Robert Paul, pioneer of the British film industry in its formative years, started business in 1891 as an electrical instrument-maker. Asked by two Greek showmen, Georgiades and Tragides, to make replicas if the Edison peepshow Kinetoscope in 1894 (which had not been patented in England) he agreed, and then made others for himself. Unable to obtain films from Edison he needed to go into production, and produced a camera to the design of professional photographer Birt Acres. In February or March 1895 they shot a test film, and Acres went on to shoot several others for kinetoscope use, including: Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race, Arrest of a Pickpocket, The Derby, and Rough Sea at Dover. They were shown that summer at the Empire of India Exhibition, Earls Court, where Paul had installed kinetoscopes. Paul and Acres parted company, and pursued their individual careers. Paul patented a moving picture "experience" based on H.G.Wells' The Time Machine, but the idea never materialised. Paul projected films on his Theatrograph projector on 20th February 1896 at Finsbury Technical College (the same day as the first London Lumiere show), and publicly on 19 March at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly.
During 1896 Paul, with a new camera, produced A Soldier's Courtship (filmed on the roof of the Alhambra Theatre, London) and the popular 1896 Derby, shown at two London theatres within 24 hours of the event. Paul's film equipment was widely used in the early years of the 20th century.
Until 1905 Paul's Animatograph Works, Ltd., was England's largest producer, turning out an average of 50 films per year. He left the film business in 1910, returning to electrical work. Continue your tour with the other
BRITISH PIONEERS |
