James H. White
James H. White | |
|---|---|
 circa 1900 | |
| Born | James Henry White March 1872 Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Died | 1944 (aged 71–72) |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, actor |
| Years active | 1894-1902 |
| Spouse |
Pauline A. Dede (m. 1902) |
James Henry White (March 1872 – 1944) was a Canadian film film pioneer, who worked as a director, producer, and cinematographer. He also appeared as an actor in several films. He was employed by the Edison Manufacturing Company as Production Head from 1896 to 1902, and directed over 500 short films, both fictional and documentary[1] often with no functional story or script, just scenes or vignettes. White proved prolific and tried to be lyrical in some of his short films, for example Return of a Lifeboat (1897) and A Storm at Sea (1900) the latter of which was shot on a passenger ship with the camera catching some of the glimmer from the sun.
Biography
James H. White was born in Nova Scotia in March 1872. He married Pauline Dede on November 29, 1902.[2]
He died in 1944.
Career
Various of his films are extant. The 1896 film T. A. Edison by Blackton features a cartoonist drawing Thomas Alva Edison.[3] His 1896 film Watermelon Eating Contest features two African American men seated and devouring large slices of watermelon.[4] His 1898 film Indian Day School is set at what a sign in the film says is the Isleta Indian School in New Mexico.[5] Fifth Avenue, New York and Sunday Morning in Mexico show pedestrians passing by.[6] He filmed rapids from a passing train.[7] He filmed aboard a ship in Newport.[8] He filmed along the Seine River.[9]
He filmed a washing room prank.[10] He filmed a Boer cavalry charge[11] and "Rough Riders" in action.[12] He filmed bears dressed up and performing.[13]
Filmography
1896
- Watermelon Contest
- Interrupted Lover
- Going to the Fire
- Lone Fisherman
- Edison Drawn by World Artist
- Mess Call
- Irish Way of Discussing Politics
- Little Egypt
- Herald Square
- Fatima's Coochee-Coochee Dance
- The Bad Boy and the Gardener
- Sea Beach Scene
- Scene on Surf Ave., Coney Island
- Shooting the Chutes
- Passaic Falls, New Jersey
- Feeding the Doves
- A Morning Bath
- The Burning Stable
- Mounted Police Charge
- A Morning Alarm
- Black Diamond Express
- American Falls from Above, American Side[14]
1897
- Serpentine Dance - Annabelle
- The First Sleigh-Ride
- Chicken Thieves
- Police Patrol Wagon
- Fifth Avenue, New York
- Seminary Girls
- Black Diamond Express, No. 1
- Husking Bee
- Mr. Edison at Work in His Chemical Laboratory
- Giant Coal Dumper
- Armour's Electric Trolley
- Philadelphia Express, Jersey Central Railway
- Free-for-All Race at Charter Oak Park
- Corner Madison & State Streets, Chicago
- Buffalo Police on Parade
- Buffalo Stockyards
- Sheep Run, Chicago Stockyards
- Falls of Minnehaha
- Cattle Driven to Slaughter
- Sutro Baths, No. 2
- Cupid and Psyche
- Arrest in Chinatown, San Francisco, Cal.
- Capsize of Lifeboat
- Leander Sisters
- S.S. Coptic Sailing Away
- Return of the Lifeboat
- First Avenue, Seattle, Washington, No. 8
- The Sea Lions' Home
- Boxing for Points
- Sutro Baths, No. 1
- Lurline Baths
- Surf at Monterey
- Buffalo Fire Dept. in Action
- Fisherman's Wharf
- Stanford University, California
- Hotel Del Monte
- Launch of Life Boat
- Horses Loading for the Klondike
- Fishing Smacks
- Lick Observatory, Mt. Hamilton, Cal.
- S.S. Queen Leaving Dock
- Loading Baggage for Klondike
- S.S. Williamette Leaving for Klondike
- S.S. Coptic at Dock
- S.S. Coptic in the Harbor
- Hotel Vendom, San Jose, Cal.
- Southern Pacific Overland Mall
- Boat Wagon and Beach Cart
- S.S. Queen Loading
- Fast Mail, Northern Pacific Railroad
1898
- Ella Lola, a la Trilby
- Sunday Morning in Mexico
- Japanese Sampans
- Ostriches Running, No. 1
- Mexican Rurales Charge
- Street Scene, San Diego
- Chinese Procession
- Eagle Dance, Pueblo Indians
- Wash Day in Mexico
- Going Through the Tunnel
- Indian Day School
- South Spring Street, Los Angeles, Cal.
- Sunset Limited, Southern Pacific Ry.
- Calf Branding
- Cattle Leaving the Corral
- California Limited, A.T. & S.F.R.R.
- Lassoing a Steer
- Mount Tamalpais R.R., No. 1
- Bull Fight, No. 3
- After Launching
- Parade of Chinese
- Mount Tamalpais R.R., No. 2
- Freight Train
- Launch of Japanese Man-of-War Chitosa
- Native Daughters
- Union Iron Works
- Procession of Floats
- Launching No. 2
- S.S. Coptic Running Against the Storm
- Mount Taw R.R., No. 3
- Troops Embarking at San Francisco
- Troop Ships for the Philippines
- Kanakas Diving for Money (Honolulu), No. 2
- Shooting Captured Insurgents
- Cuban Ambush
- Victorious Squadron Firing Salute
- Farmer Kissing the Lean Girl
- Statue of Liberty
- Close View of the Brooklyn Naval Parade
- The Fleet Steaming Up North River
- Observation Train Following Parade
- Reviewing the Texas at Grant's Tomb
- Turkish Dance, Ella Lola
- Fighting the Fire
1901
- President McKinley Inauguration Footage (attributed)[15]
References
- ^ Sadoul, Georges (1947). Histoire Générale du Cinéma: Les Pionniers du Cinéma (in French). Vol. II. Paris: Éditions Denoël. p. 441. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "White-Dede". The New York Times. Orange, New Jersey (published December 1, 1902). November 30, 1902. p. 9. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "1896 - T. A. Edison by Blackton NY World Cartoonist - James Henry White (Edison Studios)". February 20, 2023 – via YouTube.
- ^ "1896 - Watermelon Eating Contest - James Henry White (Edison Studios)". January 21, 2023 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Indian Day School (1898) Edison". July 24, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "1898 - Sunday Morning in Mexico - James H. White; Frederick Blechynden (Edison Studios)". March 6, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "1900 - Panoramic view of the Gorge railway - James Henry White (Edison Studios)". October 27, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "1900 - Panoramic view of Newport - James Henry White (Edison Studios)". October 27, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "1900 - Panoramic view of the Exhibition viewed from the Seine - James Henry White (Edison Studios)". October 27, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5KLm6vFK4CA&vl=en
- ^ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mBQi_zgOEDI&vl=en
- ^ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2ffbAy41Lz8
- ^ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=re0UJn3GAWQ
- ^ "AFI|Catalog".
- ^ Eagan, D.; Board, N.F.P. (2010). America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-8264-2977-3. Retrieved June 29, 2023.