Arthur RICHARDS

(actif en 1902-1910)

richards arthur

Jean-Claude SEGUIN

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Thomas Richards. Descendance:

  • Arthur Richards (Garston, 1880-) épouse (Garston, 15/02/1903) Irene, Elizabeth Cookbain (Garston, 1883-). Descendance :
    • Frederick John Richards (Garston, 1911-West Lancashire, 12(1988)
      • épouse Ethel May Speakman (1911-1951). Descendance:
        • Arthur John Richards (Liverpool South, 1937-Liverpool, 30/10/1917)
      • épouse Sally Wynne (1918-1987)

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Arthur Richards, à l'âge de dix-sept ans, travaille pour la Velograph Syndicate dont l'un des responsables est Adolph Langfier, probablement en 1897 :

Picture Personalities.
Mr. ARTHUR RICHARDS.
Mr. Arthur Richards, who is known throughout the trade as an expert operator, is in addition an able electrician and of distinct musical ability. His connection with pictures commenced in 1896 [sic] with the Velograph Syndicate of Croydon, where he remained for 18 months, when a tempting offer from Mr. W. H. Marshall, the well-known fair ground proprietor and caterer, was accepted.


The Kinematograph & Lantern Weekly, 17 février 1910, p. 821.

Au bout de dix-huit mois, il est engagé par W. H. Marshall, puis il va travailler pour Raph et Pedley, exploitants de cinématographe dès 1898 :

Here another 18 months of good work was succeeded by an engagement from Messrs. Ralph and Pedley, followed by a special engagement from Mr. G. H. Kemp in order to get his show on the road. This work was most successfully accomplished.


The Kinematograph & Lantern Weekly, 17 février 1910, p. 821.

kemp g h portraitPresident Kemp

Il collabore ensuite avec les frères Weisker qui sont des figures connues dans le Lancashire :

weisker fred portrait
Fred E. Weisker

Dans les années qui suivent, il va changer d'emplois à plusieurs reprises, et revient aussi travailler avec les Weisker Bros :

A mutually satisfactory connection with the firm of Messrs. Weisker Bros. came next in 1902, and after this Mr. Richards constructed the famous electrical apparatus for the Elliotts and Savonas, still regarded as the most elaborate electrical fit-up on the English or any other stage. Upon the completion of this work he was engaged by Films, Limited, to take charge of their filmograph show in London. Nothing proves the value of a man so much as a second engagement, and Mr. Richards was re-engaged by Messrs. Weisker Bros. in December, 1906, remaining with them until November, 1909, when he joined the new Palais de Luxe Cinema in Lime-street, Liverpool. A first-class operator, he is responsible in a great measure for the success of that undertaking.


The Kinematograph & Lantern Weekly, 17 février 1910, p. 821.

L'article publié dans The Kinematograph & Lantern Weekly donne également d'autres précisions : 


In addition to his talent as an operator, he is an expert electrician, and this no doubt accounts for the fact that during the whole of his business career he has never had a hitch or breakdown. When we know that he completed the installation of the majority of Messrs. Weisker Bros.' shows throughout the country in addition to those of G. H. Kemp, the Elliotts, and the Savonas, it certainly makes this record all the more remarkable. His musical ability has on many occasions stood him in good stead, for we think he would be just as much at home conducting an orchestra as running a spool through a machine.
On one engagement, whilst managing the King's Hall, Grimsby, the pianist did not read music, and there were three concert turns interspersed with the pictures. It was a busy time, for Mr. Richards was running 5,000 ft. of films twice a night, and he was compelled, owing to the deficiency of the pianist, to run to the piano, between the spools, to accompany his artistes. Even difficulties of this kind are not insurmountable to an all-round man, and Mr. Richards proved quite equal to the task.
A little attention to these two points would make for the efficiency of the trade in general.


The Kinematograph & Lantern Weekly, 17 février 1910, p. 821.

Dans le recensement de 1911, il figure, à Garston comme "kinematographe Operator and Expert electrical apparatus for kinematographes". Il vit avec sa femme et son fils. Il est, par la suite, manager du Picture Palace à Garston (1913), puis, en 1914, l'Imperial Picture Theatre (West Green Road) à Londres.

On ignore ce qu'il devient par la suite.

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