Haven, North Shields
Un drame au fond de la mer
Un drame au fond de la mer
L’Eau merveilleuse
L’Eau merveilleuse
Parade of Widnes School Children
Parade of Widnes School Children
Les Sept châteaux du diable
Les Sept châteaux du diable
Snowballs
Snowballs
La Chasse est ouverte
La Chasse est ouverte
Le Mauvais riche
Le Mauvais riche
À la conquête de l’air
À la conquête de l’air
Sedgwick’s Bioscope Showfront at Pendlebury Wakes
Sedgwick’s Bioscope Showfront at Pendlebury Wakes
Histoire d’un crime
Histoire d’un crime
Washing Up and Blacking Up
Washing Up and Blacking Up
An Over-incubated Baby
An Over-incubated Baby
Factory Gate Exit
Factory Gate Exit
Ce que l’on voit de mon sixième
Ce que l’on voit de mon sixième
Rêve et réalité
Rêve et réalité
Barbe-Bleue
Barbe-Bleue
Barbe bleue
Barbe bleue
President McKinley’s Speech at the Pan-American Exposition
President McKinley’s Speech at the Pan-American Exposition
President McKinley Reviewing the Troops at the Pan-American Exposition
President McKinley Reviewing the Troops at the Pan-American Exposition
Taking President McKinley’s Body from Train at Canton, Ohio
Taking President McKinley’s Body from Train at Canton, Ohio
President McKinley Taking the Oath
President McKinley Taking the Oath
The Mob Outside the Temple of Music and the Pan-American Exposition
The Mob Outside the Temple of Music and the Pan-American Exposition
Pan-American Exposition by Night
Pan-American Exposition by Night
Immagini dalla Cina 1901-1904
Immagini dalla Cina 1901-1904
Circular Panorama of Electric Tower
Circular Panorama of Electric Tower
Execution of Czolgosz, with Panorama of Auburn Prison
Execution of Czolgosz, with Panorama of Auburn Prison
A Trip around the Pan-American Exposition