Les Animated Photographs de David Devant (Shaftesbury Hall, [5] février 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 Bournemouth, 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 de la soirée de février 1898 au cours de laquelle on déroule comme d'habitude le programme de vues animées :

BOURNEMOUTH NEWS
ANIMATED PHOTOGRAPHS.
As will be seen by reference to our advertising columns an exhibition, by Mr. Devant, of Messrs. Maskelyne and Cook's animated photographs, direct from the Egyptian Ball, London, will take place at the Shaftesbury Hall, Bournemouth. This magnificent collection will include the most marvelous film ever taken, being “The Laboratory of Faust,” "The Death of Nelson," "Execution of Charles I,” and "The Rainbow Sylph" (in which Miss Mabel Grey appears as the sylph, being the last production of Mr. Maskelyne), and the famous Lightning Cartoonist, Mr. Walter R. Booth. The "Daily Telegraph” says:—" Mr. David Devant's Animated Photos, as now being exhibited in the Egyptian Hall, and on tour, are certainly the very best we have seen. It is very evident that no expense has been spared in getting together the finest films, and the most expert operators that can be secured for this wonderful exhibition, which is now drawing the public like a magnet." Plan of the room may be seen, and tickets obtained at Sydenham's, Royal Marine Library.

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Southern Echo, samedi 5 février 1898, p. 3.

En réalité, comme cela est souvent le cas, le spectacle est complété par des numéros de magie et de ventriloquie. Tant Miss Mabel Grey que Walter R. Booth ont été partie intégrante des présentations dans d'autres villes. Quant aux films, ils proviennent de plusieurs catalogues dont ceux de Paul, Lumière et Philippe Wolff.

Les Animated Photographs de Lever Bros. et Nestlé (juin 1898)

Les sociétés Lever Brothers et Nestlé se sont associées afin d'utiliser le cinématographe Lumière à des fins publicitaires. H. Spencer Clarke est le responsable des séances, même si, en l'occurrence, son nom n'apparaît pas. À Bourne mouth, c'est au Shaftesbury Hall que des séances ont été organisées au début du mois de juin :

SHAFTESBURY HALL.-The proprietors of Nestlé's Milk and Sunlight Soap are in possession of this hall with their "Concert Touring Company," including Mr Walter B. Gordon, comedian; Mr Charles Wood, character vocalist; Mr Stuart Graham, chapeau manipulator; Mr Herbert G. Wellings, in humorous musical sketches; and Professor Rosenberg, with his remarkable graphophone. An important feature in the entertainment is the series of animated pictures.

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The Era, Londres, samedi 4 juin 1898, p. 22.

Nous ne disposons d'aucune information sur le programme de vues proposées.

Le Cinematograph de David Devant (decembre 1898)

C'est la seconde fois cette année qu'une équipe de David Devant se rend à Bournemouth. Plusieurs artistes présentent leur numéro respectif dont Walter Robert Booth, un cartoonist, collaborateur régulier, qui est aussi, parfois cinématographiste :

SHAFTESBURY HALL.-Mr David Devant's entertainment is attracting good audiences. The programme includes turns by Mr Walter R. Booth, the famous cartoonist; Mr Hyam Long, musical humourist; Mr H. Verne, in clever musical and ventriloquial recitals; Miss Evelyn Hope, crystalphone soloist; Mliss Lillie Crispin, the rainbow sylph, in a really charming serpentine dance, with all the latest effects; and Mr Devant's new illusionary scene entitled "Zauberwunder," thrilling and startling in its weirdness. The principal feature of the entertainment is the Cinematograph, which is brought up to date by such recent pictures as incidents in the Soudan Campaign, the Return of the Guards, and the Reception of the Sirdar at the Guildhall.

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The Era, Londres, samedi 17 décembre 1898, p. 25. 

C'est à nouveau le Cinematograph qui est le clou de la soirée, et quelques titres sont même évoqués dont on ne connaît pas vraiment l'origine.

Le Cinematograph de Thomas James West (Shaftesbury Hall, 11-30 avril 1903)

Le Cinematograph de Thomas James West présente des vues animées au Shaftesbury Hall, en avril :

Next Saturday, Mr. T. J. West commences a three weeks' engagement at the Shaftesbury Hall with his wonderful cinematograph entertainment. The pictures shown will be quite new, and will include a fine series of Canadian views, scenes from the great Delhi Durbar, and other equally interesting subjects. Mr. Mattie Cheshire still accompanies the exhibition, and, together with Miss Lily Cole, a ballad vocalist, will provide the vocal element, the musical conductor being Mr. T. H. Lax.

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Bournemouth Graphic, Bournemouth, jeudi 9 avril 1903, p. 236.

Un autre article évoque le tournage de vues locales :

T. J. WEST'S ANIMATED PICTURES.
There was a large audience present at the Shafiesbury Hall on Monday night to witness the choice programme of colour and interest conveyed by the cinematograph. Loud applause attended each picture and the films were watched with the greatest closeness. The ascent of Mount Blanc was followed with interest, the " feeling " the ways up the mountain by means of alpenstocks being fascinating in no small degree. The excitement of the Great City Fire was a scene wonderful to behold, the dash of the fire-engines and escape together with the movements of the crowd, being most realistic. Then the local views taken by Mr. West during the stay here were very true and life-like, showing the Pier and sands at Easter crowded with holiday-makers, and decidedly amusing was the view of two men  in a beat off Swanage Bay, who were evidently "pulling for all they were worth," accompanied by ludicrous grimaces and contortions. The coloured pictures are most beautifully done and show considerable still and patience in execution ; those depicting Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, and also the Sleeping Beauty must well tend to charme the young people of our town. During a brief interval Mr. Mattie Cheshire appeared and gave some humorous excerpts which again sufficed to draw roars of laughter from his hearers, and the songs of the favourite ballad contralto, Miss Lily Cole, were well received, as they deserved. To animal lovers the scenes of the Zoo and the fine canine specimens at the Crystal Palace Dog Show must have been gratifying indeed. We may specially commend the scenes at the Delhi Durbar, with its grand pageantry of rulers and other Hindu celebrities, the elephants, and march past of chiefs. Also, those giving visions of life in Canada, train with harvesters, salmon fishing, lumbering, horse drafting, and a remarkable and vivid panoramic railway ride through the Fraser River canyon, all illustrating life in the Far West. There were excellent views of Shamrock III., including the launching, trial trips, and one showing her off Weymouth on Saturday last, only a short time before she met with her terrible and unfortunate accident. The performance will continue for another fortnight, daily at 3 and 8.

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The Bournemouth Guardian, Bournemouth, samedi 25 avril 1903, p. 3.

Le Cinematograph de Thomas James West (Shaftesbury Hall, 24 août 1903)

Le Cinematograph de Thomas James West présente des vues animées au Shaftesbury Hall, en août :

Mr. T. J. West commences a season at the Shaftesbury Hall on Monday next, the 24th, with his well known and widely popular cinematograph entertainment. It is not necessary for me to dilate upon the excellence of this exhibition. Not only are the coloured pictures the result of Mr. West's own process-pleasing to the eye and instructive to the mind, but the programme put forth for the present season embraces recent topical events and portraits, specially taken from life, of a large number of local celebrities. As usual, the exhibition is supplemented by a concert, to which the contributors are the Misses Florence and Ida Hayward, Miss Ruby Haigh, Mr. Neil Kenyon, and Mr. Walter Haigh.

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Bournemouth Graphic, Bournemouth, jeudi 20 août 1903, p. 140.