Best Documentary Movies of 1902

Through special arrangements with Ringling Brothers, we have obtained the finest circus parade caught by a moving picture camera.

Tram Ride.

A short dance scene filmed by Danish photographer Peter Elfelt.

Sheffield United v Bury

Believed to be the first film that features Manchester United in their first season as 'Manchester United', rather than 'Newton Heath' as they were known at the time.

Electric Tram Rides from Forster Square, Bradford

Pieces of a 1902 football match.

Lost film from 1892, directed by Louis Lumière and starring King Edward VII.

Shows ice plows in operation, drawn by horses and guided by men on skates. The plows are first operated in one direction and then crosswise, cutting to within four inches of the bottom, after which men saw and cut the ice entirely off in about twelve foot squares, which are drawn along the canal by horses to a point where they are picked up by the ice carriers and run into the ice houses or loaded on cars.

A ceremonial procession through what is thought to be Western Road to mark the opening of 1902's momentous Cork Exhibition. Marchers represent the Irish National Foresters and local clothing factory Sunbeam Industries, and there are also religious tableaux, including a live-action depiction of Adam and Eve. At the end, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland is accompanied by a mounted guard of honour.

A busy street scene on Lower Broadway,

Taken while ascending some 2,000 yards into the clouds, and represents a most diversified view of the city of San Francisco, the Golden Gate, Pacific Ocean, and surrounding country for miles. The huge balloon from which this picture was taken is 75 feet in diameter, 250 feet in circumference and about 105 feet high, and it requires some 150,000 feet of gas to raise it from the ground.

The Washington Star of April 1st, 1900, gave the following account of the ceremony: "Over 40,000 women and children passed through the White House Gates to-day during the hours set apart for the great National show of Egg Rolling, and when the President stepped on the south front gallery at 4:15 P.M., at least 20,000 were within the grounds. The Marine Band rendered a programme of popular music. The President's children entertained at least fifty young friends during the day with a view of the egg rolling from the balcony, but none of them mingled with the great throng, preferring to view the panorama from the distance. They were much amused with the antics of the great crowd of children, who were of all colors and from every walk of life."

Scarlet Macaw on a perch, early color film.

A view of the work in the big excavation for the Rapid Transit Tunnel at Union Square, New York.

Agnes May Turner on a swing, early color film.

These short scenes were filmed in January 1902 in and around Wexford's Bull Ring market, capturing an array of local characters, including a cheery fishwife. Children and members of the Royal Irish Constabulary mingle with the traders and customers. The Mayor of Wexford, in his official regalia, appears with his daughters. The films were later shown at the Theatre Royal, Wexford. This film was shot during a two-day visit to the South East Ireland town by Mitchell and Kenyon cameraman Louis De Clercq. The man in the pale hat seen walking arm-in-arm with another man towards the camera may be Hugh McCarthy, manager of Wexford's White Hotel. The same man reappears later, alongside the mayor and his daughters.

At the christening and launching, our cameras occupied a most enviable position, being within ten feet of Miss Alice Roosevelt and Prince Henry at the time the bottle was broken. The scene opens by the band of the Royal Yacht "Hohenzollern" marching up the platform. Next a close view is shown of the arrival of President Roosevelt, who shakes hands with Mayor Seth Low, of New York City. Next comes Prince Henry and Miss Alice Roosevelt, accompanied by Colonel Bingham, of the U.S. Army, and Ambassador Count von Holleben, followed closely by Admiral Count Baudissin, of the Hohenzollern, Adjutant General Corbin and representative officers of the United States and German armies and navies. The party immediately proceed to the launching stand, followed by our panoramic cameras, Miss Alice Roosevelt leaning on the arm of Prince Henry of Prussia. A short wait taken up by conversation between Prince Henry, President Roosevelt and his daughter here ensues.

Footage of the Kent House Slide.

A splendid view of the color companies of the Gardes Regiments passing in review before Emperor William and his royal guests in front of the Zeughaus, Berlin, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the foundation of the Kingdom of Prussia.

In a crowded London street, sepoys march in full kit. There aren't many details offered for this very short Hepworth picture -- the copy I saw timed in at 20 seconds. The camerawork is ascribed to Cecil Hepworth, and it is certainly possible, even though he had other people working for him at the time. Neither is the event or the exact release date given, but I think it likely it was shot during the celebration of the coronation of King Edward VII.

Mitchell & Kenyon.

This fascinating record of Edwardian Nottingham was filmed from the driver's platform of a tram on a single journey through the city centre between its two main stations. The sequence follows the same route as today's Nottingham Express Transit tramway, taking the viewer along Listergate and Wheelergate into Old Market Square before turning right into Long Row and on into Queen Street.

King of Iran, travel to Europe.

Showing the start of the Futurity; the sweep down the stretch of the pack of high bred colts under the whip; John A. Drake's Savable winning by a nose; the return of the horses to the post after the race; and finally the victorious jockey Lyne walking toward the paddock.

This journey down the Avon gorge was filmed from the riverbank, from a boat and from the Portishead railway. Among views of the estuary, the cargo ship Vera and the fine wooden warship Formidable (then a training ship), Portishead docks and the entrance to the Clifton Rocks Railway. This underground funicular railway linked the town to the riverbank just below the Clifton Suspension Bridge. [BFI]