James H. White
James Henry White was a Canadian film film pioneer, who worked as a director, producer, and cinematographer. He also appeared as an actor in several films. He was employed by the Edison Manufacturing Company as Production Head from 1896 to 1902, and directed over 500 short films, both fictional and documentary often with no functional story or script, just scenes or vignettes. White proved prolific and tried to be lyrical in some of his short films, for example Return of a Lifeboat and A Storm at Sea the latter of which was shot on a passenger ship with the camera catching some of the glimmer from the sun.
Biography
James H. White was born in Nova Scotia in March 1872. He married Pauline Dede on November 29, 1902.He died in 1944.
Career
Various of his films are extant. The 1896 film T. A. Edison by Blackton features a cartoonist drawing Thomas Alva Edison. His 1896 film Watermelon Eating Contest features two African American men seated and devouring large slices of watermelon. His 1898 film Indian Day School is set at what a sign in the film says is the Isleta Indian School in New Mexico. Fifth Avenue, New York and Sunday Morning in Mexico show pedestrians passing by. He filmed rapids from a passing train. He filmed aboard a ship in Newport. He filmed along the Seine River.He filmed a washing room prank. He filmed a Boer cavalry charge and "Rough Riders" in action. He filmed bears dressed up and performing.
Filmography
1896
Watermelon ContestInterrupted Lover Going to the FireLone FishermanEdison Drawn by World ArtistMess Call Irish Way of Discussing PoliticsLittle EgyptHerald SquareFatima's Coochee-Coochee Dance The Bad Boy and the GardenerSea Beach SceneScene on Surf Ave., Coney IslandShooting the Chutes Passaic Falls, New JerseyFeeding the DovesA Morning BathThe Burning Stable Mounted Police ChargeA Morning AlarmBlack Diamond Express- ''American Falls from Above, American Side''
1897
Serpentine Dance - AnnabelleThe First Sleigh-Ride Chicken ThievesPolice Patrol WagonFifth Avenue, New YorkSeminary Girls Black Diamond Express, No. 1Husking BeeMr. Edison at Work in His Chemical LaboratoryGiant Coal Dumper Armour's Electric TrolleyPhiladelphia Express, Jersey Central RailwayFree-for-All Race at Charter Oak ParkCorner Madison & State Streets, Chicago Buffalo Police on ParadeBuffalo StockyardsSheep Run, Chicago StockyardsFalls of Minnehaha Cattle Driven to SlaughterSutro Baths, No. 2Cupid and PsycheArrest in Chinatown, San Francisco, Cal.Capsize of LifeboatLeander Sisters S.S. Coptic Sailing AwayReturn of the LifeboatFirst Avenue, Seattle, Washington, No. 8The Sea Lions' Home Boxing for PointsSutro Baths, No. 1Lurline BathsSurf at Monterey Buffalo Fire Dept. in ActionFisherman's WharfStanford University, CaliforniaHotel Del Monte Launch of Life BoatHorses Loading for the KlondikeFishing SmacksLick Observatory, Mt. Hamilton, Cal. S.S. Queen Leaving DockLoading Baggage for KlondikeS.S. Williamette Leaving for KlondikeS.S. Coptic at DockS.S. Coptic in the HarborHotel Vendom, San Jose, Cal. Southern Pacific Overland MallBoat Wagon and Beach CartS.S. Queen Loading- ''Fast Mail, Northern Pacific Railroad''
1898
Ella Lola, a la TrilbySunday Morning in Mexico Japanese SampansOstriches Running, No. 1Mexican Rurales ChargeStreet Scene, San Diego Chinese ProcessionEagle Dance, Pueblo IndiansWash Day in MexicoGoing Through the Tunnel Indian Day SchoolSouth Spring Street, Los Angeles, Cal.Sunset Limited, Southern Pacific Ry.Calf Branding Cattle Leaving the CorralCalifornia Limited, A.T. & S.F.R.R.Lassoing a SteerMount Tamalpais R.R., No. 1 Bull Fight, No. 3After LaunchingParade of ChineseMount Tamalpais R.R., No. 2Freight TrainLaunch of Japanese Man-of-War Chitosa Native DaughtersUnion Iron WorksProcession of FloatsLaunching No. 2 S.S. Coptic Running Against the StormMount Taw R.R., No. 3Troops Embarking at San FranciscoTroop Ships for the Philippines Kanakas Diving for Money, No. 2Shooting Captured InsurgentsCuban AmbushVictorious Squadron Firing Salute Farmer Kissing the Lean GirlStatue of LibertyClose View of the Brooklyn Naval ParadeThe Fleet Steaming Up North River Observation Train Following ParadeReviewing the Texas at Grant's TombTurkish Dance, Ella Lola- ''Fighting the Fire''