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

Directed by Sigmund Lubin.

Directed by Sigmund Lubin.

A Lubin Manufacturing Company film.

A Lubin Manufacturing Company film.

A Lubin Manufacturing Company film.

A Lubin Manufacturing Company film.

Produced by Sigmund Lubin.

Directed by Sigmund Lubin; a Lubin Manufacturing Company film.

A Lubin Manufacturing Company film.

Covers an overview of Sigmund Lubin’s career. Includes legal proceedings with Edison when Edison filed a copyright infringement suit in 1898. By Lara Fine

(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

Describes the beginning of Lubin’s career in Philadelphia from his roots in Germany and optics. By Lara Fine

In 2004, Joseph Eckhardt pushed to get a historical marker placed for the demolished Betzwood Motion Picture Studio and it was granted. During that year, he researched to find only 29 of the myriad of films made at the studio because the rest were demolished. Each year, a Betzwood Silent Film Festival is held in May. By Lara Fine

Contains four original films from Sigmund Lubin. By Lara Fine

HUBNER’S MUSEUM – A mechanical novelty, the Lubin Cineograph, which will exhibit moving pictures, will be the chief attraction this week. This article advertises the first time that Lubin’s Cineograph, from Philadelphia, will be showcased in New York City. By Lara Fine

(courtesy of IMDB): This is a very amusing scene, showing three little girls indulging in a pillow fight. The fight grows fast and furious until at length the feathers fly all around.

Popular early film from Sigmund Lubin, a film pioneer of Philly. This film is presumed lost but was seen a lot when it was available. 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

The fate of Lubinville 100 years after its prime is office buildings! 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

Describes commemoration of the historical Betzwood Studio site. Includes a picture of Eckhardt and colleagues in front of the new marker. By Lara Fine

Concise timeline of Sigmund Lubin’s life from 1851-1923. By Lara Fine

Even more details of the Edison-Lubin patent battle. Edison had some dirty practices too! By Lara Fine

The death of Sigmund Lubin was surrounded by suspicions that he fell into poverty in the last few years of his life. His daughter refutes this supposition and then the rest of the article is dedicated to an extended obituary. By Lara Fine

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 8. -- Ferdinand Singhi and his four-year-old son, Kingston, have been found in Chicago. Singhi's father-in-law, Sigmund Lubin, and Mrs. Singhi, who was Miss Edith Southern Lubin before her marriage five years ago, are preparing to send detectives West to induce Singhi to release the child. Sigmund Lubin is famous enough in Philadelphia to have to kidnapping of his son make the New York papers. 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

PHILADELPHIA, Penn., Oct. 7. -- Taken from a sick bed by his father on Sept. 30, Kingston Singhi, three years old, the grandson of Sigmund Lubin, a well-known manufacturer of moving-picture films, has not since been heard of by the child's mother, and Mr. Lubin is using every effort to locate the missing father and child. Sigmund Lubin is famous enough in Philadelphia to have to kidnapping of his son make the New York papers. By Lara Fine

Site contains a shot by shot comparison of Lubin’s copy of the Edison-Porter film of the same name. Sigmund Lubin was a notorious film plagiarizer. 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

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

Photos of Sigmund Lubin and his Cineograph Theater in Philadelphia.  By Lara Fine