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Les origines (1838-1896)

Fils d'un vendeur de pelotes de laine, Joseph Riley est né à Bradford où la famille est recensée en 1841. Il commence sa vie professionnelle à l’âge de sept ans, lorsqu’il trouve un emploi chez un fabricant de cordes, puis dans une mine de charbon et dans une usine. En 1851, la famille est toujours recensée à Bradford. Après avoir étudié à l’école du soir et au Mechanics’ Institute, il trouve du travail dans l’imprimerie dans plusieurs entreprises de Bradford. En 1857, il rejoint l’Église méthodiste, « l’événement le plus marquant de l’histoire de ma vie », et devient plus tard prédicateur local à Bradford et dans d’autres circuits. Au recensement de 1861, toujours à Bradford le père Samuel est "agricultural Laborer" et Joseph est "printer". En 1862, il épouse Hannah Jowett qui donne naissance à deux enfants: Herbert (1863) et Willie (1866).

Constatant que l’imprimerie ne lui offre pas de possibilités pour satisfaire ses ambitions, Riley retourne à l’industrie manufacturière en tant que commis et comptable chez Walker’s Mill à New Leeds, puis en tant que directeur dans des entreprises à Briarfield et Drighlington. En 1868, son épouse décède. Il s’associe par la suite à son beau-père, Joseph Jowett. Au recensement de 1871 (Bradford), il vit seul avec ses deux fils et une servante et figure comme "manager" et "preacher". Le partenariat entre Joseph Riley et Joseph Jowett prend fin le 1^er mars 1873.

The Bradford Observer, Bradford, vendredi 14 mars 1873, p. 4.

La même année Joseph Riley forme un nouveau partenariat à Cleckheaton avec Benjamin Musgrave. Cette entreprise échoue en raison du manque de compétences locales et de l’inflation des prix de la laine. Riley retourne travailler pour Jowett en tant qu’employé ; cependant, des irrégularités commerciales conduisent à la liquidation de l’entreprise qui a lieu en février 1875.

Bradford Observer, Bradford, lundi 22 février 1875, p. 1.

En 1881, Joseph Riley est recensé à Heaton avec sa nouvelle épouse et ses enfants et figure comme "manufacturer" et "preacher". Il est alors à son compte avant de monter un partenariat de marchands de tissus avec son frère Sam Butler, qui va prospérer au cours des années 1880 avec deux établissements l'un à Bradford et l'autre à Manchester (Lancaster) :

Twenty-five years ago the debtor and his brother, Samuel Butler Riley, began business in partnership at stuff marchants and manufacturers on commission, at 5, Cheapside, Bradford. Their joint capital amounted to £800. The partnership was dissolved in 1886, and accounts were prepared which showed that their capital at that date had increased from £800 to £8000.

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Bradford Daily Telegraph, Bradford, vendredi 24 octobre 1902, p. 6.

En novembre 1886, les deux frères, d'un commun accord, mettent un terme à leur partenariat et c'est Joseph qui reprend l'affaire à son compte.

Bradford Daily Telegraph, Bradford, samedi 4 décembre 1886, p. 1.

L’entreprise prospère ; la famille déménage à Frizinghall puis à Baildon, et en 1889 retourne à Bradford. Un ouvrage, The Optical Lantern résume ainsi les activités des "Riley Brothers" et la qualité et le réalisme de leurs "slides" : 

Riley Brothers. — A firm who do an immense hiring out trade, to which we refer later. In addition, they do their own colouring, and manufacture several original sets of slides. We will refer to one that has especially taken our fancy, viz., " People we Meet." These are not made up from life models in the ordinary understanding of that phrase, that is, live people suitably attired photographed in a studio in front of a consistent background. But they are taken directly in the street, and show the natural surroundings. Some perhaps are " People we would rather not Meet," such as the gas inspector. The slides we have seen are extremely good and realistic. Then there are the political series, representing Ireland from the Gladstonian Liberal point of view, which are quite unique in their effect and completeness. Also one upon a new country, or, rather, we should say the set is new—"Fiji and the Fijians." The firm have not quite a universal price, but the majority are 1/- each plain, and 1/9 coloured ; the colouring being very well done for so low a price.

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Walter D. WELFORD & Henry STURMEY, The Optical Lantern, Londres, Iliffe & Son, 1888, p. 328.

C'est en mai et juin de 1889 que Joseph Riley effectue un voyage jusqu'à Constantinople qu'il raconte dans un journal Notes of journey from Bradford to Constantinople... Il s'agit, au début, de contrôler les fournisseurs en étoffes dont l'honnêté ne semble pas tout à fait exemplaire.

Notes of journey from Bradford to Constantinople... (1889)
Source: Joseph Riley Archive

L'intérêt de Joseph Riley pour les lanternes magiques, qui remonte à la fin de cette dernière décennie, va le conduire à se lancer dans une nouvelle entreprise. Dès 1890, Herbert et William Riley, qui seront rejoints plus tard par leurs demi-frères Arnold et Bernard, participent à des événements au cours desquels ils présentent des animations avec leur lanterne magique :

BRADFORD Y.M.C.A..-On Saturday evening the annual  New Year conversazione of the members and friends of the Young Men's Christian Association was held in the Association Rooms, Sunbridge Road, Bradford. Tea was served to about 300 persons, after which microscopic exhibits and pneumatic experiments were shown by Mr J. Bennett, and a magic lantern entertainment was given by Messrs Riley Brothers.

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Bradford Daily Telegraph, Braford, mardi 7 janvier 1890, p. 3.

Au recensement de 1891 (Bradford. Manningham), Joseph Riley figure comme "manufacturer", avec la mention "magic lantern". Son fils Herbert vit pour sa part avec sa jeune épouse Minnie et sa sœur Ethel à Guiseley, non loin de Bradford. Les "Riley Brothers" vont vite devenir les véritables promoteurs des lanternes magiques.

The Bradford Daily Telegraph, Bradford, jeudi 22 décembre 1892, p. 1.	Etablissement Riley Brothers (1894) Hire list of Lanterns and Lantern Slides. Season 1894-5. source: Lucerna Magic Lantern Web Resource CIC.

Dans le but de développer leurs affaires aux États-Unis, Herbert Riley, son épouse et ses deux enfants embarquent sur le Teutonic et accostent à New York le 3 juillet 1895. Dès cette année, Herbert Riley commence à publier des catalogues des productions de la maison Riley.

Riley Brothers. Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress [1895].

À peine quelques mois plus tard, le 11 janvier 1896, Herbert Riley dépose ainsi à la Library of Congress "The Stereopticon Illustrator of 'Ben Hur'. A Tale of the Christ by General Lew Wallace". L'auteur de l'ouvrage à succès, Lewis Wallace va alors poursuivre en justice Herbert pour avoir reproduit des slides qui se réfèrent au roman Ben Hur. 

Frank Weeks et Nannie Preston, Ben Hur (Riley Brothers, 1896). Musée du Précinéma. Collection Minici Zotti Padoue, Italie. Source: BRACHA, 2001: 217.	The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger, vol. 7, nº 81, février 1896, xx.

Du côté britannique, les Riley fournissent de nombreux exploitants et leurs slides connaissent un vrai succès comme on peut le lire à de multiples reprises:

ENTERTAINMENT.-The English Congregational Band of Hope gave a popular lantern entertainment on Monday last, comprising two lectures, entitled, "The dying Saviour and the gipsy girl". [...] The pictures, hired from Messrs Riley Brothers, Bradford, were, in both lectures, remarkably good.

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Pontypool Free Press, Pontypool, vendredi 17 janvier 1896,p. 8.

Dans un article publié en 1902, le journaliste fait le bilan positif de la société :

After the dissolution the debtor continued the business alone, and the trading remained profitable until 1894, at which date his capital had increased to £3,000. Three-quarters of that amount, however, the debtor had working in the firm of Riley Brothers, who carried on business in Bradford as manufacturers of magic lanterns, the partners in that firm being the debtor and his three sons.

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Bradford Daily Telegraph, Bradford, vendredi 24 octobre 1902, p. 6.

Les images animées (1896-1900)

C'est vers la fin de l'année 1896, que les frères Riley vont faire l'acquisition du kineoptoscope de l'inventeur Cecil Wray.

The Leeds Mercury, mercredi 25 novembre 1896, p. 1.

Ils commercialisent ainsi le Kineoptoscope et publient des annonces dans la presse spécialisée. L'entreprise des frères Riley à Bradford est distante de quelques kilomètres de celle des frères Bamforth, située à Holmfirth, et toutes deux se consacrent à la fabrication et vente de lanternes magiques et de slides. Dès lors que les Riley vont obtenir les droits de commercialisation du kineoptoscope de son inventeur Cecil Wray, les Bamforth vont s'en procurer un modèle afin d'en assurer son exploitation.

The Optical Magic Lantern Journal, vol. 8, nº 93, février 1897, p. xvii.	The Bradford Observer, Bradford, vendredi 12 novembre 1897, p. 1.

Le kineoptoscope est également commercialisé, dès 1897, aux États-Unis. Avec la probable complicité d'Harry Bamforth, les frères Riley vont disposer d'une série de vues originales locales dès le début de l'année 1898. L'une des premières, Street Scene in Boar Lane est présentée à Honley en février 1898 :

UNITED FORWARD MOVEMENT AT HONLEY
OLD FOLKS' GATHERING
The seventh annual old folk's tea meeting in connection with the movement was held in the Congregational School, Honley, on Monday.
[...]
Mr. H. Bamforth, of Holmfirth, here introduced his cinematograph views, to the great delight of the old people specially, and for half an hour everybody was intensely interested with the life-like pictures as they moved along. [...] Mr. Bamforth for another half hour presented his living pictures, and gave great satisfaction, as was evidenced by the excitement and delight of the spectators. the views were splendid, and far surpassed those of the ordinary magic lantern. the views most taking were notably "The railway station," with its moving train and busy people; "The Costume Race," view in Moscow, with its slow moving men and horses, and, in contrast to that, Boar Lane, Leeds, with its quick moving traffic and sprightly stirring people. The whole of the views were exhibited without a hitch, and very skillful manner in which the least fear of danger.

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Huddersfield Daily Examiner, Huddersfield, jeudi 10 février 1898, p. 2.

En mai, "Bentley and Rigg" mettent en vente un Riley's Kineoptocope d'occasion, acheté trois semaines plus tôt :

CINEMATOGRAPH (Riley's Kineoptoscope), used Three Weeks, Cost. £10. Accept £4 10s. Films as follows; Skirt Dancer, Filling Mill Chimney, Canoeing, and Chirwin, 12s. 6 d. each; Horses Bathing, Judging the Pictures, Cyclists at Level Crossing, Arrival of Dover Boar, Three Macs and Cigar Biz, and Boys at Play, 15s. each; Serpentine Dancer and Queensbury Tunnel, 20s. each.
BENTLEY and RIGG, Low Baildon, near Shipley, Yorks.

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The Era, Londres, samedi 21 mai 1898, p. 32.

En octobre de la même année, les frères Riley font passer une première annonce où figurent quelques titres de films qu'ils distribuent.

The Era, Londres, samedi 22 octobre 1898, p. 15.	The Era, Londres samedi 19 novembre 1898, p. 17.

Il s'agit de Highland Dances, March Past of the Black Watch, Joe Darby in His Various Jumps, Skipping-Rope Contests, Gardener Watering Plants (A Splendid Film), Weary Willie in the Park, Fun in the Harvest Field. Un mois plus tard, une nouvelle annonce propose quelques autres titres : Highland Fling by Highland Children, Sword Dance by a Corporal in the Black Watch et Queensbury Tunnel.

Sous couvert d'anonymat, la presse du Yorkshire publie, en avril 1901, un témoignage dont l'auteur est très probablement un membre des familles Riley ou Bamforth et qui a pour objet la séance organisée au château de Balmoral en présence de plusieurs membres de la famille royale britannique :

The Queen and the Dancing Bears
One day in 1898 I had the honour of giving an exhibition of the cinematograph before the Cort at Balmoral by command of our late Queen. l arrived at the Castle, along with those who were to assist me, about ten o'clock in the morning, As we were not to begin until about six p.m., we ample time to fit up our apparatus and see about us. As an alteration was being made in the Royal ballroom, where the entertainment was to be given, we were informed that we could not start tilting our instrument till mid-day. To pass the two hours at our disposal we took a stroll through the beautiful grounds surrounding the Queen's Highland Home. We were returning to the Castle about twelve o'clock when we observed the Queen and two of her grandchildren driving down the main avenue in the donkey cart so much used by Her Majesty during her visits to Scotland. As we entered the ballroom we were amused to see one of the Royal footmen running out with the Queen's big chair on his head. We next heard one of the servants ask where he was going with the chair, to which he replied :—" To the lodge. Her Majesty's awa' doon to see some dancin' bears." When the footman returned with the chair we learned from him why it had been wanted. A wandering Pole who, with his performing bears, had been making his way to Braemar from Ballater, had noticed the Lodge and Castle gates, and concluded that he might be allowed to perform before the big house. He thereupon begged the lodge-keeper to admit him and his bears, not knowing that he was at the Royal residence. He, of course, was promptly refused admittance, and told to go away, which he did. Somehow the Queen got word that there were dancing bears at the Lodge, and thinking it would delight her grandchildren, with whom she was speeding part of the afternoon. Her Majesty at once despatched a messenger after the man and had him brought back. The Queen with the children had then driven down to the gates, and had ordered her chair to follow. The gates were kept closed; and whilst the Queen, seated in her chair, and the children in the donkey-cart, were within the gates, the man and his bears performed on the outer side. The performance, which lasted some fifteen minutes, was what one might see in any of our villages, the bears dancing clumsily to the chanting and grunting of their master. When the performance was finished the men doffed his cap, which he had kept on his head all the time, not knowing who his audience were. The Queen gave the footman three sovereigns, which he in turn handed through the gates to the poor man, who unconsciously had the honour of performing before the greatest Monarch the world has ever seen.

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Yorkshire Factory Times, vendredi 5 avril 1901, p. 2.

Dans certaines présentations locales, on retrouve des films du répertoire des frères Riley comme cela est le cas à Tonbridge (novembre 1898), Uttoxeter (février 1899),  Ripon (novembre 1899), Leigh (juillet 1900)... Les vues animées sont tourjous commercialisées à la fin de l'année 1899 :

Several popular songs are also illustrated, the Chokee Bill series of cinematographic film pictures, and several beautiful lace and other new curtain slides.

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The Optical Magic Lantern Journal, vol. 10, nº 125, octobre 1899, p. 139.

Au tournant du siècle, les annonces dans la presse deviennent rares avant de disparaître totalement. En mai 1900, La création d'une société à responsabilité limitée pour le commerce des lanternes et des cinématographes ne va donner les résultats escomptés :

In May, 1900, the lantern business was taken over by a limited company, consisting of the debtor and his partners and three nominal shareholders to make up the statutory number of seven. At that date the debtor's interest in the concerne was put down at £8355, for which amount he received debentures. These, he informs me, were handed to this bankers as security immediately the company was formed. His stuff business at this date, viz. May, 1900, shows a [surplus] of assets over liabilities of £2164. Since then he has continued that business alone, and has assisted in the lantern business, receiving as chairman the sum of £186 10s. per annum, which amount he has paid for premiums on a life policy which the bank holds as security. His business as stuff merchant has been unsuccessful for the last three years, owing mainly to losses by bad debts in connection with his foreign trade. These amount to £4600. A balance sheet prepared on the 30th June, 1901, showed that his assets exceeded his liabilities by £719 19s. 3d. In preparing his balance sheet, however, there were [...tted] from the assets household furniture, witch is valued at £108, and the surrender value of life policies, £1100. On the other hand book debts were included as good which have since turned out bad to the extent of £1872, and a contingent liability of £1181 12s. 6d. was omitted altogether. Has these items been included in the balance sheet referred to there would have been, instead of a surplus of £719 19s. 8d., a deficit of £1126.

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Bradford Daily Telegraph, Bradford, vendredi 24 octobre 1902, p. 6.

Et après (1901-1961)

Au recensement de 1901, Joseph et sa famille demeurent toujours à Bradford. En août 1902, la situation commericale devient critique et conduit à la faillite de l'entreprise :

About the end of August last, the bank having refused to make any further advance, the debtor consulted his creditors. An assignement was proposed, but a resolution to the effect that his affairs should be wound up in bankruptcy was passed. After the meeting he continued his business pending the consideration of proposals made by the bank, who, he states, desired him not to place his affairs in bankruptcy. A fortnight ago, however, these negotiations fell through, and he thereupon filed his petition.

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Bradford Daily Telegraph, Bradford, vendredi 24 octobre 1902, p. 6.

D'après Joseph Riley, la faillite est due essentiellement à l'échec de la succursale américaine des lanternes magiques et du kineoptoscope :

BRADFORD STUFF MERCHANT'S AFFAIRS.
A statement of affairs has been issued to the creditors of Joseph, of 63, St. Mary's Terrace, Manningham, carrying on business as a stuff marchant at 27, Booth Street, Bradford, under the name of Riley Brothers. The statement discloses gross liabilities amounting to £9,143 16s. 3d. The liabilities expected to rank for dividend are estimated at £7, 538 16s. 2d., and there is a deficiency of £4,246 1s. 5d. The debtor attributes his insolvency to losses by bad debts in connection with the stuff business, and to an unsuccessful attempt to establish a busines in magic lanterns in America. 

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Bradford Daily Telegraph, Bradford, vendredi 24 octobre 1902, p. 6.

Dès 1903, une nouvelle entreprise, la Riley Brothers Limited reprend les affaires au 17, West Colonnade à Bradford.

Riley Brothers Ltd. Season 1903-1904.	Catholic Times and Catholic Opinion, vendredi 20 décembre 1907, p. 6.

À la mort de son épouse Mary, Joseph va rédiger son autobiographie que son fils reprendra en partie dans ses propres souvenirs. 

Memoranda Joseph Ripley (27 octobre 1910)
Source : Joseph Riley Archive

Jose Riley (recensement) et Willie (recensement) résident toujours à Bradford en 1911. William Riley publie, ne 1912, son premier roman, Windyridge alors qu'il va gérer son entreprise d'optique jusqu'à sa faillite en 1914. Dès lors, il va se consacrer pleinement à l'écriture. En 1919, il s'installe avec son épouse à Silverdale (Lancashire) où va publier une quarantaine d'ouvrages dont une majorité de romans. En 1926, Joseph décède. En 1957, Willie publie son autobiographie, Sunset Reflections. En 1941, c'est le frère aîné, Herbert, qui disparaît aux États-Unis où il n'a cessé de résider. 

Ocean View Cemetery. Oakwood (Richmond County). New York.

Vingt ans plus tard, en 19161, William Riley décède à son tour.

Sources

BRACHA Oren, "Before an Image Was Worth a Thousand Words: Ben-Hur and Copyright's Right of Derivatives" dans Marie-Stéphanie DELAMAIRE et Will SLAUTER, Circulation and Control. Artistic Culture and Intellectual Property in the Nineteenth Century. Artistic Culture and Intellectual Property in the Nineteenth Century,  OpenBook Publishers, 2021, p. 195-233.

https://books.openbookpublishers.com/10.11647/obp.0247/ch6.xhtml

BROWN Simon, Cecil Hepworth and the Rise of the British Film Industry 1899-1911, Exeter, University of Exeter, 2016.

COPELAND David, From Bradford Moor to Silver Dale, Université de Bradford, 2009.

Joseph Riley Archive: https://www.bradford.ac.uk/library/special-collections/our-collections/joseph-riley-archive/

RILEY BROTHERS. Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, [1895], 10 p.

RILEY Willie, Sunset Reflections. 

Special Collections-University of Bradford. https://specialcollectionsbradford.wordpress.com/category/riley-willie/

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