Sagar Mitchell facts for kids

Sagar Jones Mitchell (born October 28, 1866 – died October 2, 1952) was a very important person in the early days of making movies, especially in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. He helped create some of the first moving pictures in the United Kingdom.

Early Life and Starting a Business

Sagar Mitchell was the son of John and Eliza Mitchell. He went to a special private school when he was young. After school, he learned how to be a cabinet maker, which means he built furniture.

In 1887, Sagar and his father, John, started their own company called S. & J. Mitchell. This business made and sold equipment for photography. They were involved in cameras and taking pictures even before movies became popular.

The Mitchell and Kenyon Film Company

Sagar Mitchell started working with another filmmaker named James Kenyon in 1897. At first, they didn't make many films, but by 1899, they really started producing them. Their early movies were very popular!

Because their films were so successful, Sagar Mitchell decided to focus completely on making movies. In September 1901, the company, now known as Mitchell and Kenyon, moved to a new place in Clayton Street, Blackburn. They used the trade name Norden for their films.

What Kind of Films Did They Make?

Mitchell and Kenyon became one of the biggest movie producers in the United Kingdom in the early 1900s. They made different kinds of films:

• Topicals: These were films about everyday life. They showed street scenes, sports events, and rides through towns on top of trams. People loved these films because they could see themselves and their friends moving on screen!
• Fiction films: These were short stories acted out.
• Fake war films: They even made pretend war films, which were popular at the time.

Many of these films were made for traveling showmen, who would take them around to different towns and show them to audiences.

Later Years and a Big Discovery

In May 1907, Sagar Mitchell took back his original business, S. & J. Mitchell, in Northgate, Blackburn. After this, they made fewer films, and by 1909, they mostly filmed local events. The last known film they made was from 1913.

Sagar's son, John, joined the business in 1921. The partnership between Mitchell and Kenyon officially ended around 1922, and James Kenyon passed away in 1925. Sagar Mitchell was very careful with his film negatives. He stored them safely in the basement of his shop. He lived to be 85 years old and died on October 2, 1952. His son, John, continued to run the business until he retired in 1960.

The Lost Films Are Found!

For many years, people who studied film thought that Mitchell and Kenyon were only minor filmmakers. They were mainly known for a few "fake Boer War" films that had survived.

But then, something amazing happened in 1994! Workers were doing construction at the old shop in Northgate. In the basement, they found three large, sealed steel drums. When they opened them, they discovered the original film negatives of 800 Mitchell and Kenyon movies! These films were in incredibly good condition.

In 2000, these films were given to the National Film and Television Archive. This discovery was huge because it added 20% more films from the 1900-1913 period to their collection. It gave everyone a fresh and important look at what life was like in Edwardian England. These films are now a valuable resource for historians.

Another 65 fiction films by Mitchell and Kenyon are kept safe at The Cinema Museum in London. Because these films survived, people can now truly understand how important Mitchell and Kenyon were to the history of English film.

Legacy and Recognition

In 2014, a play called The Life and Times of Mitchell and Kenyon was created. It was shown at The Dukes in Lancaster and the Oldham Coliseum. This play used video parts made by a group called imitating the dog.