Uncle Josh at the Moving Picture Show (1902)

Director:

Edwin S. Porter

Release Date:

January 1902 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Short

Plot:

Country rube thinks what he sees on the movie screen is real. He jumps out of his seat to try to stop a kissing scene.

Cast

Charles Manley

...

Uncle Josh

Runtime:

2 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Company:

Edison Manufacturing Company

Movie Connections:

Edited into Women Who Made the Movies (1992) (V)

Uncle Josh tries for an evening of fun . . .but . . .

Edison's Uncle Josh character was back again, this time trying to enjoy a fun evening watching moving pictures but I guess his old fashioned sensibilities were just not up to it. Thomas Edison actually seems to be spoofing himself in this one and Uncle Josh seems to be Edison's take on the way the public reacted to his moving picture shows. In what might be a nod to the Lumiere Brothers Josh is scared silly by the image of a train rushing right toward the screen. Curious, he jumps down on the stage for a closer look. When the image of young lovers kissing he gets so insensed he tears down the screen.

That kissing scene was probably inspired by Edison's own 30 second short from 1896 THE KISS which got him condemned by clergymen across the country for capturing such an intimate moment on film but seeing Uncle Josh's reaction is still hilarious even after all these years.