Les Animated Pictures de Thomas James West (Bath Saloon, [16]-24 octobre 1903)

Thomas James West présente ses vues animées au Bath Saloon en octobre.

WEST'S CINEMATOGRAPH ENTERTAINMENT. Time who desire a more interesting, instructive, and novel entertainment than that afforded by Mr. T. J. West's animated pictures which are being exhibited at the Bath Saloon each afternoon and evening up to and inclusive of Saturday, October 24th, must indeed be hard to please. Since Mr. West's last visit to Torquay cinematography has made a great advance, and one of the great features of the entertainment is a series of remarkable films produced by Mr. F. Martin Duncan, showing the mites at work on a piece of cheese, the tiny animals being magnified to the size of crabs; minute hydra in a drop of water shooting out their tentacles in search of food, the blood coursing through the velus of a frog's foot, and even the life fluid circulating in the tiny veins of a piece of Canadian water weed. The lightning like dart of a chameleon's tongue, and the tremendous muscular power of a boa constrictor are most realistically shown, but for downright instruction and interest the Bee series of pictures are perhaps most marvellous, showing as they do the different phases of bee culture and the amount of labour the insects put into their like work and the methods they adopt in the manufacture of honey. Apart from these marvels of the photographers' art are many other interesting films quite new to Torquay, a series illustrative of a great fire in London, and the fight of the fire brigade with the gigantic conflagration being both exciting and awe-inspiring. The humorous element is not forgotten, and there are pictures which compel even the most sedate to be convulsed with laughter. The pictures alone constitue a splendid evening's entertainment; but in addition Mr. West provides a rich musical treat. We have previously referred to the remarkably effective and clever piano playing of Mr. T. M. Lax, who has quite a style of his own, which cannot fail to charm all with a musical ear. Mr. Mattie Cheshire, with his quaint stories and songs, is most diverting, and Miss Lily Cole, the possessor of an extraordinarily deep contralto voice, sings well-known songs, described by lantern pictures, in truly artistic style, whilst Master George, a youngster of 12 or 13 years, renders such songs as "Daddy," with great power and feeling. The entertainment, as a whole, cannot be too highly praised; it is thoroughly enjoyable, and although it occupies nearly two-and-a-half hours, there is so much that is wonderful that at the end there is no sense of weariness; on the contrary, one almost wishes for more.

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Torquay Times, and Souht Devon Advertiser, Torquay, vendredi 16 octobre 1903, p. 7.