2

Les origines (1860-1890)

Son père Bernhart Koopman est un émigré allemand qui arrive aux États-Unis vers 1848. Il réside à Statesville (Caroline du Nord) vers 1856 où il figure comme commerçant et commercialise un "Bitter", remède censé guérir de nombreuses maladies. Il s'installe, à la fin des années 1850, à Charlotte (Caroline du Nord) - où naissent plusieurs de ses enfants dont Elias - et continue l'exploitation de son médicament.

The Charlotte Democrat, Charlotte, 26 octobre 1858

The Charlotte Democrat, Charlotte, 13 mars 1860 

En 1870, la famille est recensée à Mecklenburg (Caroline du Nord). Par la suite, on le retrouve à Philadelphie (1876), où il est l'un des propriétaires de l'hôtel Mansion House en 1876, et à Atlantic City. Il est propriétaire, dans cette dernière ville, de l'hôtel Elberon (Tennessee et Pacific avenues). Il est également connu pour ses activités en faveur de la communauté juive :

Bernard Koopman proprietor of the Hotel Koopman, Atlantic City, aged 71 years. Mr Koopman was the organizer of the Atlantic City Jewish Congregation, and it was largely due to his efforts that the present handsome synagogue on Pennsylvania avenue was erected. Deceased is survived by his wife and ten children. One of this sons is the artist, Augustus B. Hoopman.

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The Morning Post, Camden, lundi 2 décembre 1895.

Bernhart Koopman décède en 1895.

The Magic Introduction Company ([1889]-[1897])

Son fils Elias, Bernard Koopman fait parler de lui à partir de 1889, date à laquelle il dépose un brevet pour une lampe de poche. On lui doit également un "Looking device for coin holders" (US463250A·1891-11-17), un appareil dont on ignore l'utilisation (US463250A·1891-11-17). Le 8 février 1890, est fondé, à Rutherford, la Magic Introduction Co. dont l'un des deux directeurs est Elias B. Koopman :

MAGIC INTRODUCTION CO., Office, 321 Broadway. Inc. Feb. 8, 1890, in Rutherford, N. J. for 50 years. Capital authorized, $125,000, par $100; paid in, $1,000. OBJECT—Manufacture of novelties, etc. Dividends, if any, not ascertained. No funded debt. No other information furnished. OFFICERS—Charles S. Upton, President; Elias B. Koopman, Treasurer. D1IRECTORS—Charles S. Upton, Elias B. Koopman, Joseph E. Kronheimer, Matthew W. Hawes, John W. Baker.

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CRITTENDEN J. P., New York securities: a descriptive and statistical manual of the corporations of New York city and Brooklyn, and the railroads of the United States, 1893, p. 229.

La nouvelle société se consacre à la mise sur le marché de nouveaux appareils brevetés et la presse commence à évoquer cette nouvelle société :

The Magic Introduction Company, of Rutherford, N. J., filed a bill in equity, in the United Slates Circuit Court, asking to have Henry W. Maybaum, of Philadelphia, restrained from the making of alleged infringements on assigned patents held by the complainants, for an improvement in gaslight torches and pocket lamps or lighting devices.

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The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphie, samedi 21 février 1891, p. 3.

Elias Bernard Koopman Brevet américain : US414058A·1889-10-29	Elias Bernard Koopman Pocket Lamp © The Magic Introduction Company

Peu après, le siège se déplace à New York, 321, Broadway. C'est à cette époque que Koopman engage Billy Bitzer. On doit également à cette société le brevet d'un appareil photographique de poche qui connaît un grand succès à l'époque, The Photoret (Brevet américain) dû à Herman Casler. À l'époque, George W. Jones fait également partie de cette société.

Par ailleurs, Elias Bernard Koopman va se charger de la fabrication et de la commercialisation du "viviscope", un appareil du type du Zoetrope dont le brevet a été déposé par William C. Farnum (US 547.775, 15 octobre 1895).

W. C. Farnum Brevet US 547.775, 15 octobre 1895	The Viviscope
The Viviscope, A Wonderful Kinetoscopic Toy, Prospectus, [1896] © Collection particulière

The Magic Introduction Company disparaît en 1897.

Le Cinématographe (1895-1903)

The American Mutoscope Company (1895-1897)

En 1895, Elias Bernard Koopman fonde avec trois de ses amis, Harry Marvin, Herman Casler et W.K.L. Dickson, l'American Mutoscope Company (1895).

Henry N. Marvin, William Kennedy Laurie Dickson, Herman Casler et Elias Bernard Koopman
22 septembre 1896 [D.P.]

À la mi-juillet 1896, William K. L. Dickson et Elias B. Koopman, en provenance de New York, se rendent à Atlantic City et descendent à l'hôtel Koopman, près de la plage, dont le directeur est J. B. Koopman :

KOOPMAN:
[...]
New York-W. K. Dickson, F. Loving, E. B. Koopman.

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Press of Atlantic City, Atlantic City, vendredi 17 juillet 1896, p. 3.

"Along the sea front, looking East"
Atlantic City and County. New Jersey, Philadelphia, Alfred M. Slocum Co., 1899, p. 64.

Si l'on ignore les raisons de ce séjour à Atlantic City, il se trouve que le lendemain de leur arrivée, le quotidien local, l'Atlantic City Daily Union, publie un article où l'on apprend qu'un kinetoscope [sic] a filmé les essais d'un nouveau dispositif - une buse à bille - destiné aux pompiers de la ville :

The Ball Nozzle Tested.
Agent Stewart of the American Ball Nozzle company gave an exhibition of the possibilities of the patent ball nozzle this morning at North Carolina avenue and beach with the view of having it introduced into the fire department in this city. A States engine was used to force the water and was run at its highest speed. One of the important points Mr. Stewart wished to demonstrate was that the nozzle could be held and easily managed by a small boy while a stream of water was being forced 100 feet in the air. The test was witnessed by Chief Whippey, ex-Chief Lackey, Lewis Evans and other prominent members of the fire department. The exhibition was photographed for a kinetoscope by the Edison company and will be reproduced on the Boardwalk in a few days.

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Atlantic City Daily Union, Atlantic City, samedi (après-midi) 18 juillet 1896, p. 1.

Il est probable que les opérateurs aient été, en réalité, les deux directeurs de l'American Mutoscope Company. Peut-on penser, pour autant, qu'ils aient également pris les vues d'Atlantic City qui figurent  entre les numéros 17 et 34 du catalogue ? L'été est, en tout cas, propice à la baignade, thème récurrent du corpus et que l'on évoque dans un article publié quelques mois plus tard :

New pictures for this week will be among the best yet shown, and have been reserved for the last to revive the interest in case of a falling off, which, by the way, has not materialized to any appreciable extent. Perhaps the best of those to be shown this week is the bathing scene at Atlantic City. In this view several women bathers are seen, two of them engaged in a friendly scuffling match in which one of them is thrown beneath the surface of the water, disappearing from view and afterwards reappearing in a half strangled condition. The white caps are constantly breaking on the shore in a remarkably realistic manner, and every detail of a summer day view at this popular resort is shown. A fine view at the corner of One Hundred and Twenty-third street, and the Boulevard. New York city, is shown, and also a winter scene in New England, entitled "Merry Sleigh Bells."

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Detroit Free Press, Detroit, dimanche 10 janvier 1897, p. 5.

Dickson & E. B. Koopman (c. 1896).

The Mutoscope and Biograph Syndicate Limited (1897-1899)

À partir de 1897, la société américaine souhaite se développer en Europe et une équipe va se rendre en Grande-Bretagne pour lancer les bases de la filiale The Mutoscope & Biograph Syndicate Limited. Deux entrefilets nous indiquent la présence, en début d'année, d'Elias Bernard Koopman et de son épouse sur le sol américain. Le premier les situe, en janvier, à New York :

Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Koopman [...] are among the permanent residents of the Hotel Empire.

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New York Tribune, New York, vendredi 15 janvier 1897, p. 11.

La seconde brève concerne Atlantic City où le couple se trouve au début du mois de février :

ATLANTIC CITY, N. J.
Recent arrivals at Hotel Koopmann : [...] Mr. and Mrs E. B. Koopman, New York.

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The American israelite, jeudi 4 février 1897, p. 2.

Peu après, Elias Bernard Koopman part pour l'Europe. À peine est-il arrivé en Grande-Bretagne qu'il dépose, le 6 mars, un brevet pour "Improvements in Cameras" par l'entremise de Samuel Sidney Bromhead qui n'est autre que le père d'Alfred, Claude Bromhead, futur responsable de l'agende londonienne de la maison Gaumont. Il s'agit, de fait, d'un perfectionnement pour un appareil de type "mutoscope". En outre, il s'occupe de trouver un lieu pour pouvoir installer un biograph et projeter des vues animées. Il fait alors affaire avec Charles Morton, le responsable du Palace Theatre of Varietes.

Londres. Cambridge Circus et Palace Theatre (c. 1900) [D.R.]

Une première séance est organisée, à Londres, le 18 mars 1897. À l'issue de la projection de plusieurs vues américaines, il évoque que, dans un futur proche, des photographies animées seront tournées en Grande-Bretagne :

At the present, all the pictures exhibited are from American life, but before long Mr. Koopman hopes to be able to give some of English customs and events.

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Daily Telegraph & Courier, Londres, vendredi 19 mars 1897, p. 3.

Quelques semaines plus tard, E. B. Koopman est rejoint par son épouse qui a embarqué sur le St. Louis :

Mrs. E. B. Koopman sailed on the steamer "St. Louis" this week for London, where she will join her husband and accompany him in a trip on the Continent. They will spend the summer abroad.

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The American israelite, Cincinnati, jeudi 20 mai 1897, p. 5.

Elle ne voyage pas seule puisque plusieurs membres de l'American Mutoscope Company sont à bord et vont constituer la première structure embryonnaire de la future Mutoscope & Biograph Syndicate Limited : W.K.L. Dickson accompagné de son épouse Lucy et de sa sœur Antonia, et deux opérateurs, C. H. Gibbons et Coward. Ils arrivent à Southampton, le 19 mai 1897. Alors que l'équipe se met en place, Elias Bernard Koopman, peut-être secondé par l'un des nouveaux venues, va enregistrer, en particulier, les cérémonies du Jubilé de la Reine Victoria (22 juin 1897) et plusieurs autres vues animées au cours de cette même période :

Mrs. E. B. Koopman, the sister of Mr. Maylin Hamberger, of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the daughter of Judge Herman Hamberger, of Philadelphia, has recently been presented to Queen Victoria.
Her husband, who was one of the inventors of the biograph or vitascopic camera, took her to London with him when he went there in June to reproduce the scenes of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. By royal permission, Mr. Koopman and his operator took pictures of the Queen's garden fete on the lawn of Buckingham Palace. The camera was concealed behind a great bank of plants directly facing the royal marquee, where the Queen received those presented to her. They witnessed the planting of a tree on the lawn by the Queen herself. Only four or five immediate members of the royal family were present. The Duke of York shoveled the earth upon the roots of the little tree, Queen Victoria adding the last spadeful to what will some day will be a historic memorial of one of the "longest reigns in Christendom."

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The Philadelphia Times, Philadelphie, dimanche 1^er août 1897, p. 15.

 
Anom. Diamond Jubilee Garden Party. Buckingham Palace. 28 juin 1897. [D.R.]

Dans les semaines qui suivent, seul ou accompagné, Elías Bernard Koopman présente l'American Biograph au cours de certaines manifestations : une réception à bord du bateau à vapeur New York de la compagnie American Line (peu avant le 29 juin 1897), une autre au St. James's Palace (20 juillet 1897)... Sur le New York, les projections sont assurées par Koopman et Dickson :

A CRUISE AT THE NAVAL REVIEW
[...]
At intervals the band of the 1st Hampshire Volunteer Artillery played selections of music, and passengers, before concluding with a dance, had the opportunity of seeing the biograph, which appears to be the most remarkable machine yet introduced for the production of "living photography." This exhibition was the more interesting by reason of the fact that it was the first time such pictures had been seen on board ship. The machine was in charge of Mr. W. R. L. Dixon [sic], the inventor of the kinetoscope, Mr. E. B. Koopman, the American manager of the Biograph Syndicate, also being present. Forty pictures in all were reflected upon a sail taken from the locker, the first appropriately embodying the flags of Great Britain and America, the two peoples being seen grasped firmly hand in hand. A representation was also given of the American liner St. Paul leaving New York, and the wonderful accuracy of delineation obtained in this as in the other pictures proved to the visitors that the biograph is a really wonderful photographic machine. Beyond affording pleasure to those on board, the apparatus tool nearly 50,000 negatives in connection with the naval review, and these will in the course of the next few days be reproduced in London, Edinburg, and other parts of the country. Mr. Dixon and Mr. Koopman likewise exhibited the mutoscope, an equally marvellous contrivance for the reproduction of objects in motion. Up to the present moment the general public have seen little of this invention, but it may be expected to create a sensation when its mechanism and powers are made known.

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Lloyd's List, Londres, mardi 29 juin 1897, p. 12.

À ce époque, l'affaire qui occupe Elias, Bernard Koopman, c'est la création de la nouvelle société Mutoscope & Biograph Syndicate Limited dont les statuts sont déposés le 21 juillet 1897. Les deux autres responsables sont W. K. L. Dickson et H. Norton Marvin. Il s'agit pour la nouvelle entreprise de regrouper toutes les activités liées au mutoscope et au biograph. Koopman occupe ainsi une place centrale dans ce nouveau dispositif et c'est lui qui fait déposé en France, en août 1897, la marque "Biograph"

Marques. Photographie et Lithographie. 1895-1901. INPI.

VISITORS IN PARIS.
The following visitors have been registered at the NEW YORK HERALD Office, 49 avenue de l'Opéra:-
[...]
Koopman, E. B. and Mrs., of New York; Grand Hotel.The New York Herald, Paris, 10 avril 1898, p. 7.

et va démultiplier ses activités puisqu'il continue à faire de la prise de vue tout en se consacrant également à des recherches liées à la projection animée. Avant 

Entre 1897 et 1902, on ne compte plus le nombre de brevets qu'il dépose, tant en Grande-Bretagne qu'en Europe ou en Amérique. Alors 

Elias Bernard Koopman Improvements in Apparatus for Exhibiting a Succession of Pictures (GB189808338A)

 "Improvements in Means for Obtaining Rapid Changes of Wording or Wordings, or Pictures, viz., in Changing the Presentation of One Board or Sheet for Another, and applicable to Advertising Purposes, and also generally" (GB189818465A)

"Improvements in Apparatus for Exhibiting a Succession of Pictures, giving them an Appearance of Motion, and Coin-freed Mechanism therefor" (GB189808338A, 04/04/1899), , Improvements in Illuminated Advertising Devices (GB189901144A-18/11/1899), Improvements in Means for Obtaining Rapid Changes of Wording or Wordings, or Pictures, viz., in Changing the Presentation of One Board or Sheet for Another, and applicable to Advertising Purposes, and also generally (GB189818465A, 29/09/1899)...

Per Messageries Maritimes steamer Ville de la Ciotat, connecting with the steamer Ernest Simons, at Colombo, from Marseilles, Oct. 10.- [...] To Samarang [...] mr. Koopman.London and China Telegraph, Londres, samedi 18 septembre 1897, p. 778.

, Les brevets sont également pris dans d'autres pays (22.172. Elias Bernard Koopman. Patente por 20 años, por «Mutoscopios ó aparatos que representan los cambios de uno ó varios cuerpos en movimiento». Presentada en Madrid en 8 Febrero de 1898. Concedida en 16 de ídem.).

The Big War on the Screen.
More about the moving pictures.
Exclusive to "The Leader."
There will be no lack of cinematograph pictures of the big war. The Biograph people were the first to seize upon the idea. They equipped a steam yacht with the necessary apparatus for taking moving pictures, and stationed it on the Cuban coast outside Havana ready for the war to begin. Spanish and American fleets alike agreed to regard the vessel as a “neutral,” and to permit these permanent records of a great struggle to be taken for exhibition all ever the world.
A week or so ago the first pictures were taken. They are rather preliminary as regards actual hostilities, but they are interesting as showing the moving life of the people out in Cuba, and the preparations that were being made for war. The films arrived in England on Wednesday, and with characteristic promptness, Mr. Charles Morton had the views put on at the Palace the same night. They are the first of a series by which the Palace management hope to show the progress of the war.
As Mr. Morton said to the Leader representative, "Whenever a shot is fired, whenever anything is done by either fleet of any note, a 'matograph will be taken, and it will be sent across here as fast as mail can carry it, to be added to our list.” And as the Biograph Company have a similarly equipped boat
OUTSIDE NEW YORK HARBOR
picking up snapshots of the ships of the fleet as they leave for Key West and the blockade, something like a continuous record of the campaign ought to be obtainable week by week.
Of the attractiveness of this modern method of portraying a big fight there can be no doubt. The Biograph man cannot err. He is not led into exaggeration by the excitement of the moment ; his camera records clear, hard facts.
Take the U.S. Consul-General Lee's departure from Havana, for instance, which is one of the earlier pictures shown by the biograph. The general is seen standing in front of his hotel. A big crowd has gathered around, but there is no demonstration such as was alleged to have taken place. The men watch his departure in sullen silence, and as the carriage drives away, not one man waves his hand or raises a cheer.
You can see a sample of the men the Americans will have to fight. in the picture of the march of a crack regiment of Spanish volunteers to Gen. Blanco's palace. They are a very loose-limbed lot of fellows, who shuffle along with absolute disregard of time and step. They, at any rate, will not be difficult to break up.
Mr. E. B. Koopman, the managing director and the English representative of the Biograph Syndicate, to whom we are indebted for the films from which the pictures accompanying this article are reproduced, is to be congratulated upon "his lightning results.”The Morning Leader, Londres, samedi 30 avril 1898, p. 8.

No one can foresee the possibilities of photography, and when with praiseworthy enterprise Mr. Chas. Morton last night presented, at the Palace Theatre, in the American biograph series of animated pictures, the arrival of the Grenadier Guards in London—which had taken place some seven hours earlier—a step in advance in at least celerity of manipulation must be ungrudgingly conceded. Yesterday was not favourable for the use of the camera. A leaden sky and a dull, humid atmosphere are considered fatal to satisfactory results, but by some good fortune the efforts of Mr. Koopman to secure good pictures of the enthusiastic and inspiriting spectacle presented in the vicinity of the South-Western railway station after the arrival of this portion of the Sirdar's army were crowned with wonderful success. Telltale lenses have, with other optical inventions, been so much improved, and their action so much accelerated that it seems possible now-a-days to achieve almost anything in the way of scientific view taking. Be this as it may, there is no gainsaying the fact that despite the unfavourable atmospheric conditions, the scenes which were witnessed a few hours previously were reproduced by the biograph with extraordinary fidelity and a degree of clearness scarcely credible. Only one picture of the return of the Guards was shown last night—possibly others may follow-—and the moment the subject was announced on the screen there arose tumultuous applause from all parts of the densely-packed house. The marching battalion, which was the chief feature represented, was taken from a window in Stangate, in the Westminster-bridge-road, and it takes in the disposition of the troops emerging from the York-road and making for Westminster-bridge, en route to Wellington Barracks, with all the features of the locality and all the pavement incidents brought out in amazingly realistic relief. The cheering of the multitude could not, of course, be reproduced, but even this was manifest in the waving of hats and handkerchiefs, and so long as the biograph—a leading feature of the Palace Theatre—remains with us—and it has undoubtedly come to stay—the return of the Guards, with its stirring and exciting incidents, its moving panorama, and sea of faces, will be repeated in black and white for months to come—perhaps for ever and for aye.The Morning Advertiser, Londres, vendredi 7 octobre 1898, p. 5.

The British Mutoscope and Biograph Company (1899-1903)

Dès cette époque, la cession de plusieurs brevets est enregistrée au secrétariat général de la préfecture du département de la Seine en faveur de la société Biograph and Mutoscope company por France limited dont le siège est à Londres, Cornhill, nº 29. (voir Bulletin des lois de la République française, nº 2194, 1er juillet 1900, p. 895.

.

1900

VISITORS IN PARIS
Thw following visitors have been registered at the NEW YORK HERALD Office, 49 avenue l'Opéra:
[...]
Koopman, E. B. and Mrs., of London ; Chatham.The New York Herald, Paris, samedi 14 avril 1900, p. 5.

1901: recensé à Londres.

Since 1900 I have been a householder (through lease) at 77 Avenue Road N. W., London, I have sublet it furnished until November 1st 1919 when we get repossession, ans expect to reside there during our stay in London. I am a member of the Royal Automobile, American Luncheon and Neasden Golf Clubs of London.

Et après (1907-1929)

1905

A bord du Philadelphia, il embarque avec sa famille et arrive à New York, le 18 février 1905.

Il retourne en Grande-Bretagne, à partir du 2 mai 1909. (document consulaire)

1911: recensé à Londres. Ou il figure comme: "Charmain & Managing Director Public Companies, General Engineer."

 He later headed the Runsyne Corporation, a maker of electrical signs. Jason Champlin points out interesting enough, there was a bottle made from the Magic Introduction Company (see below).

Elias Bernard Koopman (1860 – August 23, 1929) was a founder of the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company.^[1] He was also a founder of The Magic Introduction Company.^[2] He later headed the Runsyne Corporation, a maker of electrical signs.

1911: recensement à Londres.

À bord de l'Adriatic, il arrive à New York le  22 novembre 1912 en provenance de Liverpool.

1914

En provenance de Liverpool, à bord de l'Adriatic, il arrive à New York le 19 novembre 1914.

Elias B. Koopman et son épouse (1919)	E. B Koopman, Division of Passport Control, New York, 6 octobre 1919

1919

demande de passeport

1920: Liste électorale Camden (Londres)

1921 : recensement à Londres.

1927

Certificat d'immigration

Elias Bernard Koopman fait une tentative de suicide en août 1929:

Speed of United States Mails Foils Suicide Plan Of N. Y. Man; By United Prest NEW YORK, Aug. 24. The United States mails handled Elias Roopman's farewell note so fast that his suicide was believed foiled yesterday. H. is. ivoopman, a Drotner, received the communication in his morning mail. He read: ''Please do not mourn for me nor plan any May Recover funeral services. Turn my body over to some medical institution." Running to the Cumberland Hotel, where Elias Koopman had written the note late the night before, he found his brother in a room unconscious from a gtab wound in the abdomen. At Flower Hospital it was said that Koopman, 6I a sign manufacturer, had a : chance to recover.The Evening News
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
24 Aug 1929, Sat  •  Page 1

Sources

BROWN Richard et Anthony BARRY, A Victorian Film Enterprise. The History of the British Mutoscope and Biograph Company, 1897-1915, Flicks Books, 1999, 346 p.

"Scientific amusements", The Daily Telegraph, samedi 31 décembre 1898, p. 5

SPEHR Paul, The Man Who Made Movies: W.K.L. Dickson, John Libbey Publishing Ltd., 2008, 706 p.

3

1897

[The Sea Scene] (<10 janvier)

[Boys Bathing at Atlantic City] (<10 janvier)

[Atlantic City Bathers] (<10 janvier)

[Panoramic View from Trolley; Atlantic City] (<10 janvier)

[The Fire Engine at Work] (<10 janvier)

[Panoramic View from Trolley; Atlantic City] (<10 janvier)

[Bathers and Life-Boat, Atlantic City] (<10 janvier)

[Getting off Trolley. Atlantic City] (<10 janvier)

[Busses Leaving Depot. Atlantic City] (<10 janvier)

[Shooting the Chutes] (<10 janvier)

[Bathers at Atlantic City] (<10 janvier)

The Horse Guards (22 juin)

Queen's Jubilee (22 juin)

Queen's Jubilee (22 juin)

Sir Wilfred Laurier and the New South Wales Lancers (22 juin)

The Queen's Garden Party (28 juin)

1898

The Arrival of the Grenadier Guards (6 octobre)

4