In case you're curious what inventor Thomas Edison's filmmaking skills were like, watch this 1909 footage of author Mark Twain to find out. Edison captured the author and humorist hanging out with his daughters Clara and Jean at his Redding, Connecticut estate, which he dubbed "Stormfield." This is the only known footage of Twain in existence.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer writer smokes like a chimney, drinks tea, sports a lovely scowl that complements his unruly cloud of white hair, and strolls along his picturesque property for the camera. It's a nice snapshot of celluloid and literary history — which was apparently used in part for a two-reel, 1909 short film, The Prince and the Pauper (based on another Twain tale). Watch the clip below. [via Flavorwire]