This film is part of Free

Sedgwick's Bioscope Showfront at Pendlebury Wakes (1901)
Outside a fairground cinematograph in Edwardian Lancashire.
Overview
A white-hatted James Kenyon, half of the Mitchell & Kenyon filmmaking partnership, appears in this lively film showing a warm-up act - a famous comedy routine in which a barber slathers a man's face in soap - designed to entice summer holiday crowds to Sedgwick’s 'Bioscope' (film) show. The act causes much hilarity among the spectators, who are encouraged to parade down the stairs for the camera.
This is one of a fascinating handful of Mitchell & Kenyon's films which offer a glimpse of the filmmakers' showmanship and exhibition strategy. The film was screened up to 20 times a day in August 1901 at Pendlebury Wakes to entertain the poorer children of Salford. The 'wakes week' was an industrial holiday introduced in the 19th century, involving the annual closure of the workplace to allow for maintenance and leisure time for the workers. Fairground showmen responded to the opportunity presented by the holiday crowds by showing the latest novelties - in this case moving pictures. The film was commissioned from Sagar Mitchell and James Kenyon by Sedgwick's Bioscope. The Sedgwicks, a showman family who between them managed a menagerie and at least two cinematograph booths, toured the Lancashire wakes at the turn of the century. The filmmakers' close association with fairground showmen may have begun through Kenyon’s penny-in-the-slot business. The strength of these commissioning relationships with bioscope showmen was crucial to the success of Mitchell & Kenyon's film business.
Related

The Derby 1896 The Derby 1896
Non-Fiction 1896 0 mins Silent
A pioneering example of filmed news: from Epsom to the screen in record time

Feeding the Tigers Feeding the Tigers
Interest film 1899 1 mins Silent
A big cat has to perform for its supper in this early actuality film

H.M.S. Powerful Moored at Portsmouth H.M.S. Powerful Moored at Portsmouth
Non-Fiction 1900 0 mins Silent Location: Portsmouth
Take a good look at one of the era's largest warships - the hefty H.M.S. Powerful, back from the Boer War

Belfast Street Scenes 1890's Belfast Street Scenes 1890's
Non-Fiction 1898 2 mins Silent Location: Belfast
A view down the High Street featuring the Albert Clock, a shot of Queen's Bridge and the docks

Beach Scene Beach Scene
Non-Fiction 1897 1 mins Silent
A charming image of children paddling on a pebbly beach on a hot summer's day

Beagles Beagles
Amateur film 1898 2 mins Silent
A pack of beagles are assembled for a hunt by their trainers and a huntsman

Miners Leaving Pendlebury Colliery (1901) Miners Leaving Pendlebury Colliery (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 1 mins Silent Location: Pendlebury
A black miner makes an intriguing addition to an already captivating film of coal workers up from their pit.

Operatives of Acme Spinning Company, Pendlebury (1901) Operatives of Acme Spinning Company, Pendlebury (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 2 mins Silent Location: Pendlebury
A glimpse of early filmmaking showmanship as James Kenyon marshals Lancashire textile workers.

If I Make It To The Morning If I Make It To The Morning
Drama 2024 9 mins
A Chinese teenager dreams of living with her cool aunt in New York, until tensions boil over during a crab dinner.

We’ll Go Down in History We’ll Go Down in History
Documentary 2025 25 mins
Two years in the life of TRUK United FC, a beacon for positive change and trans inclusivity in football.

Wrong Bathroom Wrong Bathroom
Drama 2024 9 mins
A trans high-schooler is tempted by toxic masculinity in the boys’ bathroom.

Dragfox Dragfox
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2024 8 mins
A child struggling with their identity and a charismatic fox (voiced by Sir Ian McKellen) learn to embrace their differences in this heart warming stop-motion animation.

Wait, Wait, Now! Wait, Wait, Now!
Drama 2024 13 mins
A Maori and a Kiwi teen buddy up to raid their mum’s wardrobe and pucker their lips with red.

NGGAK!!! NGGAK!!!
Drama 2024 8 mins
‘I pronounce you wife and wife.’ A young couple design their perfect wedding online, but then mum dials in.