Le Cinématographe (13 et 15 février 1897)

En février, un cinématographe propose des projections animées.

Southern Times, Bunbury, samedi 13 février 1897, p. 3.

La presse propose un long compte rendu peu après :

THE CINEMATOGRAPHE.
On Saturday evening last there was a crowded audience at the Masonic Hall to witness the first exhibition in Bunbury of the cinematographe. The exhibition was well worth witnessing, and afforded one of the most wonderful and striking entertainments that has ever been placed before the public in Bunbury. The cinematographe may in some ways be described as a perfected limelight exhibition. This, perhaps, does not properly or scientifically express the invention of Mr. Edison, but it will serve to convey to the unitiated some impression of the form the entertainment takes. The instrument was inclosed in a small cabinet, at the rear of the hall, and j projected a square scene several feet in diameter upon the screen erected on the platform. The series of views commenced with the arrival of a train at a wayside station. The train was seen to glide quickly up to the platform, and almost immediately some of the doors of the various compartments were opened, and the occupants stepped upon the platform. The stationmaster walked to the engine driver and received a document, which be kept in his hand. After all the passengers had alighted, the train again steamed from the platform. Apparently, the principle of the cinematographe consists of the projection upon the screen of a series of photographs, taken with extreme rapidity, so that the impression of rapid movement is conveyed to the eye. The next best series of views was undoubtedly a scene from the Grand: National Steeplechase. When the scene was first projected, the race course, crowded with spectators, was seen. The movements of the crowd were easily discernable, and as the horses were known to be approaching, the spectators could be seen craning their necks in the direction from which they were expected. The horses then appeared like specks in the distance, and raced with great rapidity up to one of the jumps. The first one or two horses took the jump in flying style, but the audience held their breath with almost the same eagerness and excitement as if they were actually witnessing the race itself when one of the last horses was observed to touch the barrier, and, falling heavily, roll over and over with his jockey. The remainder of the field swept by, but the fallen horse and rider remained. Several of the officials approached the fallen jockey and raised him up, and a genuine feeling of concern was felt for the poor fellow as the scene concluded. A bucking horse was also very well done. The animal was mounted by a trooper in full uniform, and was being exercised apparently before the police barracks. The various jumps and rears through which the horse went were true to life. A fishing party was very pretty. A boat was first seen in the middle of a river. A fish was successfully landed after some considerable trouble, and the boat was then loosed from its moorings, and the party proceeded to row it to another spot. During the evening numerous scenes were projected upon the screen, including "Soudanese Diving and Swimming," "A Street Scene in Paris," "A Child and Dogs at Play," "Drags of the Four-in Hand Club leaving the Racecourse," "A Quiet Game of Cards," "A View from a Moving Train"; and the evening's entertainment was brought to a conclusion by an exhibition of dancing by French dancing girls—of course seen through the medium of the cinematographe.

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Southern Times, Bunbury, mardi 16 février 1897, p. 3.

Répertoire (autres titres) : The Grand Steeplechase, Arrival and Departure of Train, Boating Scene, Soudanese Diving and Swimming, Street Scene in Paris, Paris Gold Cup, Ladie's Bicycle Race, The Buckjumping Horse, Child and Dogs al Play, Drags leaving Racecourse, Game of Cards, View from a Moving train, Harvesting, Fishing Party (Southern Times, Bunbury, samedi 13 février 1897, p. 3).