Henry Jasper Redfern facts for kids

Henry Jasper Redfern (1871–1928), also known as Jasper Redfern, was a British optician, photographer, and a pioneer in early cinema and X-ray technology. He owned a business that sold cameras and optical goods. He was also known for showing films and promoting entertainment.

Life and times

Henry Jasper Redfern was born in 1871 in Sheffield, England. His parents were Walter Shepherd Redfern and Sarah Rosebella Redfern. He had a sister, Amy Eliza, and a brother, John William.

In 1891, he lived in St Pancras, London, and worked as a photographer's apprentice. Later, he moved back to Sheffield. In 1908, he married Charlotte Annie Baldwin in Burnley, England. Henry Jasper Redfern passed away in Manchester, England, on October 31, 1928.

Career

Redfern started his career in the early days of film by making movies about local events. These were often short, funny scenes. He would show these films in local halls. Later, he owned movie theaters, including one by the sea called 'Jasper Redfern's Palace by the Sea'. His small company found it hard to compete with bigger film businesses.

He also ran a photography studio and sold cameras and other optical items like opera glasses. He had special qualifications from the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers and the British Optical Association, showing he was a skilled optician.

In 1898, Redfern, as an optician in Sheffield, also sold photography supplies and taught people how to take pictures. He was one of the first to show Röntgen rays (X-rays) to the public. He also held exhibitions of the Lumière Cinématographe, which was an early movie projector. Redfern was even an agent for Lumière's Cinématographe in England.

He became well-known for making "locals," which were short films that interested people in a specific area. In 1899, Redfern became a sports photographer. He filmed major football matches, including the 1899 FA Cup Final between Sheffield United and Derby. He also filmed local cricket matches, bicycle races, and lifeboat competitions.

Redfern and Frank Mottershaw made the first outdoor motion pictures in Sheffield. In 1900, Redfern traveled to Africa, visiting Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria. He made travel films from these journeys. He also created a touring show called 'World Renowned Animated Pictures and Refined Vaudeville Entertainments'.

Redfern continued in the film business until 1910, when he decided to focus more on optical and medical work. He stopped making and showing films by 1915 to concentrate on research into X-rays and cancer treatment at Christie Hospital in Manchester. Sadly, Redfern died of cancer in 1928. His collection of film items was given to the Science Museum.

W. Watson and Son

From 1885 to 1895, Redfern worked as a photographer's apprentice at the company of W. Watson and Son. He later became an agent for their firm.

Fred Holmes

In 1894, Redfern partnered with Fred Holmes, who became his manager. Holmes was skilled as a photographer and film projectionist. In 1896, Redfern showed films and X-ray demonstrations using a "Kineopticon" projector. He was excited about this new invention and how much people loved these "moving pictures."

In 1898, Redfern got a special contract in England to show the first-ever feature film of the Corbett-Fitzsimmons boxing match. He also made films of local sports events, which became very popular. He realized that if audiences were happy, they would keep coming back. He found new audiences for films, like church groups and clubs, which helped people accept this new type of entertainment.

From 1899 to 1905, Holmes traveled with Redfern across England, promoting and producing vaudeville and animated shows. For two summers, Redfern ran the 'Palace by the Sea' at Southend-on-Sea, where he took photos and made movies. When Redfern opened the first movie theater in Sheffield, Holmes became its manager. In 1912, Redfern closed his business, and their partnership ended.

Redfern then went back to his earlier work with X-rays and X-ray photography.

2nd Western General Hospital

During World War I, Redfern served as a field radiologist, working with X-rays. He was assigned to the 2nd Western General Hospital in Manchester, which later became Grangethorpe Hospital. Sergeant Jasper Redfern joined the RAMC in 1914 because his skills with X-rays were greatly needed during the war.

The hospital's small X-ray department used this new technology to help diagnose and treat wounded soldiers. Redfern, a pioneer in X-rays, bravely accepted this role. Tragically, he lost all his fingers due to constant radiation exposure from his work. In 1928, Redfern died of cancer, likely caused by his heroic efforts and long exposure to X-rays.

Artwork and Photographic collection

People and events

• In July 1897, he photographed the scoreboard at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, recording the Jubilee Record.
• He took a photo of Sir Charles Clifford, who founded the Dental Hospital in Sheffield.
• Around 1899 or 1900, he took a group photo of the Sheffield United Football Club with the English Cup and Ball.
• In 1900, he photographed the Hallamshire Volunteers on horseback in Chatsworth Park.
• On February 19, 1900, Redfern filmed a historic football match where Sheffield United played Sheffield Wednesday.
• In 1901, he took a group photo of the Non-commissioned officers' Club Committee of the Fourth West Yorkshire Volunteers Artillery.
• On October 12, 1901, Redfern photographed members of the Norton District Council in Sheffield.
• He captured a portrait of Private S. Lee of the York and Lancaster Regiment, a soldier from the Second Boer War.

Royal Visits

• On May 21, 1897, Redfern filmed events during Queen Victoria's visit to Sheffield, including street decorations.
• He also captured decorations in Barker's Pool during Queen Victoria's visit.
• On July 12, 1905, Redfern photographed the Royal Visit of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra leaving the Town Hall in Sheffield.
• He also photographed King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra arriving at the Town Hall and meeting the Lord Mayor.
• On April 26, 1909, Redfern photographed the Prince and Princess of Wales (who later became George V and Queen Mary) outside the Town Hall in Sheffield. They visited to open the Edgar Allen Library.

Parks and places

• In 1897, Redfern took an early photograph of Endcliffe Park in Sheffield.
• He photographed Meersbrook Park in Sheffield in 1897.
• In 1897, he captured a scene at the Canal Wharf in Tinsley, Sheffield.
• In 1897, a photograph was taken in the Banquet Room of the Masonic Hall, Surrey Street, Sheffield.
• Around 1900, Redfern photographed the former Spanish Steel Works in Darnall, Sheffield, which later became the Theatre Royal.
• He also created a painting titled ‘’Old Hostelry on Nether Shire Lane.’’

Churches

• In 1897, he photographed the exterior and interior of St Andrew's Church in Sharrow, Sheffield.
• He also photographed Brunswick Wesleyan Chapel in Sheffield City Centre.

Filmography

Director

• 1899, Sheffield Cup: Tie Match at Bolton (Documentary short)
• 1899, Sheffield Cup: Tie Match at Nottingham (Documentary short)
• 1899, Sheffield United versus Derby (Documentary short)
• 1899, Sheffield United versus Liverpool (Documentary short)
• 1904, Launch of the Filey Lifeboat (Documentary short)
• 1904, The Monkey and the Ice Cream (Short) – A monkey eats a girl's ice cream.
• 1905, Whit Monday Races at Filey (Documentary short)
• 1905, A Funny Story (Short) – A man's expression as he tells a funny story.
• 1905, Kick Me, I'm Bill Bailey (Short)
• 1905, Uncle Podger's Mishaps (Short) – A man and his mischievous nephews have misadventures.

Cinematographer

• 1904, Stars of the Cricket World (Documentary short)

Promoter

Henry Jasper Redfern was a very active promoter of his shows and films. He often combined his animated pictures with other live acts, creating exciting entertainment for audiences across England.

He frequently showcased Edison's latest Cinematograph and his own "Animated Photographs." His shows often included "Living Pictures" and "New Views." He also featured films about current events, like the Boer War.

Redfern's events were held in various venues, from public halls and theaters to schools and clubs. He often included musical performances, comedians, and other unique acts alongside his film screenings. For example, he promoted shows featuring "Photography in Natural Colours" and even a cinematographic representation of the German Oberammergau Passion Play.

His shows were designed to entertain a wide audience, from cycling clubs to church groups. He often included local and war views, making his presentations relevant and interesting to the community. He also promoted strongmen like George Dinnie and various acrobatic and musical acts, ensuring a diverse and engaging experience for his audiences.