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- Création : 25 mars 2015
- Mis à jour : 1 juin 2026
- Publication : 25 mars 2015
BUFFALO
Jean-Claude SEGUIN
Buffalo, ville de l'État de New York (États-Unis), compte 255.664 habitants (1890).
1896
Le Vitascope (Library Hall/Library Building, 6->6 juin 1896)
Lors d'une séance privée, le Vitascope est présenté au Library Hall :
THE VITASCOPE.
Edison's Latest and Most Wonderful Invention.
Private View at Library Hall Last Night- "Living Pictures" That Reproduce Life.
Edison's Vitascope, the newest and in many respects the most marvelous of all the Wizard's marvels, is to be exhibited in Buffalo, beginning to-morrow evening. The place chosen is the lecture room of the Buffalo Library Building.
Most Buffalonians that have visited New York or Philadelphia lately have seen this wonderful thing--this enlarged kinetoscope- and they did not exaggerate a particle when they said that words failed to describe the marvel of it and the beauty of it, wherefore no words will here be used to give an erroneous notion of it: they are employed solely to call attention to the fact that the vitascope ought to be seen by everybody. It is certain that everybody that has seen the kinetoscope will wish to see the vitascope. It was first exhibited in New York on the night of April 23. Outside New York it has been seen only in Philadelphia -Buffalo is the third town to get it. If anything will induce the populace of Buffalo to hang its individual and collective wheels on the hook for an evening or so, it will be the vitascope.
Last evening a private exhibition of it was given to members of the press and other invited guests, and the entire company was lost in admiration of it. It is breathing, animate, life as life must seem a and dumb man, for you see what should make sound but the movements, the speech are inaudible.
Those who have seen the kinetoscope will understand what the vitascope is when they are told that the latter grandly and accurately magnifies the work of the former and projects the figures upon a screen on which is assumed a marvelous semblance to vitality. It is difficult to believe that the impalpable dancer conjured up in all her moving grace and fascination before the eye of the beholder is not a thing flesh and blood. Every motion is reproduced with fidelity and all the little details of the drapery are pictured with minute exactness, and in full play as actuated by the dancer in real life. A scene covering Herald Square in New York showing the noonday activity of Broadway at that point as clearly as if one were a spectator of the original seems incredulous, nevertheless is presented life-like. The cable cars seem to move in opposite directions and look real enough to suggest a trip up and down that great thoroughfare, while at the same time the elevated trains are rushing overhead, pedestrians are seen moving along the sidewalks or crossing to opposite sides of the street, everything moving, or as it is seen in real life. By referring to the advertisement in another column of this paper, details regarding prices, times of exhibitions, etc., can be learned. Following the programme of the scenes to be exhibited this week:
Blacksmith Shop (Interior).
Fountain Scene, Central Park, New York City.
Herald Square, New York.
Corbett and his sparring partner in friendly bout.
Elevated Railroad (Scene. New York).
Armabella [sic], in her beautiful Butterfly Dance.
May Irwin and John Rice in their Kiss Scene, "Widow Jones."
Leigh Sisters in their famous Trilby Dance.
"Rob Roy," Scene, Jamie Dancers.
Lola Lalita in her noted Spanish Dances.
"Milk White Flag," First Act Scene.
Rockaway Beach, ocean scene.
Railroad Smash-up, Columbus, O.
Cyclone Dance.
Niagara Falls.
Buffalo Courier, Buffalo, dimanche 7 juin 1896, p. 10.
Les séances publiques commencent le 8 juin 1896.
Le kinetoscope parlor (303 Main Street, [19]-[25] août 1896)
Un kinetoscope parlor est ouvert au 303 Main Street en août :
FOR ENQUIRER READERS.
A Treat For All Lovers of Music and Song.
The Buffalo Enquirer has arranged with the "Edisonia" phonograph and kinetoscope parlors, one of the leading attractions of Buffalo, located at No. 303 Main Street, Ellicott Square, to honor the coupon found on page three of today's issue.
By cutting out the coupon and presenting same at the above parlors the holder will be entitled to hear absolutely free of charge Edison's famous improved phonograph.
The selections comprise all the latest and most popular songs sung by such artists as Chauncey Olcott, George J. Gaskin, Len Spencer, Allen May, wno is singing In this city at the roof garden, and others equally as well known.
The improved phonograph faithfully reproduces Sousa's Grand Concert Band, Gilmore's famous band of New York and Isler's Orchestra.
You can also hear Gladstone's speech (attack on the House of Lords), the ravings of John McCullough in a mad house, and many other interesting speeches.
This is a good opportunity for Enquirer readers to hear one of the greatest inventions of modern times.
The coupon appears on page three and will be good only on day of issue.
The Buffalo Enquirer, Buffalo, mercredi 19 août 1896, p. 1.

The Buffalo Enquirer, Buffalo, mercredi 19 août 1896, p. 3.
Une nouvelle annonce est publiée la semaine suivante :
EXTRA.
A Treat For Enquirer Readers-See Edison's Marvelous Kinetoscope Free of Charge.
The Buffalo Enquirer has arranged with the "Edisonia" phonograph and kinetoscope parlors, one of the leading attractions of Buffalo, located at No. 303 Main Street, Ellicott Square, to honor the coupon found on page three of today's issue.
By cutting out the coupon and presenting same at the above parlors the holder will be entitled to see absolutely free of charge Edison's latest and most wonderful invention. The Kinetoscope, which reproduces scenes from operas and plays, dances, etc., in almost endless variety, and with startling lifelike reality of motion. So true to life in every detail are these scenes that the attendants often have considerable difficulty in convincing the beholder that he is not looking at living persons, instead of their "counterfeit presentment" caught and reproduced by the genius of Edison, the Wizard of Menlo Park.
During the short period that the Kinetoscope has been on exhibition in New York and other cities over half a million people have been amused and charmed by this latest and most wonderful invention of our great Edison, but that all The Enquirer readers, and especially the ladies of Buffalo, may have an opportunity to see this wonder, we have made the arrangement as above stated.
This is a good opportunity for Enquirer readers to see one of the greatest inventions of modern times.
The coupon appears on page three and will be good only on day of issue.
The Buffalo Enquirer, Buffalo, mardi 25 août 1896, p. 1.
Le Vitascope (Vitascope Theater/Edisonia Hall, <21> novembre 1896)
Le vitascope présente des vues animées en novembre.

The Buffalo News, Buffalo, samedi 21 novembre 1896, p. 2.
Répertoire (autres titres) : Herald Square. New York, Swimming School Scene, The Burning Stable, Long Branch Surf Scene, Long Branch Surf Scene, Wash Day in the Nursery, Cissy Fitzgerald, The Telephone Appointment, The Interrupted Supper, Corbett and Courtney Knock-out Round, Watermelon Eating Contest, Lay Sisters' Dance, Street Scene in Paris (The Buffalo News, Buffalo, samedi 21 novembre 1896, p. 2).
Le Biograph (Music Hall, 27-28 novembre 1896)
Le Biograph présente des vues animées au Music Hall à la fin du mois de novembre :

Buffalo Evening News, Buffalo, vendredi 27 novembre 1896, p. 2.
CLEVELAND'S MINSTRELS.
The Work of the Wonderful Biograph Delighted Large Audiences Yesterday Afternoon and Last Evening.
Cleveland's minstrels drew large crowds to Music Hall, both yesterday afternoon and last evening. The wonderful biograph, which was not in proper working order Thanksgiving Day, was in excellent shape last night and every picture was perfect. The Empire State Express and Niagara Falls were the most popular last evening. The pictures are wonderfully realistic. Anyone who has not seen the biograph should not let the opportunity pass.
Its realism passes all belief. It mystifies and leaves you wondering if there be anything that man cannot do. This afternoon and evening Mr. Cleveland expects to picture the great Yale-Princeton football match played last Saturday. A number of new pictures will also be shown. It Is an excellent show.
The Buffalo News, Buffalo, samedi 28 novembre 1896, p. 22.
1897
L'Amet Magniscope (Court St. Theater, 10->10 janvier 1897)
Dans un spectacle donné au Court St. Theater, des vues animées sont projetées, en juin, au moyen d'un Amet Magniscope.

The Buffalo Courier, Buffalo, dimanche 10 janvier 1897, p. 8.
Le Vitascope (Ellicott Square nº 305, 14-20 novembre 1897)
Le vitascope de l'Ellicott Square présente des vues animées en novembre :
Vitascope's Special Attraction.
The managers of the cos little vitoscope theater in the Ellicott Square. No. 305 Main Street. offer an unusually strong list of attractions for the coming week, beginning Sunday, November 14th.In addition to new subjects. in the theater and phonograph parlors, they announce the appearance of Mr. Lloyd Langdon, an English singer of illustrated songs. Mr. Langdon will appear afternoons and evenings at every exhibition. Among the new song that he will sing are: *Whisper Your Mother's Name, "Just For the Sake of Our Daughter." "Don't Let Her Lose Her Way,' "The Organ Grinder's Serenade," and "Just Behind the Times." Each song is illustrated with from fifteen to twenty-five pictures illustrative of the subject. The price of admission will remain the same. 10 cents. A continuous exhibition is given daily and Sunday from 10 o'clock in the morning until 11 o'clock at night.
The new features in the vitascope theater are motion photographs of a real Spanish bull fight, "The Widow Jones." "The Mischievous Kid," and twenty-five other views. In the phonograph parlors may be heard new songs by May Irwin, speeches by Corbett and Fitzsimmons. Chauncey Olcott's new song, Sousa's Band in concert, speech by Bob Ingersoll, "Just Plain Joe," "Burnt at the Stake," and "The Wreck."
Buffalo Courier, Buffalo, dimanche 14 novembre 1897, p. 16.

Buffalo Courier, Buffalo, dimanche 14 novembre 1897, p. 16.
1898
Le Vitagraph de James S. Blackton et Albert E. Smith (Twentieth Century Club, 16 août 1898)
Le Vitagraph de James S. Blackton et d'Albert E. Smith présente des vues animées en août :
ENTERTAINING AND SUCCESSFUL.
Large Attendance at the Exhibition of Cuban War Pictures at the 20th Century Club.
Actuated by a desire to assist the Queen City Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in its commendable work of caring for unfortunate little ones, more than 300 persons attended the entertainment at the Twentieth Century Club last night for the benefit of the society. The admission tickets were sold at $1 each, so a goodly sum was realized to aid the society in carrying on its charities.
Miss Evelyn Tourneaure of 414 Delaware avenue is entitled to credit for arranging the entertainment and carrying it into successful execution. She planned the programme, selected the entertainers and personally looked after the details of the affair. The success which attended her efforts attests the zeal of her labors.
Albert E. Smith. an Inimitable impersonator, revealed his cleverness in grotesque impersonations of familiar characters, using only the rim of an old hat and his marvelous control of the muscles of his face. He also did some clever work in ventriloquism. Stewart W. Blackton [sic], formerly an artist on the New York World, displayed his skill in rapid freehand drawing, accompanying his work with a clever monologue. The balance of the evening was given over to pictures on the Edison Vitagraph, showing Cuban war scenes, from the destruction of the Maine to the surrender of Santiago. Several comic sketches were also shown.
The Buffalo News, Buffalo, mercredi 17 août 1898, p. 1.
1904
Le Biograph (The Lyceum, 16 octobre 1904)
Des projections cinématographiques ont lieu au Lyceum en octobre :
The Lyceum.
Manager Laughlin of the Lyceum Theatre announces the return engagement for a special Sunday evening concert of the famous United States First Infantry Band, which Is now stationed at Fort Porter as a compliment to Buffalonians. Bandmaster Coe is arranging an especially attractive program. Those who heard this band last Sunday evening will certainly want to do so again. Supplemental to the band concert there will be a moving picture entertainment. Lovers of old Ireland will particularly the coaching picture and the automoblle race pictures will prove a special attraction for many. The automobile mountain climbing photographs are marvels In their way and the comic films cause many a laugh. The master piece of the collection is probably that called "The Hero of Liao-Yang." It is pronounced by military men to be one of the war picture films ever made, and it is said to depict faithfully certain features of the struggles in the far east.
Buffalo Post, Buffalo, samedi 15 octobre 1904, p. 4.
1905
Le Vitagraph (Evening News Building, 4 novembre 1905)
La Vitragraph Company présente ses vues animées en novembre.

The Buffalo News, Buffalo, samedi 4 novembre 1905, p. 5.
La presse offre quelques informations complémentaires :
EVERYBODY COME TO THE "NEWS" BUILDING TONIGHT.
[...]
SEE THE MOVING PICTURES.
Special features will be added through arrangements perfected with the Vitagraph Company of America, by means of which a veritable vaudeville exhibition will be given, FREE.
Among the pictures to be displayed are the following: "The Vanderbilt Automobile Race," as recently run on Long Island. These are the finest race pictures ever exhibited, and far excel in dash and excitement even the Gordon-Bennett pictures, 'The Servant Girl Problem;" screamingly funny; full of good, clean humor. "Escape from Sing Sing;* positively the most exciting Vitagraph drama ever presented. "Raffles. the Amateur Cracksman;" absolutely unique and original in conception. "License No. 13; or, the Hoodoo Automobile." A novelty! A laugh breeder. "'Sherlock Holmes; or, Held for Ransom;" a sterling picture drama, and many others that are equally interesting.
The progress of voting will be shown on a big roller bulletin board in front of the NEWS office, beginning at 3 o'clock this afternoon. The stereopticon and moving picture service will begin immediately after the close of the polis, at 5 o'clock.
COME EARLY! EVERYBODY IS INVITED!
The Buffalo News, Buffalo, samedi 4 novembre 1905, p. 5.
Répertoire (autres titres) : The Vanderbilt Automobile Race, The Servant Girl Problem, Escape from Sing Sing, Raffles the Amateur Cracksman, License nº 13, Sherlock Holmes (The Buffalo News, Buffalo, samedi 4 novembre 1905, p. 5).