One of the very first was more of
a short scene than a film. It was called L’Arrivée d’un
train en gare de La Ciotat ( Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat). The 50- second-
long silent black and white was filmed in 1896 by Auguste and Louis Lumiere.
There is an urban legend that tells of how the film caused a stampede when the audience
thought the train would drive right into them. But the truth was just the
audience and the journalists were just impressed and amazed. They were
pleasantly surprised and was very excited for more film.
With the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, assisting or helping hide fugitive slaves became a federal offense, making all Underground Railroad activity subject to six months in prison and a $1,000 fine. Escaping from slavery or helping someone to escape from slavery was a very difficult and dangerous task.
