1898 in film
overview of the events of 1898 in film
The following is an overview of the events of 1898 in film, including a list of films released and notable births. The Spanish–American War was a popular subject. Several films made by Col. William N. Selig dealt with the subject of war preparations at Camp Tanner in Springfield, Illinois, including Soldiers at Play, Wash Day in Camp and First Regiment Marching.
Events
May 19 – Vitagraph is founded in New York.
August 27 – Alfred John West gives a Royal Command Performance to Queen Victoria of film from the cruise of HMS Crescent at Osborne House.
Birt Acres invents the first amateur format, Birtac, by splitting 35 mm film into two halves of 17.5 mm.
Films released in 1898
The Accursed Cavern, directed by George Melies
The Astronomer's Dream, directed by Georges Méliès; re-released in 1899 as A Trip to the Moon
The Ball Game
The Cavalier's Dream, directed by Edwin S. Porter
The Cave of the Demons, directed by George Melies
Come Along, Do!, directed by Robert W. Paul. First multi-scene film in cinema [In this film 2 scenes are edited together for the first time in cinema]
Corbett and Sharkey Fight
The Corsican Brothers, produced by G.A.S. Films (British)
The Damnation of Faust, directed by George Melies
Dewar's It's Scotch, the first advertising movie, produced by the Edison Studios
Don Juan Tenorio, the first Mexican film with a plot, directed by Salvador Toscano
Eiffel Tower, directed by Louis Lumière. First (sort of) crane shot in cinema [It was taken from the ascending elevator in the Eiffel Tower]
Ella Lola, a la Trilby, produced by the Edison Co.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “1898 in film” is overview of the events of 1898 in film. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through film, overview and events, not as a finished interpretation.
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Attribution, date and provenance are strongest when supported by the original work, a catalogue record and documented transmission. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jun 6, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q913057. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1898 and 1899.
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