Biography

George S. Fleming was an American actor, director, and scenic designer active in the early 20th century. In January 1901, he joined the Edison Manufacturing Company as it opened its new rooftop studio on East Twenty-First Street in New York City. Fleming frequently collaborated with Edwin S. Porter, contributing to several early films. Notably, he co-directed What Happened on Twenty-third Street, New York City (1901), a short film that humorously depicts a woman's skirt being lifted by a gust of air from a sidewalk grate. This scene is considered an early example of cinematic humor and voyeurism. Fleming's work during this formative period of cinema helped lay the groundwork for narrative storytelling in film.