Le Coronascope de Thomas James West (Assembly Rooms, 4->11 août 1902)

Le Coronascope de Thomas James West présente des vues animées en août :

ANIMATED PHOTOGRAPHY AT THE ASSEMBLY ROOMS.
Monday evening was the opening night Mr. T. J. West's Coronascope Company, which is now visiting the Assembly Rooms. The entertainment consists almost wholly of moving pictures, and is perhaps the best of its kind we have so far seen in Bath. In several of the scenes coloured photography is used, and adds greatly to the artistic and natural effect of the pictures. Perhaps the pictures of most interest to the public just at present are the photographs of the London streets on the day the Coronation was postponed, showing the crowds passing to and fro to stare at the decorations and the empty stands. In this series an excellent view of the Canadian Arch is obtained; while scarcely of less interest are the scenes of the reception of Viscount Kitchener and Generals lan Hamilton and French at Southampton. In the opening of the Royal Naval Hospital at Dartmouth, a splendid portrait of the King and Queen is shown on the last occasion they appeared together. The Royal Review at Aldershot is given, the Colonial Review on July 1st. and the Indian Review of July 2, by the Prince of Wales, at which the Queen was also present. In these the march past of the various detachments is clearly shown, and every detail shows distinct. A pretty scene is that of the Naval Review at Spithead, which shows a succession of great battleships, while every now and then a crowded excursion steamer and tossing launch crosses the canvas screen. Several exciting scenes of the late war are given and are a wonderfully popular item in the entertainment. Another pretty effect was obtained in the pictures of Switzerland, which showed a party of tourists crossing the Mer de Glace.
During the interval between the first and second parts of the programme, Mr. G. Hustings-Phillips gave some novel and pretty demonstrations in coloured photography by the Ives three-colour process. In this process the rays of light, after passing through three coloured lens are concentrated upon the picture thrown upon the sheet by an ordinary black photographic slide, and change the photograph into a beautiful coloured picture. These pictures consisted chiefly of baskets of fruit, the natural shades of which were obtained by this clever process. The programme is divided into three parts, and in the second interval Mr. Mattie Cheshire kept the audience in a roar with his comic sketches, and the encore he received showed the audience were not slow to appreciate his efforts. In the third part of the programme, perhaps the best picture, was one representing a volcanic eruption, in which an excellent effect was obtained; while the destruction of M. Severo's airship was also good. The programme concluded with a dramatic scene entitled "The Soldier's Return from South Africa," and we can safely say the end came as a disappointment to most, for there is not a dull or uninteresting item the whole programme.

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Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, Bath, jeudi 7 août 1902, p. 6.

Un nouvel article donne de nombreux détails sur le spectacle :

CORONATION PROCESSION ON THE "CORONASCOPE.
One would have assuredly supposed that the actual reproduction in animated photographs of the Coronation procession upon the night of the very day on which it had taken place a hundred miles away would have attracted the Assembly Rooms on Saturday night a great crowd of people, anxious to witness the result Mr. T. J. West's extraordinary energy and enterprise. However, there was no great crowd.
A fair number of people were at the Rooms, but such was the marked inclination of the general public to coronate in their own sweet way cavort up and down the brilliant streets that a large number of people who would doubtless have gone to see the pictures had they not been otherwise pleasantly engaged, stayed away.
On Monday night there was a very fair attendance, but owing to the fact that the Coronation illuminations were still in full swing, the streets being, therefore, full of people, the attendance was no by no means good as it might have been.
The new pictures which Mr. West had received from his operators in town that morning form a splendid series and make the Coronation pictures quite complete. Every detail of the Royal procession is now faithfully represented, and with wonderful steadiness and clearness of definition. The pictures of the procession are secured from excellent positions on the Horse Guards' Parade and in Whitehall. From a coign of vantage also outside the Abbey one sees the gorgeous progress of Royalty and Empire arrive and depart, the arrival of the Peers and other guests, the bearing in of the Crown Jewels, and a subsequent view of the King and Queen from various positions, and, what is more interesting still, a specially prepared view of the grand ceremony in the noble Abbey is thrown upon the screen.
Whereas on Saturday night Mr. West was able to show pictures of parts of the procession, which covered 300 feet of film, on Monday night no less than 1,600 feet of film were occupied by the splendid series of views dealing with the Coronation and every point of interest connected with it.
The result is, of course. indeed excellent, and the beautiful and realistic scenes which passed in all brilliant array and ordered precision across the screen combined, with the rest of admirable programme, to form an exceedingly striking and interesting exhibition and one which met with the hearty appreciation of the audience showed the entire series of pictures with rounds of cheering.
The remainder of the Imperial Coronascope programme contains a great number of the latest cinematograms, all of the most interesting character. The later portion of the entertainment is replete with a splendid series of patriotic pictures, including some excellent views of the Coronation decorations in London—not omitting the noted Canadian arch in Whitehall-and a good view of several warships at Spithead. The pictures of the opening of the Royal Naval College by the King and Queen showed probably the finest views of their Majesties, whom the spectator sees taking their places in the Royal carriage, that have been shown in animated photography. The operator must have been well within ten yards.
Capital pictures were projected on to the screen representing the Colonial and Indian Reviews, and the reception of Viscount Kitchener. The last-named picture afforded an excellent view of the great general, who salutes gravely as he enters his carriage, his face stern and impassive.
Splendid panoramic views Prince's-street, Edinburgh, and parts of the city, showing the Coronation arches and decorations, were also given, together with some capital war scenes— "Heroism of Cyclist Scouts." "A Fight for the Gun," "Tommy's Last Shot," and one in four scenes entitled "A Tight Corner."
The views of the procession which were put on the screen on Saturday night showed portions of the Royal progress from two points of view— on the Horse Guards' Parade and in Whitehall, outside the Horse Guards' entrance.
The Royal State coach passed across the screen twice and a good glimpse could be obtained of their Majesties within, who were, however, somewhat in the shadow in the interior the coach.
Good views were shown of the brilliant groups of foreign notabilities riding in the profession, Indian rulers and princes, and the numerous general and commanding officers.
It could be remarked how admirably the route was kept by the cordon of police and troops.
The pictures, not only of the procession, but in general, ara remarkably steady and clearly defined-without exaggeration the best examples of animated photography that we have yet seen.
At the close the entire audience rose to their feet and sang the National Anthem, played on the piano by Mr. T. NM. Lax, the musical director.

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The Bath Chronicle, Bath, jeudi 14 août 1902, p. 6.