Williams, George, 1863 - 1945
Dates
- Existence: 23 January 1863 - 8 November 1946
Biography
George Williams was a showman who toured the British fairgrounds in the mid-1890s. His show consisted of a magic lantern performance, an Edison phonograph and a small film show, all of which took place in a freak show tent at Hull Fair in the North of England.
George Williams was born on 23rd January 1863 in Islington, London to William Thomas Williams, a domestic servant and Marianne Adderson. The eldest of six children George showed a talent for making things from an early age and started to make a career as a sign writer and trainee master in the shipyards at Kings Lynn.
In 1887 George married Edith Jane Daisley. Edith came from a prosperous family who owned a Bakers and Grocery shop in London. Edith's parents disapproved of her choice of husband, not only because he came from a less affluent background but also because he had a reputation as a bit of a scoundrel. George and Edith had nine children, two of which died, one at birth and another one before reaching adulthood.
It is believed that George’s career as a showman started in the late 1800s travelling the fairground scene with Pat Collins’ Fair. George started by painting the attractions and giving film and Lantern Slide Shows and by October 1896 he was travelling a Cinematograph.
George settled in Birmingham circa 1899, by that time he was already a maker of cinematography and slides. He also wrote music and hymns for the Primitive Methodist Church in Kings Lynn, of which he was a member.
George continued his trade as a sign writer while in Birmingham, where he worked on the trams as well as on small carriages and handcarts. George also worked as a photographer for Deresk photographic studios taking images of the city and its people.
Edith helped manage the family business interests by keeping the books and collecting payments. Between 1904 and 1914 she inherited money and estate from both her mother and grandmother. In both instances Edith’s family included clauses on their Wills excluding George from any rights on the inheritance both because of his reputation and his various failed financial and business ventures.
George continued to show his Lantern slide shows in church halls and other static venues around Cotteridge until the early 1900s when the family moved to the Old Lodge House at Breedon’s Cross, Stirchley where George set up a bicycle repair business with his oldest son.
George worked in the family business into his late years repairing and building trolleys for Cadbury brothers and died on 8 November 1946. He was a man of many talents amongst others poetry writing, drawing, sign writing, music playing and composing, and photography. Edith died on 1st January 1952.
Found in 16 Collections and/or Records:
Annabelle Butterfly Dance Film, August 1894
Nitrate film by Edison [EMP 48]. Prod., f./ph: W. K. L. Dickson, William Heise; cast: Annabelle Whitford Dancing routine, showing a woman doing a butterfly dance.
Annie Oakley Film, 1 November 1894
Nitrate film by Edison [EMP 86]. Prod., f./ph: W. K. L. Dickson, William Heise; cast: Annie Oakley, showing famous sharpshooter performer Annie Oakley shooting at a target.
Arrest of a Pickpocket Film, April 1895
Nitrate format. Short film by Robert Paul and Birt Acres in which a man is pursued by a constable, runs right across the picture, they struggle together and the policeman’s helmet is knocked off, then the pickpocket, by slipping out of his jacket, manages to escape, but runs into the arms of a sailor, with whose assistance he is arrested.
Boxing Kangaroo Film, May - June 1895
Nitrate film by Robert Paul and Birt Acres, filmed on a small wooden stage, showing a brief scene of a boxing bout between a boy and a kangaroo and refereed by possibly the animal trainer or showman, who appears to the left of the pugilists.
Boxing Match Film, c1895 - 1896
Nitrate film by Birt Acres, showing an outdoor boxing match and ringside onlookers. Possibly Acres’ Boxing Match film in August 1896 or Boxing Match/Boxing Contest filmed in 1895.
Carmencita No. 2 Film, 10 - 16 March 1894
Nitrate film by Edison [EMP 28.1]. Prod., f./ph: W. K. L. Dickson, William Heise; cast: Carmencita Dancing routine, showing a woman dancing on a stage.
Family Group Film, c July 1895
Nitrate film by Birt Acres, showing partial fragments of of a family group, possibly members of the Acres family.
Film, 1894 - 1896
Nitrate films made by Robert Paul and Birt Acres, showing brief scenes of topical events, popular entertainmet, family groups and fiction. These films were part of the repertoire travelled by showman George Williams around the British fairs.
George Williams Collection
Collection of early films related to the first year of film-making in America and the United Kingdom and nineteenth century magic lantern slides, letter, film catalogues and photographic plates.
Hornbacker-Murphy Fight Film, August 1894
Nitrate film by Edison [EMP 68]. Prod., f./ph: W. K. L. Dickson, William Heise; cast: Eugene Hornbacker, [Dan?] Murphy Boxing fight, showing a boxing match.
Landing at Low Tide Film, c August 1896
Nitrate film by Birt Acres, showing a brief comical scene of a lady falling off a boat into the water and being clumsily rescued by her companion. This could be the film entitle The Lady and the Boat filmed in 1899. Haydon & Urry.
New Bar Room Film, 17 January 1895
Nitrate film by Edison [EMP 110]. Prod., f./ph: W. K. L. Dickson, William Heise. Film showing comedy a bar brawl.
Performing Animals Film, May - June 1895
Nitrate film by Robert Paul and Birt Acres, showing two animal acts filmed on the same wooden stage as the Boxing Kangaroo. The first sequence shows a skipping dog jumping through a hoop held by an animal trainer or showman. The second sequence shows possibly one of the earliest tributes to the Skirt Dance on film, with a dog or monkey performing the dance with the aid of its trainer.
Photographs, c1820 - 1869
Glass lantern slides in a wooden frame showing photographic images of Native Americans, the Sheffield Flood, York Exhibition of 1866 and various examples of British engineering and architecture including Clifton Suspension Bridge and Lincoln Cathedral, also some hand painted scenes. Produced by William Pumphrey of York. These slides were part of showman George William's magic lantern show, which he travelled around the British fairs.
Sandow No. 2 Film, 6 March 1894
Nitrate film by Edison [EMP 26.1]. Prod., f./ph: W. K. L. Dickson, William Heise; cast: Eugene Sandow, showing a strong man Eugene Sandow flexing his muscles in various poses.
Yarmouth Fishing Boats Leaving Harbour Film, c July 1896
Nitrate film by Birt Acres, showing brief fragments of a film that survives in the Henville Collection in the National Film and Television Archive.
Additional filters:
- Type
- Archival Object 15
- Collection 1
- Subject
- Animal trainers 3
- Animals 4
- Boxing 5
- Dance 4
- Fairs 4