Photodrama of Creation
Photodrama of Creation
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"The Photo-Drama of Creation" was a groundbreaking multimedia production created by the Bible Student movement, under the leadership of Charles Taze Russell. Released in 1914, it was one of the first major attempts to combine motion pictures, synchronized audio recordings (using phonograph discs), and color slides to tell a narrative—in this case, a biblical interpretation of world history from creation to the end of the millennium.
Key Facts about the Photo-Drama:
Key Facts about the Photo-Drama:
It was about 8 hours long, divided into four parts.
It was free to the public and reportedly viewed by over 9 million people worldwide in its early years.
It presented an interpretation of the Bible, spanning from the creation of the Earth to Christ's millennial reign.
It included scientific and historical content to support biblical timelines and narratives.
Some aspects of the interpretive content in the Photo-Drama are now outdated or proven incorrect by modern scientific research, (See below).
Highlights from the Photo-Drama of Creation (1914) - Remastered in HD
Highlights from the Photo-Drama of Creation (1914) - Remastered in HD
A pioneering four-part presentation released in 1914 under the direction of Charles Taze Russell, founder of the International Bible Students Association (IBSA).
Originally 8 hours in total, it was presented in 4 parts over 4 days, with free admission. The book American Movie Classics, Timeline of Greatest Film History Milestones' describes it as the first major screenplay to incorporate synchronized sound, moving film, and color slides.
As much as what is available has been restored here in the original order, including dramatic recreation of events such as Noah, Abraham and Jesus.
Full version:
Part One: • The Photo-Drama of Creation (1914) - Part 1...
Part Two: • The Photo-Drama of Creation (1914) - Part 2...
Part Three: • The Photo-Drama of Creation (1914) - Part 3...
Regarding Scientifically Outdated Information:
Regarding Scientifically Outdated Information:
Many aspects of the scientific content in the Photo-Drama are now outdated or incorrect by modern standards.
For example:
The age of the Earth was drastically underestimated.
Ideas about human ancestry, geology, and astronomy were framed to fit a biblical timeline.
Evolution was rejected outright, with preference for creationist models.
However, it's important to contextualize this in the intellectual climate of the early 20th century:
In 1914, the general public understanding of science was limited compared to today.
Major scientific theories (like plate tectonics, DNA, or deep space astronomy) were either in their infancy or not yet developed.
Religious groups were often trying to reconcile emerging science with scripture, sometimes resulting in speculative or flawed conclusions.
Why It Matters:
Why It Matters:
The Photo-Drama represents an early attempt at mass education using multimedia, which was innovative for its time.
It illustrates how belief systems shape the interpretation of science and history.
It’s a case study in how people and institutions often work with the best available information, even if it's later disproven.
In short, while much of the information in the Photo-Drama is outdated today, it was a sincere effort to combine faith, education, and technology at a time when those intersections were rarely explored so publicly.
Click below to read online:
Click below to read online:
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