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Les origines (1854-1897)

Fils d'un jardinier, James Dore est né à Sandown dans l'île de Wight (recensement 1861). Après ses études, il devient apprenti horloger (recensement 1871), métier qu'il exerce encore dix ans plus tard (recensement, 1881). Dès cette époque, il intervient dans des soirées où il présente des vues grâce à des lanternes magiques :

YOUNG MEN'S MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.-On Wednesday evening a lecture, entitled "An automn trip to Austro-Hungary," was given in the Leeds-street Schoolroom, by Mr. E. J. Upward, one of the vice-presidents of the Society. [...] After the lecture a capital series of views of the places visited was exhibited, by means of a lime light lantern, by Mr. James Dore.

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Isle of Wight County Press, samedi 20 mars 1886, p. 7.

Il exerce également la profession de bijoutier (recensement 1891). Son intérêt pour la photographie le conduit en outre à diriger une entreprise de lanternes magiques (recensement 1901) :

ST. SAVIOUR'S CHURCH.-The children attending the Sunday-schools treat on Tuesday, and a most enjoyable time was spent by all. Mr. James Dore, of Sandown, gave a capital magic-lantern display, which included the ships of the Flying Squadron. Prizes were afterwards distributed for good attendance, behaviour, &., by the Vicar, the Rev. C. Il Burland. There was music at intervals.

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Isle of Wight County Press, samedi 25 janvier 1896, p. 7.

Il est également l'un des membres fondateurs de la brigade des pompiers de la ville, qu'il a rejoint en 1879 et a accédé au poste de chef.

Captain James Dore, Sandown Fire Brigade 1880-1916
Source: The Isle of Wight Fire Brigades Federation.

En 1897, le père de James Dore décède :

DEATH OF MR. JAMES DORE, SEN.-We regret to record the death of Mr. James Dore, sen., which took place early on Saturday morning last after a long illness. The deceased was born in Sandown some 75 years ago and he was one of its oldest inhabitants. He had carried on a successful baker's and confectioner's business for many years. He was for a long period a member of the Sandown Local Board and did good service to the town. He was a Radical in politics. The deceased's only surviving son is the chairman of the Sandown District Council, and for him and for the widow and daughter of our departed townsman the deepest sympathy is felt.

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Isle of Wight County Press, samedi 23 janvier 1897, p. 7.

L'American Bioscope (1898-1907)

James Dore va faire l'acquisition d'un appareil cinématographique, qu'il va commencer à présenter à Sandown dès le mois de janvier 1898, à l'occasion d'une remise de prix aux enfants des écoles dans le Town-Hall. Au cours des semaines qui suivent, il va parcourir l'île de Wight à de mutiples reprises : Brading, Ryde, Newport, Bembridge... Lors d'une soirée à Ventnor, presse locale évoque le nom de l'appareil : un American Bioscope :

VENTNOR
[...]
Animated Photographs.— On Wednesday evening Mr. J. Dore, of Sandown, gave a most interesting exhibition of animated photographs, cinematographs by the new American bioscope, pictures of yachts racing, war-ships, cloud and sea in the Isle of Wight, animal life, &c., before a large and delighted audience at the Pavilion. The apparatus which worked the animated photographs was a long step in advance of that used by precious exhibitors, and has, we understand, been perfected by Mr. Dore. The whole entertainment was thoroughly successful.

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Isle of Wight County Press and South of England Reporter, 16 avril 1898, p. 8.

Cet article signale que des vues locales ont été présentées. Il est probable que ces photographies animées aient été tournées par James Dore lui-même et cela d'ailleurs se confirme dans un entrefilet postérieur :

CHRIST CHURCH, SANDOWN, PAROCHIAL GATHERING
The annual tea to the parishioners of Christ Church, Sandown, was provided at the Town-hall on Wednesday evening.
[...]
An attraction during the evening was an exhibition of animated pictures by Mr. James Dore, C. C. Many of the beautiful slides for which Mr. Dore is famous were shown, and two local animated pictures, one showing the shore in the season, the other the waves dashing over the sea wall, taken by Mr. Dore himself, were very popular items in this part of the entertainment. Everything passed off very successfully, and in closing a New Year's hymn, which Mrs. Baillie had had specially printed, was sung.

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Isle of Wight County Press, samedi 14 janvier 1899, p. 5.

Par la suite, les projections ne sont plus qu'occasionnelles dans l'île de Wight et en particulier à Sandown (1905), Freshwater (décembre 1907).

Et après... (1908-1925)

Par la suite, James Dore présente rarement des projections fixes avec des lanternes magiques. En 1911, il figure toujours comme horloger, bijoutier et opticien (recensement 1911 et recensement 1921).

James Dore décède en 1925.

Sépulture de James Dore et Ellen Dore
Cimetière Christ Churchyard

Sources

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1899

The Shore in the Season (août)

The Waves Dashing Over the Sea Wall (août)

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