MPEG format(recommended): Size, 12 meg. Offers a much cleaner image as the actual movie size is quite large. To save this file to disk, hold down the shiftkey as you click on the file name.

QuickTime format(requires a plug-in or the Quick Time stand-alone player): Size, 5.7 meg. While it isa smaller file size, the actual image is the size of a commemorative postage stamp. To save this file to disk, hold down the shiftkey as you click on the file name.

The next day, Edison had his camera set up to capture more images of McKinley as he greeted well-wishers at the Temple of Music. However, fate took a turn for the worse as McKinley came face to face with a man who would ultimately take his life.

When news of the assassination got out of the Temple of Music, hundreds of people made a drastic attempt to get into the building to try to avenge the President by harming the assassin. There was also the "curiosity factor" involved. What could have been a simple task of getting both the assassin and the wounded President out of the building became a dangerous battle against the angry mob for the Pan-Am officials and security guards.

Edison's movie shows a close-up of the throngs of people waiting outside the Temple of Music. Unfortunately, the abundance of people immediately in front of the camera makes the overall film hard to decipher. It appears to be a film shot just over the top of people's heads, but the description of the film in Edison's catalog states: "On Friday, September 6th, 1901, we had our cameras in position to photograph the President as he left the Temple of Music, but the deplorable assassination, of course, prevented our getting this picture. We did, however, secure an excellent panoramic view of the mob surging in front of the Temple of Music attempting to get at the assassin. These pictures have created intense excitement and interest. Our cameras were the only ones at work at the Pan-American Exposition on the day of President McKinley's speech, Thursday, September 5th, and on Friday, September 6th, the day of the shooting. This picture was photographed immediately after the shooting, and shows the intense excitement of the people. The Pan-American Exposition guards are plainly seen in the background trying to check the frantic multitude as they sway backward and forward in their mad endeavor to reach the assassin."

Download the from the Library of Congress in the following formats:

MPEG format(recommended): Size, 12 meg. Offers a much cleaner image as the actual movie size is quite large. To save this file to disk, hold down the shiftkey as you click on the file name.

QuickTime format(requires a plug-in or the Quick Time stand-alone player): Size, 5.7 meg. While it isa smaller file size, the actual image is the size of a commemorative postage stamp. To save this file to disk, hold down the shiftkey as you click on the file name.

Stills from the Edison films can be found

here
.
Photograph 48
Seeing that the 100 year anniversary of the Pan-American Exposition is rapidly approaching, it is only fitting to include photographs from this glorious celebration that placed Buffalo at the center of the world - for reasons not always pleasant.

Almost 97 years ago to the day, September 5, 1901, President William McKinley arrived in Buffalo to visit the Pan-American. After taking in many of the sites that interested him, the President and his wife were escorted to the Temple of Music where he delivered a speech praising the progress of the nation and the devotion to building the Panama Canal.

The image seen above shows the crowd of people waiting outside the Temple of Music hoping to catch a glimpse of the President. Perhaps the most amazing realization of this event is to view the movie of the President's speech that Thomas Edison shot while he himself was attending the Pan-Am. His movie camera was primitive to say the least, but this early technology allows us to see moving images of subjects that always seemed to be static - preserved only in guidebooks and personal photographs.

According to the Library of Congress, from where the entire collection of movies may be obtained, Edison sold his Pan-American films as individual reels - this one for a whopping $11.25 which was an enormous chunk of money by 1901 standards. The film catalog's description of the film read, "In this picture we present a wonderful and life-like likeness of President McKinley. He first walks upon the platform, escorting Mrs. Mckinley, whom he very reverently shows to a seat. The President is next introduced to the audience by President Milburn, of the Pan-American Exposition, and, amid hand-clapping, cheering, and waving of hats, he at once begins his memorable speech. He is close to our camera and we secured an absolutely perfect photograph."

If you have a fast modem and can spare the download time, you can retreive this movie from the Library of Congress in the following formats and sizes: