From mines to movies – that is the story of William Kennedy Laurie Dickson. He was among Edison’s crew at the West Orange Laboratory, and mainly worked on the iron ore mine in western New Jersey which later failed. Dickson was highly skilled as a photographer, and this led him to work with Edison on motion pictures. His contribution was so great that historians sometimes wonder who played a more important role in the development of cinema, Dickson or Edison.
Dickson’s relationship with Edison had a sad ending, though. The fast pace of work at the laboratory affected Dickson and he had a nervous breakdown in 1893. By the next year, he started to work for a rival company, while remaining on Edison’s staff. After a year, Dickson had to leave Edison on bitter terms.
Picture Credit : Google
