From PhillyVoice · · 2m
First Motion Picture Public Audience in 1870
Philadelphia hosted the first public motion picture screening at the Academy of Music in 1870.
In brief
Philadelphia hosted the first public motion picture screening at the Academy of Music in 1870. Henry Heyl's phasmatrope, a 1870 motion picture device, was shown to 1,500 people at Philadelphia's Academy of Music, creating the first public audience for moving images. Originally reported by PhillyVoice.
First public motion picture screening
Philadelphia hosted the first public motion picture screening at the Academy of Music in 1870.
Henry Heyl's phasmatrope invention
Henry Heyl, a Philadelphia-based chemist, invented the phasmatrope to create moving images using multiple photographs on a rotating skeleton wheel.
1,500 audience members
Heyl presented his invention to 1,500 people at the Academy of Music on Feb. 5, 1870, who were unaware of what they were watching.
Revolutionary effect
The audience was stunned by the illusion of moving images, described as revolutionary by Philadelphia Film Society CEO Andrew Greenblatt.
Three motion pictures shown
Heyl showed three motion pictures: a Japanese acrobat, Brother Jonathan (voiced by an actor), and a waltzing sequence with live orchestra.
Program description
The exhibition program claimed the phasmatrope would emulate 'graceful and lifelike' movements on screen.
Three frames per second
The phasmatrope operated at three frames per second, far slower than today's 24 frames per second movies.
Later exhibitions
Heyl exhibited the phasmatrope again at the Franklin Institute the following month but never returned to filmmaking.
Historical impact
Heyl's invention paved the way for modern filmmaking, with the Philadelphia Film Society noting it influenced the Lumiere brothers' work in France.
Henry Heyl's later inventions
Heyl also created the first foldable milk box and wire-stitching machine, later known as the first stapler.
Henry Heyl's death
Heyl died in 1919 after falling off a trolley car at Broad and Walnut streets.
Philadelphia Film Society event
The Philadelphia Film Society will honor Heyl's phasmatrope on Oct. 24 during its annual film festival.
In short
Henry Heyl's phasmatrope, a 1870 motion picture device, was shown to 1,500 people at Philadelphia's Academy of Music, creating the first public audience for moving images.
