Bert Bilby

(??-??)

Bert Bilby was a film projectionist in Cardiff in the early 1920s, a friend and clleague of fellow projectionist and inventor Sid Griffiths. On the 8 July 1926 the film trade magazine Kinematograph Weekly reported, under the heading "In South Wales":

     Cardiff Operators' Invention.—An invention which will add to the gaiety of shopping centres has just been patented by three Cardiff kinema operators—Messrs. Bilby, Griffiths and Alexander. It is a kinescope, or a kinematograph, compact in a portable case, which projects on to a screen a novel form of advertisement without in any way interfering with the window display. The pictures that the kinescope will throw on the screen are streamer shaped, the machine projecting either from the front or the rear, according to convenience.
     The principle of the mechanism is substantially similar to that of the ordinary kinematograph. The films are non-inflammable, and the light used is an ordinary electric lamp connected to the shop installation, the machine is classifiable as a home projector and, therefore, does not affect the insurance policies. The film can be exhibited almost as effectively by day as by night. It has, however, to compress the entire advertisement into a cycle of 90 seconds, so as to remain a fleeting attraction, and not become a kinema show calculated to cause a crowd to collect.

It should be noted that the patent application bears the name of Griffiths only.

Although the manufacture of the device, subsequently named the Advertiscope, was being organised in Cardiff, Griffiths and Bilby were currently living in London. Bilby had helped Griffiths make a short animated cartoon, inspired by the American films they were showing, and this had led to Pathé hiring them to make a series, Jerry the Terrible Tyke. Working in Pathé's Wardour Street offices, they made more than 40 episodes, which were included in the Pathé Pictorial reel from the end of July 1925 to February 1927.

Unfortunately I have been unable to find any biographical information whatsoever for Bert Bilby.



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Filmography

Jerry the Troublesome Tyke(Pathé 1925) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Honesty Is the Best Policy(Pathé 1925) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
In And Out Of Wembley(Pathé 1925) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Treasure Hunting(Pathé 1925) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Jerry's Treasure Island Travel(Pathé 1925) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Jerry Is Too Canny For The Cannibal(Pathé 1925) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Jerry Tracks The Treasure(Pathé 1925) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
There's Many A Slip...(Pathé 1925) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
A Very "Jerry" Expedition(Pathé 1925) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
The Joy Provider(Pathé 1925) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Never Say Die(Pathé 1925) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Jerry's Test Trial(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
The Deputy(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Weather or Not(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Weight And See(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Ten Little Jerry Boys(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
JOne Exciting Nightmare(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
All Cod!(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Both Biters Bit!(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
When Jerry Papered The Parlour(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
C.O.D.(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Jerry Sacks A Saxaphone(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
He Gets "Fired"(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
A Wireless Whirl(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
We Nearly Lose Him(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
He Breaks Out!(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
A Splash And A Dash(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
A Flash Affair(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Football(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
If Winter Comes(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Going West(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Golf(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
All Up A Tree(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
His Birthday(Pathé c.1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Great Expectations(Pathé c.1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
A Bird In The Hand(Pathé c.1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Spoofing A Spook(Pathé c.1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Curing A Cold(Pathé c.1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Shown Up!(Pathé c.1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
A Sticky Business(Pathé 1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director
Jerry Done Again(Pathé c.1926) Cameraman, co-scriptwriter, co-director

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Peter Hale
Last updated 2024