Victoria's first moving picture was shown yesterday at a special matinee at the Coliseum Theatre, when the producer, Major W. Tayler, received the enthusiastic applause of a large audience.
His Honor Lieutenant-Governor W.C. Nichol made a short opening speech, praising the efforts made by the company in the face of great odds to establish a film industry in Victoria. He earnestly appealed to Victoria citizens to give the company their utmost encouragement and help by their patronage, so that even though no great financial achievement might be made, the company would at least get back its money to enable it to make further experiments.
Alderman J.B. Clearihue, in the absence of Mayor J. Carl Pendray, who regretted his inability to attend the opening performance, declared that it was an occasion for rejoicing that a new industry had been established in Victoria. He spoke of Victoria as an ideal situation for this type of work, and as being equal to Los Angeles in beauty of scenery, conditions for photography, and, in a small quantity, talent. Major Tayler explained briefly the history of the enterprise.
He earnestly desired every one to give his unbiased opinion of the results, and to refrain from praising them unless they merited praise. He related how the cast of the pageant, staged last Summer at the Arena, started their experiment as a result of winning a $50 prize in a procession.
The first picture taken was not a success, and investigations proved that to make an adequate filming of the great pageant would cost at least $4,000. A compromise was therefore made, and a fantastic comedy of modern life, incorporating scenes from the pageant, was arranged.
-- Daily Colonist
