Woodville Latham
Encyclopedia
Major Woodville Latham was an ordnance officer of the Confederacy
during the American Civil War
and professor of chemistry
at West Virginia University
. He was significant in the development of early film technology.
Woodville Latham was the father of Grey Latham and Otway Latham, owners of a kinetoscope
parlor in New York City
. In December 1894 Latham and his two sons formed the Lambda Company at 35 Frankfort Street, employing Eugène Lauste, a former Thomas Edison
employee, as well as motion picture pioneer William Kennedy Dickson
. Dickson would not leave Edison's employ until April 1895 and initially lent his expertise to the Lathams in secret.
The Lambda Company developed both a movie camera and prototype
movie projector, the Panoptikon (eventually renamed Eidoloscope
), which was demonstrated for members of the press on April 21, 1895 and opened to the paying public on May 20. These were the first public demonstrations of projected motion pictures in the United States.
In 1898 the Lathams abandoned motion pictures and soon lost their patents. Major Latham outlived his sons; by 1910 both Otway and Grey, who are said to have been hedonistic
in nature, had died.
Latham, aided by the collaboration of Dickson and Lauste, is notable for the invention of the Latham loop
inside movie cameras and projectors, a significant development in the history of cinema because it allowed motion pictures to be continuously shot and projected for a much longer period than the one-minute films of Thomas Edison
's kinetoscope
. Shortly before his death in 1911, Latham testified regarding the 'Latham loop' at a patent hearing.
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and professor of chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
. He was significant in the development of early film technology.
Woodville Latham was the father of Grey Latham and Otway Latham, owners of a kinetoscope
Kinetoscope
The Kinetoscope is an early motion picture exhibition device. Though not a movie projector—it was designed for films to be viewed individually through the window of a cabinet housing its components—the Kinetoscope introduced the basic approach that would become the standard for all cinematic...
parlor in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In December 1894 Latham and his two sons formed the Lambda Company at 35 Frankfort Street, employing Eugène Lauste, a former Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
employee, as well as motion picture pioneer William Kennedy Dickson
William Dickson (film pioneer)
William Kennedy Laurie Dickson was aFrench-born Anglo-Scots inventor who devised an early motion picture camera under the employment of Thomas Edison .-Biography:...
. Dickson would not leave Edison's employ until April 1895 and initially lent his expertise to the Lathams in secret.
The Lambda Company developed both a movie camera and prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
movie projector, the Panoptikon (eventually renamed Eidoloscope
Eidoloscope
The Eidoloscope was an early motion picture system created by Woodville Latham and his two sons through their business, the Lambda Company, in New York City in 1894 and 1895.-History:...
), which was demonstrated for members of the press on April 21, 1895 and opened to the paying public on May 20. These were the first public demonstrations of projected motion pictures in the United States.
In 1898 the Lathams abandoned motion pictures and soon lost their patents. Major Latham outlived his sons; by 1910 both Otway and Grey, who are said to have been hedonistic
Hedonism
Hedonism is a school of thought which argues that pleasure is the only intrinsic good. In very simple terms, a hedonist strives to maximize net pleasure .-Etymology:The name derives from the Greek word for "delight" ....
in nature, had died.
Latham, aided by the collaboration of Dickson and Lauste, is notable for the invention of the Latham loop
Latham loop
The Latham Loop is used in film projection and image capture. It isolates the filmstrip from vibration and tension, allowing movies to be continuously shot and projected for extended periods....
inside movie cameras and projectors, a significant development in the history of cinema because it allowed motion pictures to be continuously shot and projected for a much longer period than the one-minute films of Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
's kinetoscope
Kinetoscope
The Kinetoscope is an early motion picture exhibition device. Though not a movie projector—it was designed for films to be viewed individually through the window of a cabinet housing its components—the Kinetoscope introduced the basic approach that would become the standard for all cinematic...
. Shortly before his death in 1911, Latham testified regarding the 'Latham loop' at a patent hearing.
External links
- Projecting kinetoscope, U.S. Patent filed by Woodville Latham in June 1896.
- Apparatus for photographing objects in motion and projecting pictures, U.S. Patent filed by Woodville Latham in December 1896.