L'Animatoscope d'Harry Weelby-Cook (Astor Hall, 22. 24. 27.29 mai-12.17 juin 1897)

Harry Weelby-Cooke inaugure des séances de projection de vues animées à l'Astor Hall en mai :

THE ANIMATOSCOPE
In the Astor Hall on Saturday night residents were afforded the first opportunity in Shanghai of witnessing the demonstration of the wonderful machine which under a variety of names has become so popular at home. The Animatoscope as it is called in the present instance is a marvellous advance upon the familiar optical lantern, inasmuch as by the extremely rapid reproduction of photographs taken at a high rate of speed, the eye is deceived so surprisingly that the life of bustling thoroughfares at home, the arrival of a railway train, and the picturesqueness of the turbulent sea, are presented to us with a fidelity that is little short of marvellous. But this high praise must not be taken to mean that the machine—at least the one now being shown in Shanghai—is mechanically perfect. The chief defect is the presence of a certain amount of vibration, but whilst there is room for improvement in this respect, the correctness and vividness of the pictures were so marked that again and again the spectators burst into hearty applause, and were gratified with repetitions. Altogether some twenty pictures were projected upon the screen, besides a number of pleasing lantern slides. All were very good, but special notice was won by those representing the arrival of a train, the Czar’s procession in Paris, workmen leaving Portsmouth Dockyard, King's Road, Brighton, conjuring, sea-bathing, and the vanishing lady trick.
Another exhibition of the Animatoscope was given at the Astor Hall on Tuesday evening. The same views were exhibited as on the previous occasion, but in a different order. The fidelty of the pictures is really marvellous and it is hard to realise that the figures shown are not endowed with life. Especially good is the series “Rough Sea Waves.” One can almost imagine that the sound of the breakers can be heard. “Workmen leaving Portsmouth Dockyard,” and “ Sailors of H.M.S. Excellent” are also exceedingly good.

---

North China Herald, Shanghai, vendredi 28 mai 1897, p. 963.

Une nouvelle projection a lieu quelques jours plus tard :

ANOTHER exhibition of the Animatoscope was given in the Astor House on Thursday evening (27th). A number of new pictures were shown, all of which were very good and gained well-deserved applause from the audience. ‘Horse Artillery at Aldershot” received a perfect ovation and had to be exhibited twice; a series representing boys scrambling for pennies in the sea was exceedingly good, as also was another of a gardener burning weeds. The vibration so noticeable at the two previous exhibitions was not nearly so much in evidence on this occasion.

---

North China Herald, Shanghai, vendredi 4 juin 1897, p. 988.

La presse souligne le succès de ces projections :

Another exhibition of the Animatoscope was given in the Astor Hall on Saturday. Each exhibition of this wonderful machine seems to show an improvement, the vibration being again noticeably less than on previous occasions. The spacious hall was fairly well filled by a very appreciative audience, and all of the views shown were loudly applauded.

---

North China Herald, Shanghai, vendredi 4 juin 1897, p. 988.

Le journaliste du North China Herald évoque le mécanisme de l'appareil et regrette simplement que sur l'écran les roues des véhicules ne tournent pas correctement : 

The exhibition of the Animatoscope drew another large audience to the Astor Hall on Saturday evening, an audience that was enthusiastic in expression of the enjoyment that this truly wonderful invention afforded it. No less than 25 separate incidents were shown, and except for the jiggling which the mechanicians seem to have mot yet been able to overcome they were all admirable. Even if one could realise that one’s sight was being deceived, and that what seems a continuously moving picture is really a succession of stationary instantaneous views, one would still enjoy them; but as a fact, it is impossible to realise the truth, or that a shutter actually falls between each of the photographs that contribute to make up the moving scene. None of these are better or more life-like than those in which the sea breaks over the rocks; though all those in which horses appear, the train arriving, the serpentine dance, the vanishing lady, the swimming bath, were most attractive, and especially the costume race. The racing of the competitors up to the baskets in the foreground, the rapidity with which they scramble into their costumes, and then the scuttling back at full speed to the winning post, were so good, that the audience happily persuaded Mr. Wellby-Cook to repeat this. One curious thing is, which we have not seen explained, that though in everything else the movement of all that is seen, animate and inanimate, is perfectly natural, yet in all the pictures in which carriages of any kind appear, the wheels do not revolve properly. But the exhibition altogether is the best worth seeing that can be imagined, and we hope that Mr. Cook will give Shanghai some more opportunities of enjoying it.

---

North China Herald, Shanghai, vendredi 18 juin 1897, p. 1080.

Les séances sont accompagnées par le piano de M. Linton :

The exhibition of the Animatoscope given last Saturday at the Astor Hall was repeated last night, and greatly enjoyed by a large audience. The enjoyment was again much enhanced by Mr. Linton’s' brilliant playing on the piano of a most varied selection of classical and popular music.

---

North China Herald, Shanghai, vendredi 18 juin 1897, p. 1080. 

L'Animatoscope d'Harry Weelby-Cook (Astor Hall, <6> août 1897)

Harry Welby-Cook est de retour à l'Astor Hall en août : 

Mr. Welby-Cook gave another interesting exhibition of the animatoscope at the Astor Hall on Thursday night, but was not so well supported as the merits of the entertainment deserved. There is no doubt that Mr. Welby-Cook's entertainment affords an immense amount of pleasure to those who attend it.

---

North China Herald, Shanghai, vendredi 6 août 1897, p. 248.

L'Animatoscope d'H. Welby-Cook (Shanghai Recreation Club, <5> août 1897)

Harry Welby-Cook présente occasionnellement son Animatoscope au Shanghai Recreation Club :

THE exhibition of the Animatoscope by Mr. H. Welby-Cook before the members of the Shanghai Recreation Club, on their ground on Thursday evening (5th), was a great success, much amusement being caused by the Chairman wittlly giving his own titles to the pictures shown. The audience thus had a peep into the future when they saw. “The Arrival in, Shanghai of the First Train from Woosung,” and it was noticed the conductors and passengers were all foreigners. Other good pictures were described as “The Meet of the Shanghai Bicyclist Association,” "Workmen leaving the Shanghai Engine Works,” and "Diving at the Shanghai Swimming Bath.” After the. exhibition a number of songs were given. A brilliant programme has already been prepared for the Recreation Club's Smoking Concert to take place to-morrow.

---

North China Herald, Shanghai, 13 août 1897, p. 296.

Le bonimenteur local n'hésite pas, avec humour, à transformer les titres pour leur donner un caractère local... mais personne n'est dupe et cette pratique provoque surtout l'hilarité du public. Plusieurs séances ont eu lieu pendant l'été si l'on en croit un article publié l'année suivante :

Summer Evenings.-On several evenings during the summer the ground was thrown open to the Members, and, by the kindness of Mr. H. Welby Cook, an exhibition of the Animatoscope was held, as well as a number of informal Concerts.

---

North China Herald, Shanghai, 11 avril 1898, p. 623.

Le Cinematograph de Maurice Charvet et Johnson (Lyceum Theatre, 8.11.15 septembre 1897)

Associé à M. Johnson, Maurice Charvet va organiser une séance le 8 septembre au Lyceum Theatre :

THE CINEMATOGRAPH AT THE LYCEUM THEATRE.
There was a very full house on Wednesday night when Messrs. Johnson and Charvet gave their first exhibition of the Cinematograph, all parts of the house being crowded, and the entertainment gave, in some measure, great satisfaction. This was, no doubt, principally due to its comparative novelty in Shanghai, for previously this modern and clever adaptation of photography has only had one exhibit. And the Lyceum was probably crowded on Wednesday because Messrs. Johnson and Charvet promised that in their exhibition the vibration so noticeable and trying to the eyes at Mr. Welby-Cook’s entertainments would be entirely eliminated, but this, unfortunately, was not the case.
The programme contained twenty views, amongst which were some recent and very excellent ones of the Jubilee procession in London, that were received with most enthusiastic applause by the audience, which culminated when the last picture thrown on the screen showed the Queen's carriage passing in the procession, so that before it had faded from view the audience rose and broke out with the English national anthem. This was the most striking incident of the evening, and went far to compensate for defects in the exhibition that had been too apparent during the course of completing the programme. While some of the plates were new and good, many were somewhat worn-out and defective, and the vibration was too plainly and disagreeably in evidence. Some of the comic views that were shown pleased the audience immensely, amongst which may be particularised the "Love Scene, Columbine and Clown,” the “Nurse Maid,” the “Lightning Artist," the Haunted Castle,” and “A Troubled Dream.” The cleverest in design of these was the “Lightning Artist,” who drew a very good likeness of Thiers by a few bold lines, but owing to want of proper adjustment the name of the French statesman was written backwards : so also the troops in the procession carried their swords in their left hands.
The great drawback to the entertainment was the difficulty in focussing the pictures on the screen, the delay in many instances being very tedious, and if the proprietors intend to give further exhibitions of the Cinematograph they should practice manipulation of the plates, so as to Secure more prompt production of the moving views. Would it not be possible, by means of a curtain at the back of the screen, to arrange the proper focussing out of view of the audience, and even to throw the picture on the screen as it commences to move? It is so done in London, where the pictures are never shown in a stationary condition even for a moment.
But if want of experience on the part of the exhibitor would excuse the delays that took place, nothing can excuse the gross mismanagement that was shown as regards the seating arrangements. Many people booked reserved seats well in advance, only to find that they could not obtain those seats when they arrived at the theatre. A paper ticket without a pass check was made to do duty for several seats, and as this had to be given up at the door the owners had no means of proving their right to the seats they had booked, and which they found were occupied by others, so had to content themselves with such seats as were vacant. The custom of booking and reserving seats at the Lyceum is well understood here, and if the most ordinary care had been exercised no difficulty whatever would have occurred.

---

North China Herald, Shanghai, vendredi 10 septembre 1897, p. 499.

Des séances ont lieu dans les jours qui suivent :

Messrs. Johnson and Charvet gave their second exhibition of the Cinematograph at the Lyceum Theatre on Wednesday evening to a partially filled house. The focussing of the views was done out of sight of the audience, but the intervals between the pictures were certainly too long. On Saturday there will be two exhibitions, one in the afternoon and one at night, and amongst other views shown will be Several of Shanghai scenes, from photographs recently taken for the purpose, which should draw good houses.

---

North China Herald, Shanghai, vendredi 17 septembre 1897, p. 523.