Electric Edwardians: The Films of Mitchell & Kenyon

In the earliest years of the twentieth century, enterprising traveling showmen in the north of England hired pioneer filmmakers Sagar Mitchell and James Kenyon to shoot footage of local people going about their everyday activities. These films would be shown later at nearby fairgrounds, town halls and neighborhood theaters. Workers, school children, sports fans and seaside vacationers all flocked to see themselves miraculously captured on screen!

The astonishing discovery of the original Mitchell & Kenyon negatives in Blackburn, England — in a basement about to be demolished — has been described as film’s equivalent of Tutankhamen’s tomb. Preserved and restored by the bfi National Film and Television Archive in collaboration with the University of Sheffield National Fairground Archive and featuring a hauntingly beautiful score by In The Nursery, this treasure trove of extraordinary footage provides an unparalleled record of everyday life in the years before World War I. Mesmerizing scenes of trolley cars and crowded streets, soccer matches, temperance parades, throngs of workers leaving the factory and a myriad of simple pleasures transport us to another — lost — world. The effect is as if H.G. Wells’ marvelous time machine had come to life.

THE MUSIC The specially commissioned score for Electric Edwardians was written and performed by In The Nursery - the Sheffield-based musical project formed by twin brothers Klive and Nigel Humberstone. ITN's musical history spans more than two decades.

Bonus Features

Optional Voiceover Commentary by Dr. Vanessa Toulmin, National Fairground Archive, University of Sheffield

Filmed Interview With Vanessa Toulmin

“Pictures of Crowd Splendour” video introduction by Tom Gunning, University of Chicago

Featurette on the restoration of the films

“Diving Lucy” and additional shorts by Mitchell and Kenyon

Electric Edwardians Press Kit downloadable on DVD-Rom (Adobe®Acrobat®Reader® required.)

Reviews

“An amazingly clear window into a horse-drawn society … Rare, hypnotically involving!” – DAVE KEHR, NEW YORK TIMES

“A startling, vivid portrait of working class life a century ago.” — THE LONDON TIMES

PROGRAM DETAILS

ELECTRIC EDWARDIANS: The Films of Mitchell & Kenyon

YOUTH AND EDUCATION

Mitchell & Kenyon 266: Audley Range School, Blackburn (c 1904)

Mitchell & Kenyon 269: Special March Past of St Joseph’s Scholars and Special Parade of St Matthew’s Pupils, Blackburn (1905)

Mitchell & Kenyon 248: Morecambe Church Lads’ Brigade at Drill (1901)

Mitchell & Kenyon 525: University Procession on Degree Day, Birmingham (1901)

WORKERS

Mitchell & Kenyon 28: Messrs Lumb and Co Leaving the Works, Huddersfield (1900)

Mitchell & Kenyon 58: Pendlebury Colliery (1901)

Mitchell & Kenyon 35: 20,000 Employees Entering Lord Armstrong’s Elswick Works, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1900)

Mitchell & Kenyon 59: Alfred Butterworth and Sons, Glebe Mills, Hollinwood (1901)

Mitchell & Kenyon 602: Parkgate Iron and Steel Co., Rotherham (1901)

Mitchell & Kenyon 731: North Sea Fisheries, North Shields (1901)

Mitchell & Kenyon 235: Cunard Vessel at Liverpool (c 1901)

HIGH DAYS AND HOLIDAYS

Mitchell & Kenyon 291: Whitsuntide Fair at Preston (1906)

Mitchell & Kenyon 173: Manchester Band of Hope Procession (1901)

Mitchell & Kenyon 200: Blackpool Victoria Pier (1904)

Mitchell & Kenyon 553: Leeds Athletic and Cycling Club Carnival (1902)

Mitchell & Kenyon 155: Dewsbury v Manningham (1902)

Mitchell & Kenyon 772: Sedgwick's Bioscope Show Front (1901)

Mitchell & Kenyon 320: The Great Local Derby: Accrington v Church Cricket Match (1902)

Mitchell & Kenyon 617: Halifax Catholic Procession (c 1905)

Mitchell & Kenyon 327: Burnley v Manchester United (1902)

Mitchell & Kenyon 606: Sheffield United v Bury (1902)

Mitchell & Kenyon 286: Preston Egg Rolling (c 1901)

PEOPLE AND PLACES

Mitchell & Kenyon 175: Living Wigan (1902)

Mitchell & Kenyon 614: Tram Ride into Halifax (1902)

Mitchell & Kenyon 168: Electric Tram Rides from Forster Square, Bradford (1902)

Mitchell & Kenyon 186: Jamaica Street, Glasgow (1901)

Mitchell & Kenyon 183: Ride on the Tramcar through Belfast (1901)

Mitchell & Kenyon 726: Wexford Bull Ring (1902)

Mitchell & Kenyon 172: Manchester Street Scene (1901)

Mitchell & Kenyon 246: Panoramic View of the Morecambe Sea Front (1901)