
Annie Oakley's Moving Picture
Clip: Season 27 Episode 3 | 28s
In 1894 Annie Oakley helped Thomas Edison with an experiment.
In 1894, the famous gunslinger, Annie Oakley came to Edison’s Black Maria studio in West Orange, New Jersey. Edison wanted to see if his kinetograph – a primitive version of a movie camera – was sensitive enough to capture the smoke from Oakley’s gun. The experiment was a success, as you can see in this short, silent film of “Little Sureshot” demonstrating her marksmanship.
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Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Annie Oakley's Moving Picture
Clip: Season 27 Episode 3 | 28s
In 1894, the famous gunslinger, Annie Oakley came to Edison’s Black Maria studio in West Orange, New Jersey. Edison wanted to see if his kinetograph – a primitive version of a movie camera – was sensitive enough to capture the smoke from Oakley’s gun. The experiment was a success, as you can see in this short, silent film of “Little Sureshot” demonstrating her marksmanship.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
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When is a photo an act of resistance?
For families that just decades earlier were torn apart by chattel slavery, being photographed together was proof of their resilience.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipClip: S27 Ep3 | 15m 52s | In 1922, a film crew came to West Orange, NJ to document Thomas Edison's typical day. (15m 52s)
Beyond the Doc: Edison's Inventions
Clip: S27 Ep3 | 2m 40s | Go Beyond the Doc to learn about Thomas Edison's lesser-known inventions. (2m 40s)
Clip: S27 Ep3 | 2m 39s | Edison tests his new motion picture camera. Premiering Jan. 27 on PBS. (2m 39s)
Clip: S27 Ep3 | 3m 4s | Thomas Edison saw competition as an essential part of invention. Premiering Jan. 27 on PBS (3m 4s)
Clip: S27 Ep3 | 9m 22s | Before he was a legendary inventor, Thomas Edison was a telegraph operator. (9m 22s)
Preview: S27 Ep3 | 30s | The story of the Father of Invention. Premieres January 27, 2015 on PBS. (30s)
Clip: S27 Ep3 | 2m 27s | Edison unveiled his electric light on New Year's Eve 1879. Premiering Jan. 27 on PBS. (2m 27s)
Clip: S27 Ep3 | 2m 59s | Edison and team work to electrify Lower Manhattan in 1881. Premiering Jan. 27 on PBS. (2m 59s)
Clip: S27 Ep3 | 3m 32s | Edison's kinetoscope was a novelty not to be missed. Premiering Jan. 27 on PBS. (3m 32s)
Clip: S27 Ep3 | 2m 14s | Edison's phonograph was a sensation. Premiering Jan. 27 on PBS. (2m 14s)
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Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.