Louis Le Prince films Roundhay Garden Scene (1888)

Louis Le Prince filmed Roundhay Garden Scene at Oakwood Grange in Roundhay, Leeds, on 14 October 1888, using his single-lens camera and Eastman paper film. This event marks a significant early development in motion picture history, though the exact frame rate remains disputed.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Le Prince built his single-lens camera in mid-late 1888 after returning to Leeds. He utilized Eastman Kodak paper base photographic film for his experiments. The camera was subsequently patented in the United Kingdom in November 1888, establishing the technical context for his filming activities in Yorkshire.

Filming Details. The scene was recorded in the garden of Joseph and Sarah Whitley, Le Prince's parents-in-law, at Oakwood Grange. Adolphe Le Prince, his son, assisted during the filming. The footage captured family members, including Adolphe playing the accordion, marking a personal and technical milestone for the inventor.

Legacy and Preservation. Le Prince has been described as possibly the first person to shoot a moving picture sequence using a single-lens camera and a strip of paper film. Roundhay Garden Scene is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive. The site of his workshop in Leeds is now commemorated with a blue plaque at Leeds Beckett University.

People involved

Sources

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