1894 THE FINE ARTS: THE KINETOSCOPE" From The Critic, Vol. 24, n 638, 12 mai 1894, p. 330.

The Kinetoscope, Edison's latest toy, is a development of that marvel of our youth, the Thaumatrope. But it may be applied to uses which the earlier toy could not subserve. A number of instantaneous photographs illustrating all the important phases of a single action or series of actions are set on a wheel which is made to revolve very rapidly by a small electric motor, which also supplies the light by which they are seen, the whole thing being enclosed in a dark box. By this means the action which is analyzed in the series of photographs is reconstituted, and stage performers dance or go through their contortions, Sandow's muscles swell and relax, fighting-cocks fight, and the organgrinder's monkey snatches off the small boy's hat. The element of color, only, is needed to complete the illusion, and it is possible that that may be supplied. As it stands, the machine should be of great service to artists and others in studying action. Separate instantaneous photographs, as is now well known, are of no value to artists, but the Kinetoscope presents the action as it is seen by the eye, and presents it, in all respects the same, as often as may be desired. If the figures were thrown upon a screen there would be many advantages in working from them rather than from a tired model. It is possible that we may yet see this done, and, with the assistance of the perfected phonograph, that we may witness and hear shadow-plays in which the only real performer will be the electro-magnetic motor behind the scenes. The new invention is exhibited on Broadway above 26th Street.