Albert Edward Smith

Albert Edward Smith ( June 4, 1875 - 1958), born in Faversham, Kent, the son of a market gardener became a magician, producer and cameraman.

While Smith was still a boy, his family emigrated to the United States. In 1894, he teamed up with a cartoonist from England, J. Stuart Blackton, and another Englishman, Ronald Reader, to form a touring trio. As 'The International Novelty Company', they presenting magic, magic lanterns, drawings, ventriloquism and recitations.

Blackton, whom found small fame through being filmed for Edison as a cartoonist, help acquire an Edison projector and they began exhibiting films as part of their act. Still continuing with their magic show (as they would do until July 1898), Smith and Blackton started producing advertising slides and the occasional advertising film.

Smith converted the projector into a camera and began producing films in late 1897. First simple actualities, then a fiction film, The Burglar on the Roof, with Blackton acting and Smith operating the camera.

References

• Who's Who of Victorian Cinema
• http://www.precinemahistory.net/1895.htm