| The Old Maid Having Her Picture Taken | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Edwin S. Porter |
| Distributed by | Edison Manufacturing Company |
Release date |
|
Running time | 1:15 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Old Maid Having Her Picture Taken is a 1901 silent short film directed by Edwin S. Porter in collaboration with George S. Fleming. The comic film depicts an unattractive old woman (played by celebrated vaudeville female impersonator Gilbert Saroni) arriving at a photo studio to have her picture taken, and destroying all of the equipment through the power of her ugliness.
The film exhibitor could pair this film with another 1901 Porter film, The Old Maid in the Drawing Room (also known as The Old Maid in the Horsecar), which was simply a shot of Saroni as the old maid, talking excitedly and making funny facial expressions. According to Charles Musser in Before the Nickelodeon, "It was suggested that the old maid was busy talking about her adventures at the photo gallery. Thus, if the exhibitor desired, he could combine these two single-shot films to create a more elaborate subject."[2]
- ^ Niver, Kemp R. (1985). Early Motion Pictures: The Paper Print Collection in the Library of Congress. Library of Congress. p. 180. ISBN 0-8444-0463-2. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ Musser, Charles (1991). Before the Nickelodeon: Edwin S. Porter and the Edison Manufacturing Company. University of California Press. p. 169. Retrieved 1 February 2024.