The Beginnings Of The Cinema In England,1894-1901: Volume 1: 1894-1896 by Barnes John

Author:Barnes, John
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780859899666
Publisher: National Book Network International

The second independent exhibitor to acquire one of Paul’s projectors was another famous magician of the day named Carl Hertz—pseudonym of Louis Morgenstein (Plate 76a). The story of how he practically snatched the machine from under Paul’s nose is amusingly told in his autobiography, A Modern Mystery Merchant:

The cinematograph had lately been shown, for the first time in London, at the Polytechnic, by Trewey, formerly a well-known juggler and a relative of the Lumières, who were one of the first makers of cinematograph machines. It was subsequently transferred to the Empire Theatre, where it was shown at matinees only. Shortly afterwards an English machine, made by a man named Paul, was exhibited at the Alhambra. At this time these were the only two types of machine on the market.

It occurred to me that it would be good speculation if I could get one of these machines to take to South Africa with me and introduce into my entertainment. I accordingly went to see Trewey, whom I knew very well, to try either to purchase or hire a machine, but he would not let me have one. So I went to see Paul, in the hope that he would prove more accomdating [sic].

Paul agreed to sell me a machine for £50, but said that he could not deliver it for two or three months. I told him that I was leaving for South Africa on the following Saturday—it was then Wednesday—and that I would like to take the machine with me. But he said that he only had two machines, and that these were on the stage at the Alhambra, where he was fulfilling a six months’ engagement at £100 a week. I asked him whether he would not let me have one of these machines, to which he replied that that was impossible, as he had to have a spare machine in readiness, in case the other got out of order. I offered him £80, but he would not listen to me, and I went away much disappointed.

The next night I called to see him again, took him out to my club to supper and did all I could to induce him to sell me one of his machines. But it was no use; he would not do so. However, on the Friday night, the night before I was to sail for South Africa, I determined to make a last attempt, and accordingly took him out to supper again and offered him £100 for one of his machines. He repeated, however, that he could not risk parting with one; he must have a machine in reserve in case of accidents.

‘Well,’ said I, ‘you had better take me over to the Alhambra and explain to me the working of the machine and all about it, so that I shall understand how to use it when one is sent out to me.’

So we went back to the Alhambra, where he took me on to the stage and showed me the whole working of the machine—how to fix the films in and everything concerning it.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.