This historic 30-second clip captures Mike Leonard vs. Jack Cushing in the earliest filmed boxing match, recorded by Thomas Edison's team at his Black Maria studio. The grainy kinetoscope footage shows a gloved exhibition bout under 19th-century rules - no ring ropes, grappling allowed, and rounds until someone falls. While not a competitive fight, this 1894 test of motion picture technology preserved pugilism's rough elegance for future generations. | History In Pictures

In the 1890s, movies started with basic tech. Edison’s Kinetoscope allowed one viewer to watch short looped films, while the Lumière brothers’ Cinématographe could record and project for group viewings. Both used hand-cranked cameras capturing 16 fps on black-and-white film. There was no sound or color, with live music or narration added. Editing was minimal, films were one shot. | Historyinmemes

This was how people watched movies in 1894 They used this machine called the Kinetoscope, invented by Thomas Edison. One person at a time had to peek inside to watch short clips. Now imagine trying to watch a whole season on this 🤔😅 | Chukwuma Nwokeji

[4k, 60fps, colorized] (1893) Some of Edison's first kinetoscopes: Blacksmith scene and Carmencita.