This film is part of Free

His Worship the Mayor Leaving Lancaster Town Hall (1902)
Mitchell & Kenyon capture the 'lighter' side of Lancastrian officialdom.
Overview
Local dignitaries often crop up in Mitchell and Kenyon's films, but this amusing vignette outside Lancaster Town Hall is something of a curio. It's not known whether the short 'comedian' was a local celebrity, but the entertaining interaction would certainly have been staged to enliven AD Thomas's compilation of 'animated pictures', playing at the town's Palace of Varieties in March/April 1902.
Related

Funeral of Queen Victoria (1901) Funeral of Queen Victoria (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 5 mins Silent Location: Hyde Park
The crowds stand silent as the nation says goodbye to Queen Victoria in February 1901.

Joseph Chamberlain at Home (1902) Joseph Chamberlain at Home (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 3 mins Silent Location: Birmingham
A political giant at his magnificent Highbury estate in Birmingham.

Return of Kitchener (1902) Return of Kitchener (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 4 mins Silent
Lord Kitchener, Commander-in-Chief of the British army, returns from South Africa to cheering crowds.

Princess Louise at Liverpool (1906) Princess Louise at Liverpool (1906)
Non-Fiction 1906 1 mins Silent Location: Liverpool
A bagpipe band marches in honour of Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, on her visit to Liverpool.

Prince of Siam in Liverpool (1901) Prince of Siam in Liverpool (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 3 mins Silent Location: Liverpool
The future King of Siam takes a trip across the Mersey.

The King's Ride in the Isle of Man (1902) The King's Ride in the Isle of Man (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 1 mins Silent Location: Isle of Man
Crowds clamour for a view of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra (on tour) in the Isle of Man.

The Wedding of Billy and Joyce 25 March 1950 The Wedding of Billy and Joyce 25 March 1950
Home movie 1950 9 mins Silent Location: Lancaster
Congratulations to the happy couple! A lovely record of a special day in Lancaster.

Workforce of Storey's White Cross Mills, Lancaster (1902) Workforce of Storey's White Cross Mills, Lancaster (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 1 mins Silent Location: Lancaster
A great surge of workers pushes through the gates of a Lancashire mill.

Return of the Lancaster Volunteers (1901) Return of the Lancaster Volunteers (1901)
Non-Fiction 1902 3 mins Silent Location: Lancaster
Some nifty product placement creeps in to this formal portrait of the Lancaster Volunteers.

Employees Leaving Williamson's Factory, Lancaster (1901) Employees Leaving Williamson's Factory, Lancaster (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 2 mins Silent Location: Lancaster
Lancastrian workers spill out of a huge textile factory.

Employees Leaving Storey's Moor Lane Mill, Lancaster (1902) Employees Leaving Storey's Moor Lane Mill, Lancaster (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 2 mins Silent Location: Lancaster
Workers at a Lancaster linoleum factory leave and the gate is firmly shut behind them.

New Perspectives: Tangerine New Perspectives: Tangerine
Short documentary 2025 3 mins
Harry Wallace, a student at Northumbria university, explains why Sean Baker's LA-set comedy-drama, about a transgender sex worker on the hunt for her cheating -ex, is worth your time.

Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode
Inside Film 2025 44 mins
Daniel Craig talks to Mark Kermode about his acting career, from his early role in Love is the Devil through to the Luca Guadagnino directed Queer.

New Perspectives: Fish Tank New Perspectives: Fish Tank
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Adam Smith of Northumbria University explains why Andrea Arnold's coming-of-age story, about a girl who uses dance to escape, is his favourite film on BFI Player.

New Perspectives: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Ball of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.

Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.

On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.