Le Chronophotographe de W. D. Slade (Victoria Hall, 7-12 juin 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. Lorsqu'il arrive à Exeter, il fait équipe avec Walter Robert Booth, un prestidigitateur magicien et ventriloque. Les séances se déroulent au Victoria Hall, sur 6 soirées, à partir du 7 juin 1897 :

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 4 juin 1897, p. 6.

Grâce à un article assez long nous disposons d'informations précieuses sur le déroulement de la soirée et sur les vues projetées par le chronophotographe Demenÿ :

ANIMATED PICTURES AT EXETER.
Among the Whitsuntide attractions in Exeter was an entertainment at the Victoria Hall last evening, consisting chiefly of Slade’s Animated Pictures and Photographs. There was a fairly good attendance. The first part of the programme embraced a selection of clever up-to-date experiments in conjuring by Mr. Walter R. Booth. A fine series of living photographs were next projected on the screen, with all the movements of real life. These were interspersed with flashes of beautiful scenery and many lovely effects by land and sea. Among the most pleasing were the start of the motor carriages, a scene at a railway station, leap of hurdles by a squadron of Dragoons, children on the sea shore, the grand fountain playing at Versailles, seaweed burner, and scene in Marseilles harbour. The dissolving views selected from a number of gold medallist prize slides included some charming Devonshire views, especially in the neighbourhood of Lynton and Lynmouth, a walk round a farm, and waves breaking on the shore, while a series of pictures of beautiful children, under the title of “Somebody’s Darlings,” delighted everyone. The photographs are all of the best, and are well worth seeing. There is no lack of variety, and last night the audience were well pleased. Mr. Walter R. Booth also gave a series of rapidly executed comical sketches in black and coloured chalk, on entirely unprepared paper, with illustrations in [memory], musical skits, and ventriloquism. This part of the programme proved very amusing, and the audience applauded heartily. The exhibition remains here for the rest of the week.

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Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Exeter, mardi 8 juin 1897, p. 5.

Les deux compatriotes vont combiner leurs interventions respectives. Ainsi Booth va multiplier les numéros de prestiditigation, de ventriloquisme et de magie, et pour sa part, Slade se réserve les projections de tout type. D'une part, les vues dissolvantes - autre façon de désigner les vues fixes projectées, sans doute, avec une lanterne magique - qui ont été prises dans la région, peut-être par Slade lui-même, et les vues animées du chronophotographe. Ces dernières, pour l'essentiel, sont parfaitement identifiables et appartiennent, bien entendu, au catalogue Gaumont. La dernière séance va avoir lieu le 12 juin et elle vient en aide aux institutions charitables de la ville :

ANIMATED PHOTOGRAPHS.-There was a good audience last evening to witness Slade's animated pictures and entertainment at the Victorial Hall. The last exhibition will be given to-morrow night. The proprietor has invited the inmates of all the charitable institutions in the city to a matinée to-morrow.

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Exeter Flying Post, Exeter, vendredi 11 juin 1897, 2. 

Au bout d'une semaine, le tandem Booth-Slade quitte Exeter.

Le Cinematograph de Thomas James West (Victoria Hall, 22-29 septembre 1902)

Le Cinematograph de Thomas James West fonctionne au Victoria Hall en septembre.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Exeter, jeudi 18 septembre 1902, p. 1.

Un autre article donne quelques informations complémentaires :

Throughout next week Mr. T. J. West will present, at the Victoria Hall, Exeter, his new series of animated pictures, illustrating all the current events of interest, and these will include a complete programme of the Coronation spectacles and incidents. In addition to some splendid views of processions to and from the Abbey, there will be shown a specially-prepared film, taken at a cost of £2.000. to give an idea of the ceremony inside the Abbey itself. Mr. West's latest production is "A Trip to the Moon," in thirty animated scenes; the plot is drawn from various stories by the late Jules Verne. The popularity of Mr. Henry Wood's charming story, "East Lynne," has led the management to present a cinematographic representation of this beautiful work. There will matinees on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 3, and evening performances each night of next week at 8. p. 9.

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Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Exeter, vendredi 19 septembre 1902, p. 9.

Quelques jours plus tard, le Western Times consacre quelques lignes au programme :

ANIMATED PICTURES AT EXETER.
Mr. T. J. West opened his week's engagement at the Victoria Hall, Exeter, last night with a magnificent display of animated pictures, produced by the Coronascope. The hall was crowded with a large and appreciative audience, who repeatedly denoted their pleasure by loud applause. One of the principal features the evening's entertainment was a series of thirty coloured films, describing a trip to the moon. There were numerous comical subjects, which were very mirth provoking. The programme embraced the Coronation procession, Naval review, trops to various countries, the receit eruption in the West Indies, the arrival of the Boer Generals, and numerous other popular events. In addition to the cinematograph display, Mr. Mattie Cheshire appeared as a drawing-room entertainer, and his humorous and pathetic recitals were of great interest. His humorous sketches at the piano in particular were exceedingly good. After last night's performance this entertainment will, doubtless, be well patronised. There will be matinees today, Thursday, and Saturday at 3 p.m.

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Western Times, Exeter, mardi 23 septembre 1902, p. 3.