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Les origines (1874-1898)

La famille Ireland est recensée, en 1881, à Cramahe (Ontario).

Le cinématographe (1899-1906)

De origen probablemente norteamericano, los hermanos Ireland tienen montada una asociación, los Ireland Brother's Pan American Electric Carnival. Presentan, en Montréal (Canadá), en octubre de 1902, un cinematógrafo, y organizan una gira por el país hasta noviembre de 1903. En abril de 1905, la Compañía de Cinematógrafo Ireland Brothers se presenta en Caracas donde permanece hasta primeros de junio de 1905. Luego los hermanos Ireland organizan una gira por Venezuela, y presentan vistas en Valencia y en Puerto Cabello, y probablemente en varias ciudades más. Meses más tarde, en mayo de 1906, ofrecen algunas sesiones en San José (Costa Rica).

Trenton (Daily True American). saturday 13 août 1904, p. 8: merry-go round.

Early Popular Visual Culture, Volume 23, Issue 1-2 (2025)

Mirror: Trinidad Tobago.

1899

Les deux frères G. H. et E. L. Ireland, à bord de l'Orinoco, arrivent à Halifax, en août 1899.

1900

HELP WANTED-Pianist to travel with the Waragraph moving pictures; must have neat apperance; no bad habits, and unquestionable reference. Young man who can sing illustrated songs prefer ed. State lowest salary and full particulars first lettre. I pay all expenses. Apply G. H. Ireland, Mgr. the Edison Waragraph Co., Fredericton, N. B.Telegraph-Journal, Saint-John, mercredi 14 novembre 1900, p. 3.

E.L. Ireland and G. H. Ireland, Toronto, are at the Queen hotel.The Evening Mail, Halifax, mercredi 19 décembre 1900, p. 5.

1901

Egerton L. Ireland est recensé à Cramahe en 1901.

THE WARAGRAPH.
Company Arrives And Will Appeal At Theatre Royal To-night.
The Waragraph Co. arrived late last night on the delayed C.P.R. train. The company will appear to-night at the Theatre Royal. It came here direct from Winnipeg, where the press poke very highly of the pictures and special ties. "We have been playing to a good business in the east." said G. H. Ireland. proprietor and general manager, this morning. The company was book ed to appear on Dominion Day here, and many people were much disappointed that it was prevented from so doing. The company produces startling mechanical sound effects and specialties The battle scenes in the Boer and Chinese wars are said to be especially good. One can hear the roar of the artillery, crackling of the musketry and rush of cavalry as fierce battles are raging in plain view of audience. The battle of Modder river, the charge of the famous 5th Lancers, troop train crossing the veldt. capture of a Boer battery by the British. battle of Stromberg, a hot skirmish with the Boers near Kimberley, and scores of other humorous and exciting scenes are given. An eastern exchange speaking of the company said: "The town hall last night proved far too small to accommodate the crowd that sought admission to the Waragraph exhibition, which was given under the auspices of the Algonquin lacrosse club. Every seat in the hall was reserved and the crowd packed the aisles and the available space at the rear. A large number of people had to be turned away. The exhibition was a good one, and easily warranted the large attendance. The pictures of the Queen's funeral were exceptionally good, and created favorable comment amongst the audience. A number of scenes from the Boer war were exhibited, also a number of pictures of the heroes of the war. The Trip to the Moon interested the audience, and the funny pictures produced much laughter. Mr. Noel in his female impersonation made a hit. His songs and dancing were good."
The company includes C. H. Ireland. general manager: E. L. Ireland, musical director and lecturer; Chas. Law, baritone and soloist; N. J. Noel, lady impersonator and others. Tickets may be secured at Seymour's drug store, Hastings street. The City Band will play at the Theatre Royal to-night.Vancouver Daily World, Vancouver, jeudi 4 juillet 1901, p. 7.

G. H. Ireland, the proprietor, E. L. Ireland, the musical director and lecturer, and M. J. Noel, electrician, of the Waragraph company, arrived in the city last night for the purpose of holding an entertainment this eveing at Oak Bay park. As mentioned in a recent issue, the Waragraph moving pictures will be presented to-night and the evenings of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. These entertainments have always been well received.The Victoria Daily Times, Victoria, lundi 8 juillet  1901, p. 5.

Pan-American Electric Theater (Grand Rapids)

1903

Ireland Brothers Kinetoscope Co.

1906

Les frères George et Egerton embarquent en Jamaïque, à bord du Trent, pour rejoindre New York où ils arrivent le 11 juillet 1906. Ils figurent comme "Theatrical". Ils résident alors à Kingston.

1907

EDMONTON-MADE SPECTACLES
A lens-grinding plant will be installed in the spring by Ireland Bros. optometrists. The new plant will cost about $3,000. The nearest plant at the present time in Western Canada is in Winnipeg, and it has hitherto been necessary to send prescriptions there, or to some eastern city.
In order to secure the best machinery possible, E. L. Ireland will leave shortly for Chicago and New York, where he will place his orders [each] the largest manufacturing firms on the continent.Edmonton Journal, vendredi 11 janvier 1907, p. 5.

PAN-AMERICAN VIEWS
The Waragraph at Theatre Royal To-Night With New Pictures.
The Waragraph company came over from Victoria this morning on the Charmer for a return engagement to-night and to-morrow night at the Theatre Royal with a special matinee to-morrow afternoon.
The company have been attraction immense crowds in Victoria for the past few days and have just received a large collection of magnificent views of the Pan-American exposition, which will be seen to-noght for the first time in Canada, and no doubt the Theatre Royal will not contain the crowds that will turn out to see them.
Mr. G. H. Ireland, manager of the waragraph, has got ahead of all the transcontinental lines in cheap rates to the Pan-American, for he has photographed the exposition and shipped it to Vancouver, and charges but 25 c. and 50c to see it all, including many of the side shows. Those who go to the Theatre Royal to-night will see what those who go to Buffalo will pay extra for.
Mr. Ireland, in speaking to a reporter, said: "These moving pictures of the Pan-American exposition are the most marvelous accomplishment of the photographic art, and so clear an steady that one would imagine himself within the gates of the Pan-American. I have booked these views for Winnipeg, Toronto and Ottawa exhibitions this year, as a special attraction.The Province, Vancouver, vendredi 12 juillet 1901, p. 9.

The Ireland Bros. have suffered very heavily by the fire. They had a large and costly stock of optical goods and jewelry, and carried very little insurance. They have been in the city for about a year and were working up an excellent business.
E. L. Ireland, the senior member of the firm, is at present in eastern Canada. He is returning from Mexico, where he had gone to attend the funeral of his brother, who died recently.Edmonton Journal, Edmonton, mercredi 24 juillet 1907, p. 5.

Big Blaze in Edmonton
[...]
Ireland Bros, jewellers, lost their entire stock, the extent of which will reach several thousand dollars. It is in part covered by insurance.The Evening Chronicle, Strathcona, lundi 22 juillet 1907, p. 1.

1908

Egerton L. Ireland et son épouse Jennie quittent Trinidad, à bord du Suriname, le 8 juin 1908 et accostent à New York le 16 juin.

1907

Egerton L. Ireland passe la frontière à Detroit en 1907

1920

Egerton L. Ireland est recensé à San Francisco en 1920

1930

Recensement à San Francisco (1930)

1940

Egerton L. Ireland est recensé à San Francisco en 1940.

1950

Egerton L. Ireland est recensé à South Bakersfield en 1950

Les pionniers de l'exploitation cinématographique, George H. et Egerton L. Ireland, étaient plus connus en Jamaïque et à Trinité-et-Tobago que dans leur Canada natal. Sous le nom de Pan-American Electric Carnival, suite à l'échec de leur tentative de présenter des films à l'Exposition panaméricaine de 1901, ils ont sillonné le Canada, les États-Unis, les Caraïbes et l'Amérique du Sud entre 1900 et 1908. Quasi absents de l'histoire du cinéma canadien, les frères Ireland sont mentionnés dans au moins huit ouvrages d'histoire du cinéma, nationaux et locaux, d'Amérique latine, et même dans un ouvrage d'histoire des États-Unis. Pourtant, rares sont ceux qui établissent des liens entre eux, et encore moins leurs racines canadiennes. 

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