Paper print. Early motion picture documentary. A unique race in the United States in the year 1902. A race between an elephant, a bicycle, a camel, a horse and an automobile. Buildings in the background.
Image of letter from Thomas A. Edison to the Librarian of Congress, stamped January 9, 1894, requesting a copyright for his film titled 'The Sneeze' , which depicts a man named Fred Ott sneezing in the United States. View of a still image containing 45 individual frames of the film 'The Sneeze' along with explanation of their creation and preservation at the Library of Congress. Thomas A. Edison and associates seated at a table containing photographic equipment. The film 'Fred Ott's Sneeze' (proper title, filmed January, 1894) is shown at the end of the clip.
'Mexico and Spain', part 1 of the film titled 'Fights of Nations', depicts a Mexican man who comes on stage with a large knife. He hides behind a wall. An actor cast as a Spaniard, comes on stage with a woman. The Mexican man comes out from behind the wall and attacks the Spaniard. The woman intervenes. They struggle and the Spaniard gets the knife. They struggle and the Spaniard threatens to kill the Mexican. But the woman intervenes again and pleads for his life. The Spaniard relents. The Mexican man leaves. The Spaniard and the woman resume their assignation. The man kisses the woman.
'Our Hebrew friends' , part 2 of the film titled 'Fights of Nations' depicts two Hebrew men arguing outside a shop in the United States. They interfere, comically, with a man walking on the sidewalk. Another man comes and they involve him in their argument. A policeman comes threatens to arrest each of the three men, in turn. The third man, a Hebrew, pleads with the policeman, and secretly slips him some money. The policeman walks away, happily. The three men hug each other and dance.
'Hoot Mon! A Scottish Combat', part 3 of the film titled 'Fights of Nations', depicts two actors dressed as Scots, in kilts, one lying dead or wounded. A third Scot arrives and seeing his companion on the ground, challenges his assailant to duel with swords and shields. He prevails over the slayer of his companion.
'Sunny Africa,Eighth Avenue New York' , part 4 of the film titled 'Fights of Nations' captures professional African American dancers in the roles of couples dancing at a cafe, ostensibly on 8th Avenue in New York City, United States. A man plays a piano. After dancing, the couples sit at tables and eat and drink. . One man, in a striped T-shirt, gets up and gives a wonderful demonstration of tap dancing. Other people applaud and cheer him. A waiter serves. The man in the striped T-shirt goes out. Another man sits near the Striped Shirt's date. They converse and dance. The man in the striped T-shirt comes back. and picks a fight with the man dancing with his date. The fight involves everyone, but finally ends with Striped shirt and his date dancing away merrily, together.
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