On This Day

Thomas Edison completes the world's first movie studio in West Orange, New Jersey

Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman.

Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, sound recording, and motion pictures. These inventions, which include the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and early versions of the electric light bulb, have had a widespread impact on the modern industrialized world. He was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of organized science and teamwork to the process of invention, working with many researchers and employees. He established the first industrial research laboratory.

Edison was raised in the American Midwest. Early in his career he worked as a telegraph operator, which inspired some of his earliest inventions.

Historical Significance

Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman.

Key People

Thomas Edison

inventor and businessman

American inventor and businessman

Events Before

  1. Ellis Island opens as a US immigration inspection station and becomes the gateway to the United States for more than 12

    Ellis Island opens as a US immigration inspection station and becomes the gateway to the United States for more than 12 million people

  2. Manuel Roxas is born

    Manuel Roxas is born

  3. Painter Paul Gauguin marries Teha'amana, a 13-year-old Tahitian girl

    Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin was a French painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramist, and writer, whose work has been primarily associated with the Post-Impressionist and Symbolist movements.

  4. The rules of basketball are first published in Triangle magazine, written by James Naismith

    The rules of basketball are first published in Triangle magazine, written by James Naismith

  5. The Coca-Cola Company is incorporated in Atlanta, Georgia

    The Coca-Cola Company is an American multinational corporation founded in 1892 headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Events After

  1. Denmark adopts Central European Time

    Central European Time (CET) is a standard time observed in Central as well as parts of Western and Southeast Europe, which is one hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

  2. William Kennedy Dickson captures "Fred Ott's Sneeze" as a motion picture at Thomas Edison's Black Maria Studio in West O

    William Kennedy Dickson captures "Fred Ott's Sneeze" as a motion picture at Thomas Edison's Black Maria Studio in West Orange, New Jersey [1]

  3. 1st college basketball game, University of Chicago beats Chicago YMCA 19-11

    1st college basketball game, University of Chicago beats Chicago YMCA 19-11

  4. J. L. Johnstone of England invents the starting gate for horse racing

    J. L. Johnstone of England invents the starting gate for horse racing

  5. Jules Massenet's opera "Thaïs" premieres in Paris, includes piece “Méditation” for violin and orchestra

    "Méditation" (pronounced [meditasjɔ̃]) is a symphonic intermezzo from the opera Thaïs by French composer Jules Massenet. The piece is written for solo violin, orchestra and backstage chorus.

More from the 1890s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on February 1, 1893?
Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, sound recording, and motion pictures. These inventions, which include the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and early versions of the electric light bulb, have had a widespread impact on the modern industrialized world.
Why is Thomas Edison completes the world's first movie studio in West Orange, New Je... significant?
Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman.
Who was involved in Thomas Edison completes the world's first movie studio in West Orange, New Je...?
Key figures include Thomas Edison (inventor and businessman).

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