Princess Ali
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About Princess Ali
Princess Ali, billed with Barnum & Bailey, dances an "Egyptian" number in the Black Maria. Musicians play behind her. She turns with a scarf and holds a final pose. The shot lasts a few seconds.
Cast & crew
More about Princess Ali
William Heise produced and photographed the film on May 9, 1895, in Edison's Black Maria studio in West Orange, New Jersey, while Princess Ali was appearing with Barnum & Bailey in Orange. The Maguire & Baucus catalogue lists it as Egyptian Dance and calls her the star of the Midway Plaisance. It was made for the Kinetoscope. No copyright was registered. Silent Era measures the negative at 21 feet.
Themes
Making
Heise shot Princess Ali in the Black Maria, the revolving tar-paper studio Edison used to keep the sun on the performers. The musicians stand in the background of the same frame.
Look
William Heise photographed a single Kinetoscope view in the Black Maria, with the dancer in front and the musicians behind her.
Music
Musicians play in the background of the shot while Princess Ali dances.
Preservation
A print exists. The Library of Congress offers a digital viewing copy from the Gordon Hendricks Collection.
Notes
- The Library of Congress times a viewing copy at 12 seconds when run at 30 frames per second.
- The Gordon Hendricks Collection at the Library of Congress holds the film. A 35mm viewing print was renumbered from FEC 8100 to FYA 1428.
- It is also known in Italy as Principessa Ali.
- IMDb notes that the short is included in the 2005 compilation Edison: The Invention of the Movies.
Scenes
- Princess Ali dances with a scarf while the musicians play behind her, then holds the last pose.
Also available
- Library of Congress (Princess Ali)
