History of Cinema: George A. Smith

George Albert Smith (4 January 1864, Brighton, England - 17 May 1959) was an inventor, a stage hypnotist, psychic, astronomer and magic lantern lecturer and one of the pioneer's of British cinema.

In 1896, Smith, of Hove, England patented a camera and projector system. He purchased a prototype cine camera from local engineer Alfred Darling, who subsequently made many contributions to the cinema technology.

Smith's neighbour James Williamson (1855-1933) also bought a movie camera. Williamson ran a chemist's shop which supplied photographic services and equipment. The neighbours created numerous historic minute-long films. Smith is credited with the invention of the 'close-up' and the first to use the double-exposure to achieve special effects in moving pictures. Smith went on to develop the first successful colour film process, Kinemacolor, but was virtually put out of business due to a patent suit filed by William Friese-Greene.

Selected Filmography:
The Haunted Castle, 1897
Photographing a Ghost, 1898
The Kiss in the Tunnel, 1899
As Seen Through a Telescope, 1900
Grandma's Reading Glass, 1900
The House That Jack Built, 1900
The Inexhaustible Cab, 1901
Grandma Threading Her Needle, 1902
Sick Kitten, 1903
Mary Jane's Mishap, 1903
A Visit to the Seaside, 1908