Le chronophotographe de W. D. Slade (janvier 1897)

William David Slade, marchand de chaussures à Cheltenham, qui s'intéresse depuis plusieurs années aux projections lumineuses, fait l'acquisition d'un chronophotographe Demenÿ, à la fin de l'année 1896, avec lequel il va organiser des séances de photographies animées. À Bristol, c'est dans le Y.M.C.A. Hall que les séances de projections animées ont lieu en janvier 1897 :

Great interest is manifested in the animated photographs exhibited at the Y.M.C.A. Hall this week. Mr. W. D. Slade, the proprietor, has kindly invited the deaf and dumb children, Clifton Wood Industrial School, Bristol Workhouse children, and the boys from the Kingswood Reformatory to his afternoon exhibition on Saturday, when some new films and other views are to be shown.

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Western Daily Press, vendredi 22 janvier 1897, p. 5.

Rien de plus sur ces séances destinées à un public jeune et, pour certains élèves, en difficulté.

Le Triograph (People's Palace, 30 novembre-11 décembre 1897)

Le Triograph inaugure ses projections de vues animées le 30 novembre:

Mr. Gascoigne has a capital programme at the People's Palace, Baldwin-street, this week, in which the favourite singer, Miss Fannie Leslie, takes a prominent place. Her songs are full of dash and vivacity, and her sketch of "A Policeman in the Park" is particularly well received. The large size of the animated pictures shown in Lumiere's Triograph won much admiration, one of the best being the scene of a cavalry regiment jumping herdles. Some amart acrobatic dancing is shown by Hartley Milburn's nine Rosebuds, and the juggling entertainment of the De Wynne trio is well contrived. The popular vocalist, Charles Seel, is much in evidence, his humorous effects keeping the audience in constant laughter. The singing and dancing of little Eileen Dale are prettily done, and the hand balancing turn given by the two Zephyrs is an attractive feature of the well-varied programme.

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Clifton Society, jeudi 2 décembre 1897, p. 8.

Un autre journal fait l'éloge du Triograph :

People's Palace.
[...]
One of the greatest attractions, however, is that of the new Triograph, from the Empire, London. This machine is the perfection of the Cinematograph, the pictures being much larger and all the objects are life-size. The scenes are chiefly of a military character and are wonderfully popular with the audience. If you miss anything else, don't miss the Triograph, it is truly the marvel of the nineteenth century. Altogether the programme is well up to the People's, and should be crowded nightly.

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Bristol Magpie, Bristol, jeudi 2 décembre 1897, p. 8.

Les programmes sont renouvelés régulièrement :

THE PEOPLE'S PALACE.
There was a large audience at the People's Palace last night, and a strong company gave a capital entertainment. During last week the Triograph attracted crowded houses, and the nightly display of pictures was most successful. The machine is here for another week, and, no doubt, many persones will take this opportunity of seeing the scenes shown by this interesting apparatus. The pictures are larger than any hitherto seen in Bristol, the screen measuring 27 feet by 24 feet, and the objects being life size. There is a change in the series of pictures this week, the scenes being numerous and capitally diplayed, especially those of a military type.

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Western Daily Press, Bristol, mardi 7 décembre 1897, p. 7.

Les Animated Photos de David Devant (Victoria Romms, 27, 29 et 31 décembre 1897) → 1898

Depuis le mois d'août 1896, David Devant, le célèbre magicien, a organisé une entreprise afin de distribuer et présenter des films en Grande-Bretagne. Il peut compter, à partir du milieu de l'année 1897 sur plusieurs collaborateurs dont son propre frère, Ernest Wighton. À Bristol, même si le nom de Devant apparaît, c'est plutôt l'une de ses trois équipes qui tournent en Grande-Bretagne, qui est responsable du fonctionnement des soirées des 27, 29, 31 décembre 1897 et 1^er janvier 1898, données aux Victoria Rooms :

MOVING PICTURES.—The .animated photographs, produced at the Egyptian Hall, by the well-known entertainers, Markelyne and Cooke, will pay a visit to the Victoria Rooms next week, and the exhibition will be given nightly during the week, and afternoon performances on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. These pictures are reputed to be the finest in the country, being life-size, and many of them in colours. A beautiful spectacular illusion, the Rainbow Sylph, in which Miss Mabel Grey and a profusion of limelight combine, it is mentioned, to dazzle and captivate the audience, will form part of the programme, which will be interoperated with modern magic illusions, by Mr Walter R. Booth.

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Western Daily Press, Bristol, jeudi 23 décembre 1897, p. 5.

Grâce à un compte rendu publié à l'issue de la première représentation, nous connaissons un peu mieux le déroulement de la soirée :

ENTERTAINMENT AT THE VICTORIA ROOMS.
Those who were present last night at the Victoria Rooms, Clifton, were delighted with one of the most pleasing entertainments that has been presented in the city. The chief feature was an exhibition of Mr David Devant’s Animated Photos from Malkelyne and Cooke’s Egyptian Hall, London. Forty clever productions were shown, and some of them aroused the audience to enthusiasm. Among the most popular were a capital snowballing scene, a spirited charge of cavalry, the American express, a comic costume race, a lesson in boxing, and a funny fight in tube. The grotesque and weird were manifested in the Haunted Castle, quite a drama in two minutes. It would be only to mention the entire collection if we referred to graphic representations which are the result of the utmost skill. At one period of the entertainment Mr. Walter R. Booth appeared end astonished and amused by reason of his lightning cartoons and mirth-provoking imitations of persons at a village reading. Subsequently he exemplified his ability as a conjuror, and introduced a ventriloquial sketch, which provoked great laughter. No portion of the entertainment proved more effective than a beautiful spectacular illusion, “The Rainbow Sylph,” Miss Mabel Grey delighting the spectators with results obtained by skirt dancing, in which the lime-light played a prominent part. The varied programme provided was brought to a termination with a series of animated photos illustrating the Queen’s Jubilee Procession, that won repeated bursts of applause. The charming entertainment will be repeated each day during the week, there being two performances on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

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Western Daily Press, Bristol, mardi 28 décembre 1897, p. 3.

Parmi les 40 vues présentées - c'est d'ailleurs le chiffre habituel pour les équipes de David Devant, nous retrouvons des vues Paul, Lumière et Méliès.  L'équipe présente à Bristol a déjà circulé en Grande-Bretagne : Mabel Grey, l'artiste et Walter R. Booth, le prestidigitateur magicien.

→ 1898

Le Royal Triograph  de George Francis Pochet (Colston Hall, [19] avril-7 juin 1902)

Le Royal Triograph de George Francis Pochet présente des vues animées au Colston Hall en avril :

ROYAL TRIOGRAPH IN BRISTOL
Amongst the numerous inventions that have appeared in recent years, both for utility and pleasure, the mechanism which goes to produce animated photographs must be accorded a leading place. The marvels of the invention have given delight to pleasure-seekers all over the world, and here in Bristol we have been fortunate in seeing many very fine of this class of entertainment. Bristolians, however, are to have another opportunity of interesting themselves in living pictures, for to-day the Bristol and South Wales Animated Photo will commence an extended season at the Colston Hall, and the exhibition, which we had an of seeing last night, should prove one of the best that has appeared here. The Royal triograph has been exhibited before the King and Queen, and this fact alone should ensure for it a hearty reception by Bristolians. It is the idea of the company to put before Bristolians a fresh departure in regard to animated photographs. It will run for two or three months, and during this time many events of local interest will be photographed and presented immediately after, so that though the exhibition will run a long time, there will be a continuous variety introduced. As an example of what is to be done in the future, the football cup final at the Crystal Palace to-day is to be recorded by five instruments placed in different parts of the ground, so that every incident may be depicted, and these will be shown at the Colston Hall on Monday night. Numerous local pictures will also be presented from time to time, and already arrangements are being made with regard to the Coronation processions in London, Bristol, and other large centres, and will be included in the programme very soon after Coronation Day. To  add to the attractions of the entertainment, talented artistes will also be engaged, and a well-known conjurer and other artistes have already been booked. It is intended also to train a number of local children to take part in a representation of the May-pole dance. The band of the Artillery Volunteers has been engaged, and will contribute their excellent music. Last night, at the invitation of the proprietors, a large number of ladies and gentlemen assembled in the large hall, and were given the the opportunity of seeing some of the films. The performance was one that gave the greatest pleasure to the visitors, and it was that the pictures were not only unique and interesting in the highest degree, but that the films were presented with a greater steadiness and clearness than anything previously seen in Bristol. The pictures last night included a set representing the Passion Play of Oberammagan [sic], and these were followed with the closest attention, and almost, breathless interest. Other films were of a more humorous nature, and from first to last the exhibition was one of peculiar merit, and it should have a long and successful run. There will be performances this afternoon and to-night.

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Western Daily Press, Bristol, samedi 19 avril 1902, p. 3.

À la fin du mois de mai, le Royal Triograph fonctionne encore :

THE ROYAL TRIOGRAPH.
At the Colston Hall the Royal Triograph still finds numerous patrons, and last night there was again a good audience. Many new films have now been added to the programme, both local and otherwise, and from start to finish the interest never flags, inasmuch as there is a most praiseworthy variety in the subjects shown. The local views are especially worth seeing, and many familiar faces come in procession on the screen in the turn out of the Ambulance Brigade and the Volunteer church parade, &c. There is also a host of comic subjects, which are evidently great favourites. One of the best features of the evening is furnished by Miss Louie Loveday, in her charming “May Dance,” which was given by her with great success at the Crystal Palace. Miss Loveday is assisted by 24 local children, who go through the various evolutions with grace and accuracy; while the picturesque result is heightened by some excellent electric effects introduced by Messrs Edwards and Armstrong. In addition to the above varieties an orchestral band helps to pass a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Two performances of the Royal Triograph are given daily.

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Western Daily Press, Bristol, mardi 27 mai 1902

George Francis Pochet a pour collaboratrice Miss Louie Loveday, sa seconde épouse :

THE ROYAL TRIOGRAPH.
The visit of the Royal Triograph to the Colston Hall concludes this week, but at the time of the Coronation a return visit will be paid with appropriate pictures, whilst on Friday night Mr George Francis, the general manager, takes his benefit. Last night’s interesting performance went very smoothly, the pictures being very interesting as well as varied, whilat the vocal part of the programme was also appreciated. The charming May dance, performed by local children, specially trained by Miss Louie Loveday, of the Empire, London, was again an appreciated feature, whilst special interest attached to the local pictures, which included a church parade of Bristol volunteers, Bristol St. John Ambulance Corps, horse parade of the Bristol Brewery Company, and a panoramic view of the river from the Drawbridge to the first locks, not to mention others.

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Western Daily Press, Bristol, mardi 3 juin 1902, p. 7.

Répertoire (autres titres) : A trip on a train near Martinique, West Indies (Bristol Times and Mirror, Bristol, mardi 20 mai 1902, p. 6).