Article written by Esther Pennington in 1915 when he visited a scene at Lubinville while recording. Lubinville was the city “back lot” the Lubin Manufacturing Company used for its films. By Lara Fine

(courtesy of brandeis.edu): This is one of the few surviving films made by the Sigmund Lubin Company of Philadelphia. Lubin, who immigrated to the U.S. in the 1870s, changed his name from Lubszynski and became the first Jewish-American filmmaker. In the film, Moses lives on the Lower East Side and helps support his family by selling papers. When one of the other newsboys tries to rob Moses, Ed comes to his rescue. Moses invites Ed over for Shabbat dinner. When Ed is run down by a passing bicycle, Moses visits his friend in the hospital and uses his last pennies to help him. Twenty-five years later Moses is a successful merchant, and Ed, down on his luck, comes looking for a job. Moses recognizes his old friend and offers him the best job he has. This film, while somewhat difficult to follow, is remarkable for its accurate observation of the maintenance of tradition in the face of oppressive circumstances. In addition, it also portrays the concern and compassion that surmounted the difficult conditions of slum life.

Popular early film from Sigmund Lubin, a film pioneer of Philly. Supposedly, the first use of flashback. By Lara Fine

A Lubin Manufacturing Company film.

A Lubin Manufacturing Company film.

A Lubin Manufacturing Company film.

A Lubin Manufacturing Company film.

Directed by Sigmund Lubin; a Lubin Manufacturing Company film.

A Lubin Manufacturing Company film.

(courtesy of IMDB): As a young boy with crutches is selling newspapers, one of his customers drops some money. The child's father, standing nearby, reaches to take the money for himself, but the child hurriedly alerts the customer and returns it. The grateful customer treats the boy to some food and some new clothes, and then takes him home. When the child's mother dies soon afterwards, she entrusts the boy to the kindly man. But the boy's drunken father is not willing to let his son go in peace.

Popular early film from Sigmund Lubin, a film pioneer of Philly. By Lara Fine

Popular early film from Sigmund Lubin, a film pioneer of Philly. By Lara Fine

The Greater New York Film Rental Company, through its attorneys, Rogers & Rogers of 160 Broadway, brought a Sherman law monopoly suit in the Federal District Court yesterday to recover threefold damages, aggregating $1,800,000, from an alleged combination of moving picture manufacturing and rental concerns which, the plaintiff alleges, constitute an illegal combination controlling 95 per cent. of the moving picture business of the country. Information on the Lubin Legal battles with Edison. By Lara Fine

Contains four original films from Sigmund Lubin. By Lara Fine

(courtesy of IMDB): Frenchman Count Hardup advertises for a wife. He gets more than he bargained for when women start chasing him. He's caught by an old maid.

Popular early film from Sigmund Lubin, a film pioneer of Philly. By Lara Fine

Listed films of the Lubin Manufacturing Company 1902-1916. By Lara Fine

Outline of Edison’s battle against the smaller motion picture companies, including the Lubin Manufacturing Company. By Lara Fine

History of the KCET studio lot where the original Great Train Robbery was filmed in Los Angeles and how Lubin recreated the scenes in Philadelphia. Additionally, there is more detail about the legal battle with Edison. By Lara Fine

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 16. -- The Federal Government attacked the so-called Moving Picture Trust in a civil suit filed here to-day for the dissolution of the Motion Picture Patents Company and the General Film Company. Ten prominent moving-picture film concerns are accused of combining to monopolize the business, even to the extent of increasing or decreasing the number of motion-picture theatres, in which they have n proprietary interest. (One of the companies is the Lubin Manufacturing Company) Information on the Lubin Legal battles with Edison. By Lara Fine

The explosion at the Lubin Manufacturing Company made front page in the city newspaper so it was obviously well known. The article states that many of Lubin’s films were destroyed – a loss we still feel today. By Lara Fine

Vitagraph-Lubin-Selig-Essanay Inc., the new combination of motion-picture producers, announces the first sixteen productions to be offered through their booking offices. Philadelphia’s very own film manufacturing company is large enough to enter in contract with other big companies to starts a booking office. By Lara Fine

Thorough biography of Sigmund Lubin’s life and career in Philadelphia.  By Lara Fine