James Kenyon (cinematographer) facts for kids

James Kenyon (born May 26, 1850 – died February 6, 1925) was a clever businessman. He was one of the first people to make films in Blackburn, England. This was a long time ago, when movies were just starting!

James started out selling fancy goods. Later, he took over a furniture and cabinet making business. He also sold "penny in the slot machines" to people who traveled around putting on shows. These machines were like early arcade games.

Early Film Making

James Kenyon teamed up with Sagar Mitchell in 1897. Together, they started making films. Their early movies were very popular!

By 1901, Mitchell and Kenyon focused only on making films. Their company became one of the biggest film producers in the United Kingdom in the early 1900s. They used the name Norden for their films.

What Kinds of Films Did They Make?

Mitchell and Kenyon made different kinds of films:

• Topicals: These were films of everyday life. They showed street scenes, sports events, and even rides on top of trams. People loved seeing themselves and their towns in motion!
• Fiction films: These were short stories acted out.
• Fake war films: They even made pretend war scenes, like those about the Boer War.

Many of these films were made for traveling showmen. These showmen would travel around and show the movies to people in different towns.

The End of an Era

Around 1907, Mitchell and Kenyon started making fewer films. By 1913, they made their last known movie. James Kenyon and Sagar Mitchell stopped working together around 1922. James Kenyon passed away in 1925.

Sagar Mitchell carefully stored all the old film negatives. He kept them safe in the basement of his shop.

Amazing Discovery

For many years, people thought Mitchell and Kenyon were not very important in film history. They were mostly known for their fake war films.

But then, something amazing happened in 1994! Workers were changing a building in Blackburn. They found three large, sealed metal drums in the basement. Inside these drums were about 800 original film negatives! These films were from Mitchell and Kenyon. They were in great condition, even after all those years.

A Glimpse into the Past

In 2000, these films were given to the National Film and Television Archive. This discovery was a huge deal! It added 20% more films from the 1900-1913 period.

These films gave historians a new look at Edwardian England. They showed how people lived, worked, and played over a hundred years ago. It was like a time capsule! About 65 more of their story films are kept safe in The Cinema Museum, London.

Thanks to this discovery, Mitchell and Kenyon are now seen as very important in the history of English film.

See also

• Mitchell and Kenyon: Learn more about their film work and the discovery of the Mitchell and Kenyon Collection.