Mechanical Memories Magazine

Illustration Fam the British patent filed by Elias Koopman in January 1899
The British Mutoscope & Biograph Co.
In January 1897, Koopman travelled to England in order to negotiate a contract to
exhibit ' the American Biograph' at the Palace Theatre of Varieties in London. Although
the Lumiere Cinematographe had been publicly shown almost a year earlier, the much
larger projected image of the Biograph was an instant success, and it remained a
popular attraction at the Palace until I 902. Sho1ily after Koopman's arrival in London,
Dickson followed in May, and commenced filming. In the following years, he was
responsible for much ground-breaking work, including filming Pope Leo Xlll; various
European Monarchs; and extensive coverage of the Boer War, where he worked for a
while with an up and coming young journalist: Winston C hurchill.
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