Johnc Rice News Today

The art of romantic osculation barely survived the jaded seventies. Now it’s time to rediscover the private delights and civic benefits of real kissing.

The first motion picture made in the United States was "The Kiss," which was produced by the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company in 1896. The film, which was directed by William Heise and starred May Irwin and John C. Rice, was shot in New York City and ran for about 46 seconds.

Allyson Nadia Field, a film scholar at the University of Chicago, was one of the experts last fall who was able to trace the Chicago origins of "Something Good-Negro Kiss," a recently discovered film clip depicting an early onscreen kiss between two African-Americans, likely shot in 1898.

Pucker up, buttercup! For World Kissing Day, we look at the best smooches of all time — from those on the big screen to the most memorable real life kisses captured on camera.