Les Animated Photographs de David Devant (Music Room, 10-11 novembre 1897)

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 Great Marlow, les séances sont organisées, par le Marlow Institute, à la Music Room, les 10 et 11 novembre 1897. 

GREAT MARLOW
[...]
Marlow Institute.— Under the auspices of the Marlow Institute a couple of excellent and highly-interesting entertainments were given before crowded audiences at the Music Room on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The leading feature of the entertainment was the large and varied display of animated photographs by Mr. Devant, of an instructive and interesting character. A couple of amusing musical sketches, given by Mr. Griffith Humphreys, made up altogether a thoroughly enjoyable entertainment. Subjoined we give the full programme of the pictures shown:—Part 1: Leaving the factory; Mr. Devant conjuring with rabbits; Mr. Maskelyne’s elegant jugglery with plates; a stable on fire; a lightning cartoonist drawing the Queen; the Boulevard des Italiens; the arrival of the Paris express; the twins’ tea-party; the Seaforth Highlanders leaving Barracks; the joke on the gardener; sea bathing; the Prince’s Derby, 1896; a garden scene: burning weeds; a comic costume race. Part 2: A humorous entertainment, entitled “Concert curiosities;” an original sketch by Mr. Griffith Humphreys. Part 3: The wedding of La Rossiere; river scene: the rescue; the vanishing lady illusion; at the Zoological Gardens; on Brighton Beach; a scene in Paris; the haunted castle; children playing with dogs; start of the motor car race; surf bathing at Cascaes; Cavalry charge; sea cave the coast of Galicia; the Serpentine dance. Part 4: Musical sketch “The Booking Office,” Mr. Griffith Humphreys. Part 5: The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Procession— The Queen arriving at Windsor on June 21st; the Naval Brigade; the Life Guards; the Dragoon Guards; the Colonial Troops; the Royal Horse Artillery; the Foreign Envoys; the Queen s carriage and escort.

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South Bucks Standard, 12 November 1897, 6.

Pour une fois, nous avons la chance de connaître le programme complet des vues projetées. Si les vues du Jubilé de la Reine constituent le clou de la séance, on trouve également plusieurs vues Méliès et, bien entendu, des films de la production Paul. Peu après, David Devant organise des projections à Kidderminster.