About

The Bioscope was published between February 2007 and August 2012 and was dedicated to the subject of early and silent cinema. Although it is no longer being added to or updated, it will remain as an online archive. The Bioscope covers news, publications, events, discoveries, documents, critical theory, filmmakers, performers, audiences and the technology of the silent era, embracing film production, distribution and exhibition, as well as ‘pre-cinema’, chronophotography, optical toys, and related media, across the world. There is an emphasis on scholarly discovery, but there should be as much here for the general enthusiast as for the specialist.

As well as the main posts, there are answers to Frequently Asked Questions on early and silent cinema, a Library describing books on the subject which are freely available online (and now with separate sections covering digitised Journals from the silent era, directories and catalogues and databases), a guide to the various Series of connected posts, and a guide to Videos (retailers and online access).

These are some of the key informational posts on The Bioscope (others, like the series on colour, country guides, and literary associations can be found under Series):

The Bioscope was administered and written by Luke McKernan.

Note
In its first few months the Bioscope had other, occasional contributors, whose posts can be found in the archives. Their real names and pen names are:

Stephen Bottomore (stebo)
Bryony Dixon (britishsilents)
Buckey Grimm (oldnitrate)
Frank Kessler (frankkessler)

34 Responses

  1. Dear All,

    I’ve only just found this website! Amazing! I’m doing research on World War I film projection/exhibition for wounded soldiers. I’m trying to find information about which kinds of portable projectors might have been used in fields (yes I have a photo of film projection on the battlefront but no information about the specifics, what kind of projector it was, how it was supplied with power, etc.) of France as well as in hospitals there and back in U.S. Ideally, I’d like images of these projectors and information about their manufacture and specifications. Also, I see that you have found the fascinating film on early facial surgery, or the creation of facial masks for disfigured soldiers. I have information about a female artist, French, who made some of these for soldiers. I am anxious to see the film offered through Project Facade. Glad to have found your website!

    grateful for any assistance,
    JF

  2. Hi there,

    Glad to have been of service. I was quite pleased with the post on projectionists and Project Facade. I know a little bit about filming during World War One, but for the sort of information you’re seeking on projectors and film shows I’d recommend contacting the Imperial War Museum, which has a huge collection of First World War films (it is the official archive) and considerable knowledge concerning their production and exhibition. Contact details etc from
    http://collections.iwm.org.uk/server/show/nav.00g004. However, so far as I know they don’t have the facial surgery film shown on Project Facade, and I just hoped that the original nitrate is being properly cared for.

    Do contact me if I can help any further.

    Luke
    (lmckernan [at] talktalk.net)

  3. Dear Luke,

    Had heard you had fled the British Film Insitute, of fond memory. Your new spot seems to suit you. Congratulations! Fascinating article about “Shakespeare in the Canyon” – Massive 1916 production of “Julius Caesar”, with name part played by Theodore Roberts, current flavour of my month, and Charlton Heston’s predecessor as Moses!

    Snippet: found in “Harrison’s Reports”, 17th September 1922, p.150. Early instance of product placement, in “The Affairs of Anatol” – An advertisement for “Le Secret du Diable”, a French perfume, appeared in close-up, and could be cut out without injuring the story. Also “S.S.” cigarettes. Not accurate quote. Use as you will.

    Keep ‘em coming. Best regards, Gerald.

  4. I fled the British Film Institute some eight years ago (actually, I departed with a measured pace, I like to think), and after a lively stint at the British Universities Film & Video Council, I’m now at the British Library.

    Thanks for the product placement anecdote. I’ve been contemplating a post on product placement in silent films for a while now. It’s a practice almost as old as the movies themselves – there are examples in Lumiere films from 1896.

    Luke

  5. I believe really The Bioscope was one of the best silent websites on the web. Good job and many thanks for the link.

    Best regards,

    Teresa

  7. I’m writing a novel set in Sparrow Bush that involves the discovery of a very old silent movie, probably from 1911. I need a resource person whom I can ask questions of re film history, what sort of film would have been available at the time, and how such an old film could be viewed today. I would be very grateful if you would agree to be that person for me. Also, are you personally connected to the Neversink Valley Area Museum, and could you answer questions about its physical layout and where there might be a room in which a (fictional) bunch of old movie buffs could meet once a week to discuss and view old films? Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thank you! Beth Evans

  9. I hope someone can help me with some research I am doing, I have come into possession of a boxed rolled gold bangle that is engraved on the inside ‘With the compliments of J Warren Kerrigan’.

    There is an old clipping from what looks like a news paper with a picture of Warren staring in Captain Blood, I am trying to find out if there is a fan club for Warren or if there is someone who can tell me who this may have been given to and why? I can send pictures if needed.

    Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

  10. I’ll post your query on the Nitrateville discussion list, which is home to many experts on silent film, and see who might have an answer. I’ve not heard of a J. Warren Kerrigan fan club, and I can’t explain the gold bangle myself.

    if you could send a photo that would help – send it to lmckernan [at] talktalk.net.

  11. Hi there,

    I am just very curious…

    How do people manage to get information in very early films? I mean, it is most likely that there is not even any records of it… (for films of early 19 hundreds and before)

    Anyway, I thought perhaps you could tell us from your own experience :)

    cheers

  12. Hi Bruce,

    Well, I guess the whole of this blog is an attempt to answer your question, as its aim is to demonstrate what rich resources exist for the study of early film. Essentially lots of information exists, even for the earliest years, though sometimes you have to dig deep to find it. The main sources are newspapers, film and photographic trade journals, contemporary catalogues (a good source of information on what was produced), film archive catalogues, theatre bills, memoirs, personal papers, contemporary books, secondary literature, posters and other forms of advertising, photographs, and so on. These you can find in archives, film institutes, museums, libraries, and increasingly online.

    So there are lots of records, though for some of the early films that were made we no longer have any record, or just a title and no more. So the study of early film is a bit like archaeology, because you’re continually digging for things while never being sure of what you might find. That’s what makes it fun.

  13. Hi,

    You may have had this information on your site but i’ve not been able to find it; the BFI have released two dvds of Frank Borzage films, (including Street Angel), each containing 2 movies.
    thought you might want to know so you can post something.

    You run a grea website, it’s a great way to get a fix of my silent film needs and i’ve discovered dvds i wouldn’t otherwise have known about. Many thanks

    Ian

  14. Hi Ian,

    Thanks for the kind words. I had spotted the Borzage DVDs and will write something on them in due course. I’m a bit erratic when it comes to coverage of DVDs, and will try to do better.

  15. Hi! you have an amazing website. I am a tv producer and editor and applaud your work here on the site.

    I have a question: Where can I get a large version of the illustration of Richard Sheldon from the 1900 Paris Olympic games – in your sports section. He is my great grand uncle and it would be priceless for me to get a large copy I could print out for my family. Please let me know.

    Thanks you VERY much!!!

    Valentine

  17. Does anyone know a good distributor in the UK to get silent films from on 35mm film? Park Circus just try to rip you off by wanting ludicrous hire fees and the BFI have tough rules about joining reels together.

    We are wanting to put on another silent film with live theatre organ accompaniment but are having trouble getting films.

    Anyway able to help?

    Thanks

    Peter

  20. hi,

    if anyone is interested: I collected about 400 silent movie descriptions, most of them – sorry – in German. These are movies which I mostly accompanied on piano for the Austrian Filmmuseum, Austrian Film Archive and Breitenseer Kino in Vienna. To most of the movies also a picture is added.
    to be found on this webpage: http://www.stummfilm.at

    Thanks,
    Gerhard

  23. I’ve got a poster from 1902 of “The Albert Music Hall” One pf the Acts is “Paynes Royal Bioscope”
    that was showing The Coronation Pictures “Edward VII”
    Does anyone know anything about “Paynes Royal Biscope ?” I think he ran Fairground Shows !

  26. Hi Dave,

    Captain Thomas Payne is my great grandfather. He married Agnes and had 4 surviving children. (I have marriage, birth and census records. (I also did some research last year at the National Fairground Archive in Sheffield.)He commissioned quite a few films also. Books mention that he is the brother of Annie Holland but we haven’t managed to verify this yet! I suspect it could be his mother? He died in 1926 (the same year as Thomas Payne,my grandfather. Thomas Payne, my grandfather married Ellen Rushforth, who was part of a dancing and singing act in the music halls “The Two Raynes” in 1910. My father born 1911 was looked after until he was 5 years old by relatives because his parents travelled around.
    Have you managed to find any information? I spoke with Vanessa Toulmin when I was there.

  28. Dear Friends,

    I am looking for information about the silent films my Great Aunt is in.
    Her name is Neyneen Farrell, and she was in:

    Frozen Justice (1929) ….role of Yukon Lucy

    Dollar Devils (1923) ….role of Helen Andrews

    Your help would be GREATLY appreciated!

    THANKS YOU in advance!!

    David Pires

  30. Luke,

    My father-in-law purchased some old films from an estate many years ago and one of the films is labeled “San Francisco in 1904 A Trip Down Market Street.” I noticed in the section on this film that only 3 copies survive, so I may have the 4th copy. Can you please tell me what we can do to find out more about these films and what we can do with the Market Street film we currently have.

    Thank you.

    Gayle Kerch

  33. Many thanks. It so happens I’ve been planning an update on this – I wrote a post on their movie-related lantern slides back in 2007 which needs revisiting and there are other GEH image collections to highlight.

  34. News about J.P. McGowan –
    The half-hour film Stunt Love was shown at Museum of Modern Art, NY, on 6-7 April 2011. The film was commissioned by the Adelaide Film Festival in JP’s home state, South Australia. It concerns mainly the association between the Australian, J.P. McGowan, and Chicago-born Helen Holmes — their series The Hazards of Helen, and their other serials and adventure films especially in the railroad genre.