Morecambe Church Lads' Brigade at Drill
About Morecambe Church Lads' Brigade at Drill
On 3 July 1901, boys of the Morecambe Church Lads' Brigade form up, drill, and parade through Morecambe. Between the orders they shove, break step, and clown for the camera.
More about Morecambe Church Lads' Brigade at Drill
Sagar Mitchell and James Kenyon filmed the brigade on 3 July 1901. The picture was shown that same day at the Winter Gardens in Morecambe, then taken to other halls in the north of England.
Themes
Background
Church Lads' Brigade companies were common in Lancashire towns in 1901, and Mitchell and Kenyon were filming northern parades, factory gates, and fairs for local exhibitors.
Making
The gag is in the drill itself: the camera stays on the ranks while the boys stop taking the parade seriously.
Audiences
It was popular enough in Morecambe to be booked into other venues in the north of England.
Preservation
A viewing copy survives and is on the Internet Archive.
Notes
- Mitchell and Kenyon shot local actualities for showmen who could advertise the audience back to itself the same night.
- The Winter Gardens premiere used the film on the day it was exposed.
- The boys are in Church Lads' Brigade uniform, a Church of England youth corps, not a music-hall turn.
- English-language credits name both Sagar Mitchell and James Kenyon.
Scenes
- The brigade is lined up for drill and then starts shoving and clowning in front of the camera.
Also available
- Internet Archive (silent-morecambe-church-lads-parade-at-drill)