Gilded Age (1878-1889) A scene from the "Three Acrobats" MPEG Format (5.3 MB) Help With Video Credits Thomas Edison Patented the Kinetoscope August 31, 1897 Edison produced between 200 and 300 films at the Black Maria. You can watch this film, "Three Acrobats," produced in the Black Maria in 1899. The motion picture industry has come a long way since these early films. What do you think Edison would say if he saw "Star Wars" or "Titanic"? page 3 of 3 Library Of Congress | Legal Notices | Privacy | Site Map | Contact Us VIDEO CREDIT: Thomas A. Edison, Inc. “Three Acrobats.” 1899. Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division, Library of Congress. Call Number FEC 2273.