2

Les origines (1855-1896)

Fils d'un cordonnier londonien (Boot & Shoe Marker), il figure avec sa famille au recensement de 1861. Dès son enfant, il est intéressé par les lanternes magiques :

His connection with lantern work dated back to 1871, when he was impressed with a lecture and the photo-slides of the Franco-Prussian War. The interesting lecture evidently made a big impression upon him in his schooldays at Bedford...

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"A Father of the Industry. Death of Mr. T. J. West", Kinematograph Weekly, jeudi 7 décembre 1916, p. 13.

En 1871, il réside avec sa grand-mère maternelle à Bedford (recensement 1871) où il figure comme commis (Assistant Clerk). C'est dès 1874 qu'il commence à travailler pour Hardy Gillard, un exploitant de panoramas.

Tauton Courier and Western Advertiser, mercredi 6 mai 1874, p. 1.

"Go and see Hardy Gillard's great American educational panorama, Over the Pacific Railway to California : bird's eye view of the country from New York to San Francisco, 3,500 miles."
Source: The New York Public Library. Digital Collections

Dès le début de l'année 1879, Thomas James West exploite le "Phillipson's Imperial hand-bell ringers" qui permet d'interpréter des morceaux de musique grâce à de mulitples cloches de taille différente.

The Bath Chronicle, Bath, jeudi 24 avril 1879, p. 5.

Il devient par la suite (1880) le secrétaire et manager du "Signor Boz, the Sensational Conjurer".

The Era, Londres, 29 février 1880, p. 17.

Quelques mois plus tard, il abandonne ce spectacle, après avoir été engagé par Sam Hague, propriétaire et manager du St. James's Hall.

The Era, Londres, 11 avril 1880, p. 19.

The Birkenhead News, samedi 25 octobre 1884, p. 8.

Au cours des années suivantes, on le retrouve manager du tragédien Walter Bentley (1887)... Par la suite, il devient propriétaire de dioramas qu'il va présenter sur le territoire britannique :

Soon afterwards he became owner of another diorama, and started out at the Waverley Rooms in Edinburgh; it was in this that he introduced some innovations and effects, which materially added to the attraction. With the waning of the diorama, panorama, myrorama, and other similar shows, he started in the old Polytechnic with the triple lantern, and instituted an entertainment known as "The Heavens, the Earth, and Under the Sea"; he later toured the country with this successful entertainment, and [his] scientific developments appeared, they were introduced into his show, and included the Roentgen Rays and a stereoscopic projection known as the Analyticon. This was an invention shown upon a silver screen consisting of two pictures, one super-imposed on the other, an analyser being used by those who viewed the pictures, which formed a more or less stereoscopic effect. He had the honour of showing this before King Edward VII, who was then Prince of Wales. One of the drawbacks of the entertainment was, however, the fact that the analysers cost 2s. 6d. each, and were generally taken away by the patrons, who paid sixpence for admission.

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"A Father of the Industry. Death of Mr. T. J. West", Kinematograph Weekly, jeudi 7 décembre 1916, p. 13.

The Telegram, mardi 3 novembre 1896, p. 5.

Dans ses souvenirs, il évoque l'époque de l'arrivée du cinématographe alors qu'il présente un spectacle intitulé "The Heavens, the Earth, and Under the Sea" :

The first year that the cinematograph was introduced in Great Britain, I happened to be touring Scotland, giving a lecture on "The Heavens, the Earth, and Under the Sea," which was really in itself a moving picture show, but of course done mechanical slides projected from a triple lantern.
For the first part, dealing with "The Heavens," which was practically a lecture on astronomy, and consisted of a digest of the works of that famous astronomer, Sir Robert Ball, I used a splendid series of mechanical astronomical slides by Carpenter and Westley, which embraced a planetarium, and mechanically illustrated the movement of the earth and other planets round the sun; other slides showing the movement of the tides, of comets, etc., and which, on the whole, was of such of interesting character as to demand the attention of all classes that attended my lectures.
For the second part of the show I exhibited slides dealing with many of "The Earth's Wonders," such as the Falls of Niagara, the Eruption of Vesuvius, and the like, for which I also used mechanical slides which were beautifully coloured by Mr. Edmund H. Wilkie. I was a little puzzled to find anything suitable for slides illustrating that section of the lecture entitled "Under the Sea," when I obtained a series of  lantern plates from the late Mr. Walter Tyler, designed on the illustrations in Jules Verne's famous work, "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea."
At the conclusion of the lecture we used to have an extra seance demonstrating the then great novelty of the X-Rays.
Altogether (although I say it), it was a very interesting and successful show. I obtained much honour and reputation from the same, and a fair amount of shekels.

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WEST, 1912: 815.

Thomas James West

Le zoegraph et le cinématographe (1897-1906)

Dès le mois de février 1897, la société The Modern Marvel Co. présente à Perth un appareil cinématographique, le Zoegraph. Parmi les animateurs des séances en février on compte Ross Scott, J. William et C. P. Robertson :

Mr Ross Scott kept the audience in good humour by his clever sketches, while Mr J. William was excellent lecturer. Much credit is also due to Mr C. P. Robertson, who acted electrician. This excellent performance will repeated to-night, when no doubt the hall will again well filled.

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Dundee Courier, Dundee, vendredi 26 février 1897, p. 4.

D'autres séances ont lieu à Grangemouth, Alloa, Brechin, Montrose, Dundee, Inverness, Dingwall... Dès le mois de mars, cependant, on apprend que Thomas James West semble avoir repris ces projections que The Modern Marvel Co. organise à Cupar :

This, the gentleman himself explained, was due to a joint enlargement. Interesting and instructive as all these illustrations were, the benefit derived from them was greatly enhanced by the remarks of the lecturer-Mr. T. J. West. this gentleman, who is not altogether a stranger to Cupar (having visited the town previously in connection with other touring companies), has lectured twenty-nine times before Royalty, and shewed by his intelligent observation and graceful delivery that his reputation as a lecturer is based on no meretricious claims. The Modern Marvel Company, it may be added, is organized by one of the largest Syndicates going, with great wealth at its back. Its mission is to buy up every noteworthy invention or discovery capable of exhibition, and to tour round the country giving representations of them along with oral explanations. The entertainment thus becomes not merely a pleasure for sight seers, but a positive instruction to all interested in modern developments in every field of labour.

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St Andrews Citizen, Cupar, samedi 27 mars 1897, p. 5.

The Modern Marvel Co. et son principal animateur, Thomas James West vont continuer à présente le zoegraph jusqu'en avril 1897. Dès lors ce nom disparaît pour laisser place à un "cinematograph" dont on ne connaît pas l'origine exacte. En réalité, Thomas, James West s'engage dans une nouvelle étape au cours de laquelle il va faire équipe avec George, Hastings Philp. Ils commencent leur tournée à Silloth, le 2 août 1897, comme le raconte West lui-même :

Then came the cinematograph, and I quickly recognised the possibilities of this wonderful invention, and was one of the first in, as a touring exhibitor of the same. I started on a tour in Scotland, and, in response to an advertisement for an operator, I had an application from Mr. George Hastings Philp, and he was at once engaged, and seeing that he is still with me at the present day in the responsible post of my principal buyer is eloquent of a mutual appreciation.
And now I come to the whiskers. At that early stage, of course, a touring show was always worked by limelight, and the first place Mr. Philp joined me at was the first time I brought the show into England, at Silloth, in Cumberland. The executive of the show was limited to myself and Mr. Philp; I did the lecturing, and Mr. Philp did the operating. On the day of his arrival he said to me, "I always make a practice, when gauging the contents of the cylinders, to test the regulators for any leaks." I said, "Good ! " and he requested me to assist him in this matter. He desired me to place my thumb over the coal-gas outlet, whilst he turned it on and then applied a lighted match to the bellows vent on the regulator, and sure enough he found a leak. A very small one it was, but it showed the tiniest point of blue flame. I was  taken by surprise, and unguardedly removed my thumb from the outlet, with the instantaneous result that the larger volume of escaping gas immediately caught alight, and struck me on the beard. Mr. Philp, cool as he always is, as quickly shut off the supply, and proceeded to extinguish my singeing beard. I raised his salary on the spot, for I at once recognised that, if I could be surprised at a moment of danger, it was impossible to upset the coolness of Mr. Philp, and I knew that in him I should have a man who would be equal to any emergency with respect to gas cylinders and projection in general. I reluctantly had to shave off the singed beard, and up to the present have not cultivated a further growth.

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WEST, 1912: 817.

Thomas, James West

La presse de Windermere, l'un des premiers lieux où se rendent les deux collaborateurs, évoque leur passage et le spectacle donné aux Assembly Rooms :

The visit of Mr. T. J. West to this district with his novel entertainment, the " Cinematograph," has come as a genuine surprise, and has been the unprecedented means of crowding to their utmost capacity the spacious Assembly Rooms at Windermere and Bowness for four nights consecutively. It is only upon such an occasion as this that the advantage of position of the Windermere Institute is observable over that at Bowness. I mean in reference to the movement of carriages at departure time. In the former instance there is a clear way round the building, so that no inconvenience is experienced ; but at Bowness it is different, for they find themselves in a cul de sac, from whence extrication becomes difficult and not altogether free from danger to pedestrians who, as a matter of fact, are crowded there at the same time.
The Old Man.

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Herald & Lakes News, vendredi 20 août 1897, p. 5.

Dès cette époque, les rôles des deux collaborateurs sont bien définis ; alors que Thomas, James West se réserve les commentaires dans sa fonction de bonimenteur ou de conférencier où il excelle, George, Hastings Philp prend en charge le fonctionnement de l'appareil et les projections :

TOWN HALL.-On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings there were large audiences at the Town Hall, when, under the auspices of the Model Marvel Company (Limited), exhibitions were given of the Analyticon and Cinématograph. Mr. T. J. West is a genial r[a]conteur as well as an accomplished elocutionist; Mr. G. H. Philp, a clever cinématographist; and Mr. T. Lax, an able accompanist.

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The Era, Londres, samedi 18 décembre 1897, p. 23.

Au cours de l'année 1898, West et Philp présentent un nouvel appareil, l'Analyticon, un projecteur stéréoscopique pour vues fixes :

THE ANALYTICON IN QUEEN STREET HALL
The Analyticon, which is being shown for a short season in Queen Street Hall, Edinburgh, ranks high as one of the novelties of the season. What the steroscope has done for the ordinary photograph, the Analyticon succeeds in doing ofr lime-light views, and in place of the flat representation which is obviously a picture there can now be by means of this discovery a touch of realism added to every view. Lions, tigers, hippopotami, statuary at South Kensington, chapels in Canterbury Cathedral, and other subjects shown on the screen stant dout when seen through the analysers provided with startling vividness. Perhaps the best effects of all was obtained with a photograph of trees in full bloom, where the spectator seemed to be looking away through the stems of the trees.

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Edinburg Evening News, Edimbourg, mardi 28 décembre 1897, p. 2.

Alors qu'ils poursuivent leur tournée en Grande-Bretagne, un événement d'ordre personnel va marquer la vie privée de Thomas, James West, en mai. Son divorce avec son épouse Mary, Anne Dillon va se retrouver étalé dans la presse qui mentionne que cette dernière est en prison à Dublin pour cause d'intempérance :

THE TEATRICAL MANAGER'S DIVORCE CASE
Lord Kincairney in the Court of Session to-day, had again before him the action for divorce by Thomas James West, theatrical manager, Broughton Street, Edinburg, against his wife, Mary Ann Dillon or West, who was at the date of the summons a prisoner in Mountjoy Prison, Dublin. The evidence showed that the defender gave way to intemperance. His Lordship granted decree of divorce, remarking that the evidence as to jurisdiction was very narrow, but he thought decree was justified.

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Edinburgh Evening News, Edimbourg, jeudi 26 mai 1898, p. 2.

Dès le mois de juin, une nouvelle tournée est annoncée et Thomas, James West fait passer une petite annonce afin de recruter des opérateurs connaissant, en particulier, l'Analycon :

WANTED, three first-class Lanternists, for tours commencing in August, must be able to work triple lantern and the cinematograph ; the Analyticon and other optical novelties recently exhibited at the Photographic Exhibition in the Crystal Palace will also form features of the programme, and these methods of projection will be readily understood by any manipulator of a triple; eight months’ tour, lengthy stay in big towns. —State age, experience, and absolutely lowest terms to Mr. West, Manager, Modern Marvel Company, Limited, 2a, Shandwick Place, Edinburgh.

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The Optical Magic Lantern Journal, vol. 9, nº 109, juin 1898, p. iii.

Ce projecteur fait partie du spectacle jusqu'en août 1899. Une part importante des projections a lieu en Écosse où Thomas James West est installé. Il fait ainsi passer de nombreuses annonces :

CINEMATOGRAPH.-Latest Wonderful Scenes; Bazaars. At Homes. Private and Public Entertainments. Terms. T. J. West. Modern Marvel Co. Ltd. 24 Shandwick Pl.

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The Scotsman, Edimbourg, mardi 5 février 1901, p. 1.

En juillet 1902, Thomas James West va introduire un nouvel appareil dans ses spectacles. Il s'agit de l'Imperial Coronascope :

CHELTENHAM & COUNTY
[...]
VICTORIA ROOMS.-Mr. T. J. West has obtained on his Imperial Coronascope a splendid film of the reception of Lord Kitchener and General French on Saturday, which will be shown to-night and at every exhibition throughout the week.

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Gloucestershire Echo, lundi 14 juillet 1902, p. 4.

Le nom de l'appareil semble être une référence directe au couronnement du roi Edward VII qui a eu lieu à l'abbaye de Westminster, à Londres, le 9 août 1902. Il est encore question de cet appareil en décembre :

THE MODERN MARVEL CO. LTD., Return to Edinburgh for their Sixth Annual Season at the QUEEN STREET HALL, commencing MONDAY, December 23d, introducing their new Imperial Coronascope. Everything better than ever. Private engagements can now be arranged for as hitberto. Terms, T. J. WEST, 24 Shandwick Place Edin.

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The Scotsman, Edimbourg, mercredi 10 décembre 1902, p. 1.

Au-delà, le nom du coronascope disparaît de la presse, alors que l'événement auquel il se réfère n'est plus d'actualité.

L'année 1903 voit Thomas James West passer à la réalisation de vues animées. C'est à l'occasion du voyage qu'effectue le souverain britannique Édouard VII à Edimbourg que Thomas James West va reproduire une série de vues animées de cet événement qui a lieu le 11 mai :

MODERN MARVEL COMPANY.
In Queen Street Hall, Edinburgh, last night, the Modern Marvel Company opened a short season with remarkably fine set of cinematographic pictures, including several animated views of the King in Paris and elsewhere. A special plant has been laid down for the immediate development and reproduction the outstanding incidents of the Royal visit to Edinburgh, but the pictures were not ready last night. Many of those shown were exceedingly beautiful, and some were of highly diverting kind. A clever musical accompaniment enhanced the entertainment, and conjuring lent variety. There was a good house.

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Edinburgh Evening News, Edimbourg, mardi 12 mai 1903, p. 2.

Quelques années plus tard, la revue Kinematograph Weekly va donner quelques détails sur le tournage ;

One of these related to the very first picture taken by Mr. West. At that time he was in partnership with Mr. Haddow, in Edinburgh, and on the occasion of the King's visit to the city it was decided to secure a film of the chief incidents of His Majesty's trip. Camera were arranged at various points, and the arrangement was that Mr. Haddow should rush from one to the other ahead of the King and take the pictures in each case. Mr. West was guarding a camera at the Colinton Hospital. In due course cheers announced the approach of the royal visitor, but there were no signs of Mr. Haddow, and hoping for the best Mr. West began to turn the handle himself. That first picture, taken as it were by accident, was, he assured me, not far from being the best he ever took.

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Kinematograph Weekly, jeudi 11 novembre 1909, p. 4.

En 1904, des vues animées en couleurs sont présentées dans plusieurs villes britanniques. Un entrefilet publié dans la presse de Douvres apporte une information intéressante concernant les confusions qui peuvent exister entre "West" (Thomas James West) et "West" (Albert West) :

Mr. T. J. West's Pictures, which are visiting Dover on a return visit for the whole of next week, are giving performances every evening and on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. The features which are specially attractive about the pictures are the coloured cinematographs. Included in the programme of incidentals associated with the exhibition, will be the first appearance in Dover of the popular entertainer, Mr. Mattie Cheshire, this entertainment being identically the same as that which Mr. T. J West ran for six months right off the reel recently at Bournemouth. It should not be confounded with the Naval pictures known as "West's Our Navy." This performance deals with the whole of the Living world day by day, and is absolutely the latest perfection of animated photography. Seats may be booked at Mr. Underdown's.

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The Dover Express and East Kent News, Douvres, vendredi 9 septembre 1904, p. 5.

L'année 1905 revêt une importance crucial pour la carrière de Thomas, James West puisqu'elle est celle de son long voyage en Nouvelle-Zélande. L'arrivée à Wellington a lieu le 28 mars :

According to the “New Zealand Times," a report was widely spread in shipping circles at Wellington on Monday that the Union Steamship Company's s. Te Anan had been sold, but the rumour lucked foundation.
The voyage of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company's s.s. Corinthic, which, arrived at Wellington from London on Tuesday, was, according to the report of the purser (Mr. R. J. Large), one of exceptional pleasantness by reason of the inclusion amongst the saloon passengers of Mr T. J. West, said to be the possessor of one of the finest cinematograph apparatus and series of pictures yet exhibited either to the Home or the colonial world. Mr West is accompanied by "The Brescians," a company of talented artistes--both orchestral and vocal. On the voyage out Mr West and the members of the concert party were most generous at the several, concerts organised en route.

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Lyttelton Times, Christchurch, jeudi 30 mars 1905, p. 6.

Il va en profiter, outre ses spectacles, pour prendre une série de vues dont il est question dans un long article publié par le Poverty Bay Herald :

KINEMATOGRAPH PICTURES.
HOW THEY ARE MADE.
In a chat with a representative of the Lyttelton Times, Mr T. J. West, head of a company now appearing in Christchurch, gave some interesting facts relating to the production of kinematograph pictures. He said there were about a dozen companies in England, and some six or seven in France, which were devoted solely to the making of films for the kinematograph. These companies possess large outdoor studios, in which all the work is done, and to each is attached a staff of assistants, most of whom are skilled actors. Mr West has in preparation a series of scientific pictures, including the ant and the silkworm "at home," which have all to be specially prepared by means of micro-photography. These scenes require much patience and preparation, and Mr West states that they are one of the greatest taxes upon the operator. Many anecdotes were mentioned by Mr West to illustrate the trials through which the photographer goes to secure pictures. Whilst in New Zealand Mr West is securing a series of views of the scenery and principal cities, which he will show on his return to England. He had intended to visit the Otira Gorge this week, but was deterred by the inclement weather. The frozen meat industry will be fully illustrated, and will thus give audiences at Home an opportunity of viewing the staple industry of New Zealand. Mr West will also take pictures of the natives and scenery m the North Island. In referring to the working of the camera for the production of kinematograph pictures, Mr West said that the operator was often liable to get into the rhythm of the objects moving before him. He instanced the Delhi durbar, in which there was a procession of elephants. In watching the procession the photographer let his hand fall into line with the movements made by the animals, and when the picture was shown the elephants appeared to be galloping. The machine had followed one footstep after another, and the film jumping from movement to movement made the procession appear to be going at headlong speed. The same effect applied to both funerals and horse races. It was necessary to work at the same ; pace all the time, so that movements would appear symmetrical. Another peculiarity was that wheels shown on a screen appeared to be going in an opposite direction. This, however, is merely an optical illusion. Pictures taken quickly were always shown slowly and vice versa.

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Poverty Bay Herald, Gisborne, jeudi 15 juin 1905, p. 4.

Ainsi des vues sont prises à Wellington, au Parlement. En août, il fait le tour de la Nouvelle-Zélande pour saisir de nouvelles vues :

Messrs C. W. Casey and D. Pretty have arranged to give chopping and sawing exhibitions at Hamilton on Tuesday, 12th September. Mr T. J. West, who is at present touring New Zealand taking pictures on the cinematograph, has made arrangements to be present at the performance, in order to take records ot the exhibition.

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Bush Advocate, Dannevirke, mercredi 23 août 1905, p. 4.

Il se rend en particulier à Roturua afin de cinématographier des vues de la population Maori :

Mr. T. J. West has been commissioned by the New Zealand Government to take a series of animated pictures of the wonders of the colony, and he will spend some time in the Rotorua district for this purpose. Sir Joseph Ward has, among other items, arranged a wood-chopping contest at Hamilton, and also some Maori gatherings of a unique character.

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Auckland Star, Auckland, samedi 2 septembre 1905, p. 10.

"Photograph of West's Pictures filming Maori scenes in Rotorua".
[Thomas James West porte un chapeau et une moustache.] 13.9 x19.5 cm.1905
Source : Creator unknown : Photograph of West's Pictures filming Maori scenes in Rotorua. Ref: PAColl-9036. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22908984

Après plus de six mois de voyage en Nouvelle-Zélande, Thomas, James West se dispose à rentrer en Grande-Bretagne. Il se rend à Adelaide pour prendre le R. M. S. India :

By the Express.
[...]
Mr. T. J. West, of West Pictures and Brescians fame, came by the same train. Mr. West is en route to London, and will leave by the R.M.S. India on Thursday in search of fresh attractions for the Australiasian tour of his company, which will be under Mr. Edwin-Geach's direction.

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Evening Journal, Adelaide, mercredi 4 octobre 1905, p. 1.

Le R.M.S. India quitte Perth le 9 octobre en direction de Londres :

WESTERN. AUSTRALIA.
PERTH, October 9.
The R.M.S. India, which sailed for London to-day, shipped 225,000 sovereigns for Colombo, and four boxes of bar gold, valued at £64,714, for London.

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The Advertiser, Adelaide, mardi 10 octobre 1905, p. 8.

De retout en Grande-Bretagne, Thomas, James West va présenter ses vues néo-zélandaises :

Success in Bournemouth.
That Mr. T. J. West's exhibitions of living pictures, at the Shaftesbury Hall, are becoming more popular each year, has recently been shown by the larger number of people who attended his shows during the winter session that has just closed, as compared with the number passing the turnstile last season. This success may, perhaps, be partially accounted for by the fact that Mr. West had on view some of his own products, obtained during his recent visit to New Zealand, illustrating, in a most comprehensive manner, the lives and customs of the people in that distant land. We understand that Lord Roberts has evinced considerable interest in these pictures, and a Royal command is expected for their display at no distant date. In visiting Mr. West's exhibitions, one feels sure of seeing only the best subjects, projected in an accurate and skilful manner. Mr. G. H. Philp, in whose hands this share of the responsibilities fall, never fails to carry out the work in a technically perfect and painstaking manner.

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The Optical Lantern and Cinematograph Journal, jeudi 15 février 1906, p. 78.

Et après... (1907-1916)

Au cours des années suivantes, Thomas James West parcourt le pays et se rend à plusieurs reprises en Australie :

From time to time Mr. West paid visits to this country, and kept control of an organisation on this side. It was in August, 1908, that he reversed the order of things by making his home in England and paid flying visits from time to time to Australie. In 1909 he had a circuit of theatres on this side and was running seven of the largest picture halls in this country.

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"A Father of the Industry. Death of Mr. T. J. West", Kinematograph Weekly, jeudi 7 décembre 1916, p. 13.

De retour en Grande-Bretagne, il fait l'acquisition, en 1909, du Shaftesbury Hall de Bournemouth dont il va assurer l'exploitation. 

The Shafterbury Hall
Mr. T. J. West's Theatre at Bournemouth (1909)
Source: The Bioscope, 8 avril 1909, p. 11.

En avril de cette même année, Thomas, James West se rend au Canada et aux États-Unis et laisse les affaires sous le contrôle de son collaborateur George Hastings Philp :

Mr. West Abroad.
Mr. T. J. West, of West's Pictures is starting on Friday, April 23rd, on a flying visit to Canada and the United States. He sails from Liverpool on the C.P.R. Steamer and is due in Quebec on April 30th. His Itinerary is as follows : Regina, Winnipeg, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Chicago, Buffalo, Niagara, and New York. He is booked to return from New York on the Lusitania on May 19th, and hopes to be back in London on May 26th. Mr. G. H. Philp will be in entire control of his London office during his absence, and will attend to all business as usual.

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The Kinematograph & Lantern Weekly, 15 avril 1909, p. 1413.

Le début des années 1910 marque à nouveau une évolution dans ses activités cinématographiques. Alors qu'il est recensé à Croydon avec sa famille, il introduit le Kinemacolor inventé par Charles Urban et George Albert Smith dans ses spectacles où il fait équipe avec T. W. Kingston :

To Mr. T. J. West lay the honour of presenting Bournemouth with the latest and greatest triumph in the Cinematographic World, namely, Kinemacolor, the wonderful invention of Urban and Smith, two Englishmen, who have solved the secret of revealing Nature in all her own glorious beauties. As Mr. Kingston has been heard to announce from the platform: "Kinemacolor has made Nature the captive of art and her beauty the plaything of our will.

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 The Bournemouth Graphic, Bournemouth, 23 février 1912, p. 4.

Mr. T. J. West and his alert little Lieutenant, Mr. T. W. Kingston, of "West's Pictures" fame.   The Bournemouth Graphic, Bournemouth, 23 février 1912, p. 4.

L'année 1913 constitue une nouvelle étape dans la carrière de Thomas James West. Il crée un consorsium réunissant plusieurs entreprises dans lesquelles il est plus ou moins partie prenante. Cette société prend le nom de The General Film Company of Australasia, Ltd. Le 23 mai, il quitte Liverpool à destination de New York où il arrive le 2 juin 1913. Ce voyage dont il rend compte dans l'entrevue "Films in Two Hemispheres. Interview with Mr. T. J. West" est pour lui l'occasion de rencontrer les grandes figures du monde cinématographique : Lubin, Selig, Kleine, Wyllie, Hoff, Saunders et Bedding.

Supplement to The Bioscope, 17 avril 1913, p. xl.

Cette même année, il figure comme membre de l'Anima Lodge où l'on trouve également de nombreuses figures du monde du cinématographe.

Thomas, James West.

Peu après, il devient l'un des responsables de la société cinématographique X.L. Film Co. Il décède en 1916 :

DEATH OF T. J. WEST.
AUSTRALIA'S PIONEER EXHIBITOR.
A PERSONAL MEMOIR.
BY ONE WHO KNEW HIM.
We deeply regret to announce the death of Mr. T. J. West, which occurred on Thursday, November 30th, at Gidea Park, at the age of 61. The funeral took place last Monday at Hornchurch Parish Church, Essex. Among those present, in addition to relatives, were Messrs. Roland J. Fisher, Gordon P. Firmin, George Brown, Norman Hart, J. Walker Hicks, Waller Jeffs (representing J. J. Bennell), Durrant Swan and E. S. Williams.
In the death of Thomas James West the industry loses one of its oldest and best-known members. He was born in London in 1855. As an exhibitor, he was a pioneer of the cinematograph entertainment in Australia, where "West's Pictures" became a household phrase. His organisation was world-wide, and at one time he employed the services of over 800 persons at his various houses in England, Scotland, the Channel Islands, Australia and New Zealand.
In recent years he was associated with the renting side of the industry, becoming Chairman of Directors of the General Film Agency, Ltd., and of the X.L. Film Co.

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The Bioscope, jeudi 7 décembre 1916, p. 7.

Son fils Thomas James West Jr est recensé à Londres en 1921.

Sources

"Pictures at the Winter Gardens. How the are produced. Cinematograph Mysteries. An interesting interview with Mr. G. Robson Beaumont", Bournemouth Graphic, jeudi 12 avril 1906, p. 239.

"The English Home of T. J. West's Pictures. The Shaftesbury Hall. Bournemouth", The Bioscope, jeudi 8 avril 1909, p. 11.

McQUADE, "Chicago Letter", The Film Index, New York, vol. V., nº 22, 28 mai 1910, p. 7.

WEST T. J., "WEST'S PICTURES. Look on this Picture, and on that; or, How I lost my Whiskers", The Bioscope, jeudi 12 décembre 1912, p. 815. 817.

"A Father of the Industry. Death of Mr. T. J. West", Kinematograph Weekly, jeudi 7 décembre 1916, p. 13-14.

"Films in Two Hemispheres. Interview with Mr. T. J. West", The Bioscope, 20 novembre 1913, p. 705.

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1903

The King and Queen in Edinburgh and Glasgow

The Pier and sands at Easter crowded with holiday-makers

Two men  in a beat off Swanage Bay

1905

The Lives and Customs of the People in New Zealand

1906

Vues d'Australie

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