Biography of 'DICKSON, Louis'
Cinema Exhibitor and topical film-maker
Born: 1880
Died: c.1960
Dickson trained as an electrical engineer, before entering the cinematograph trade in 1899. A keen cameraman, Dickson was quick to establish himself within the industry and in 1908 he was appointed the official ‘Kinematographer’ to the Scottish National Exhibition in Edinburgh. In 1912 he opened the first purpose built cinema in Bo’ness, the Hippodrome, in Hope Street. Designed by the local architect, Matthew Steel, the Hippodrome was one of the finest buildings in the town and was distinctive of Steel’s style, which also characterised many other Bo’ness buildings. Seating 1,004 on two levels, the Hippodrome’s opening ceremony was performed by the town’s Provost Grant.
Unlike many other individuals involved in the industry at this time, Dickson did not seek to consolidate or expand his business throughout Scotland, instead preferring to remain the proprietor and manager of the Hippodrome. Nevertheless, Dickson did play an important role in the trade in general, through the positions he held in the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association (CEA), of which he was Vice Chairman of the Scottish Branch. In 1926 he also was one of the Scottish delegated to attend the CEA’s General Council.
Dickson produced local topicals for the Hippodrome including films of the annual Miner’s Day Gala in Bo’ness, which evolved into the Bo’ness Children’s Fair Festival. The festival was held on Fair Friday, which fell on the second Friday of July each year. It was an annual event which caused much excitement in the town and the film which was usually shown a week later at the Hippodrome was always a popular show.
Dickson remained and worked in Bo’ness until his death in the early 1960s. He was an innovative man with a strong sense of humour which could be seen by the fact that he called his house "Hollywood". Following his death the Hippodrome closed. In April 2009, it reopened as a working cinema - see http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/hippodrome for further information.
See also website with detailed information about the Fair at http://www.thefairday.com/ [last accessed 22/5/2009]
Researcher: Eamonn Butler
Films associated with 'COCOZZA, Enrico'
32 hits
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BO’NESS FAIR 1952 - QUEEN MYRA TAYLOR. PUBLIC SCHOOL [0413]Add to my filmsCoronation of Queen at Bo'ness Children's Fair Festival, with footage of the fancy dress parade provided by schools not selecting a Queen. |
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1952 silent bw |
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BO'NESS ACADEMY 1932: Queen Helen Burnett [0404C]Add to my filmsBo'ness Children's Fair Festival in 1932, coronation of Queen Helen Burnett and fancy dress parade. |
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1932 silent bw |
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BO'NESS CHILDREN'S FAIR FESTIVAL [0336]Add to my filmsBo'ness Children's Fair Festival in 1950, including the procession and coronation of the Fair Queen Miss Dorothy Angus (from Kinneil School). |
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1950 silent bw |
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BO'NESS CHILDREN'S FAIR FESTIVAL 1953 [0338]Add to my filmsThe procession and coronation of the Queen Helen Gourlay during the Bo'ness Children's Fair Festival of 1953, held soon after the Coronation on the 3rd of June, 1953, there are a few reminders of recent events during the day. |
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1953 silent bw |
BO'NESS CHILDREN'S FAIR FESTIVAL 1954 [0339]Add to my filmsBo'ness Children's Fair Festival 1954, including procession of Bo'ness schools, fancy dress parade and coronation of Queen Mary Gibson. |
1954 silent bw |
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BO'NESS CHILDREN'S FAIR FESTIVAL 1955 [0340]Add to my filmsBo'ness Children's Fair Festival of 1955, including coronation of Queen Margaret Grant of Kinneil School and general procession. |
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1955 silent bw |
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BO'NESS CHILDREN'S FAIR FESTIVAL 1956 [0341]Add to my filmsThe procession and coronation of Queen Beatrice Stewart at the Bo'ness Children's Fair Festival 1956. |
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1956 silent bw |
BO'NESS CHILDREN'S FAIR FESTIVAL 1959 [0343]Add to my filmsViews of the Bo'ness Fair Festival, 3rd of July 1959, including Schools parade, and crowning of Queen Mairi Pritchard. |
1959 silent bw |
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BO'NESS CHILDREN'S FAIR FESTIVAL 1960 [0344]Add to my filmsThe 1960 Bo'ness Children Fair Festival; the procession and the coronation of Queen June Grant. |
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1960 silent bw |
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BO'NESS CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL, 1949 [0411]Add to my filmsBo'ness Children's Fair Festival in 1949. Coronation of Queen Margaret [Carson], with pageantry and floats. |
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1949 silent bw |
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BO'NESS FAIR 1912 [1316]Add to my filmsBo'ness Children's Fair Festival, 1912. Coronation of Fair Queen Annie Peace and fancy dress procession. |
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1912 silent bw |
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BO'NESS FAIR 1958 - QUEEN HELEN DONALDSON, ST MARY’S SCHOOL [0342]Add to my filmsThe procession and coronation of Gala Queen Helen Donaldson at the Bo'ness Fair, 4th of July, 1958. |
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1958 silent bw |
BO'NESS FAIR c. 1913 [0412B]Add to my filmsFilm showing girls dancing at a maypole, during Bo'ness Children's Fair Festival, probably dating from circa 1913. |
1915 silent bw |
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BO'NESS JUBILEE YEAR 1947: Queen Mary Sneddon [0409]Add to my filmsBo'ness Children's Fair Festival in 1947. Coronation of Queen Mary Sneddon (Public School) followed by the fancy dress parade. |
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1947 silent bw |
BO'NESS PUBLIC SCHOOL: Queen Mary Smith [0400]Add to my films1936 Bo'ness Children's Fair Festival, with the coronation of "Queen" Mary Smith and accompanying procession through Bo'ness. |
1936 silent bw |
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BO'NESS SEA SCOUTS [1369]Add to my filmsSea scouts operating a small craft and enjoying a boxing match. |
1935 silent bw |
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BO'NESS UNITED VERSUS FORTH RANGERS [0335A]Add to my filmsBo'ness United play Forth Rangers for the Evening News Trophy. |
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1949 silent bw |
BO'NESS v FORTH RANGERS AND GRANGE ROVERS [1370]Add to my filmsCoverage of a football match between Bo'ness United and Forth Rangers and Grange Rovers with shots of spectators, teams playing and crowds leaving the match. 24th. October 1950. |
1950 silent bw |
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BORROWSTOUN SCHOOL: Queen Joan Campbell [0401A]Add to my filmsThe Bo'ness Children's Fair Queen Joan Campbell meets children in fancy dress and leaves accompanied by her entourage. [Bo'ness Children's Fair Festival was not held during the war years of 1915-1918, this revival which took place in 1919 had a theme of 'Peace Between Nations'] |
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1919 silent bw |
BRITISH MOVIETONE NEWS, SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP FINAL [0335B]Add to my filmsScottish Junior Cup Final between Shawfield Juniors and Bo'ness United at Hampden Stadium, Glasgow. Shows play from both halves and half-time band, omitting winner and trophy ceremony. |
1949 sound bw |
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GOOD MORNING DAWN [7930]Add to my filmsA television documentary about the history and significance of the Bo'ness Children's Fair Festival, filmed in the year of Elizabeth II's Jubilee. |
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1977 sound bwcol |
GRANGE PUBLIC SCHOOL: QUEEN ANDREA WALKER [0412C]Add to my filmsCoronation of the 1935 Bo'ness Children's Fair Festival featuring Queen Andrea Walker and fancy dress parade. |
1935 silent bw |
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GRANGE SCHOOL: Queen Anne Currie [0402A]Add to my filmsBo'ness Children's Fair Festival of 1922. Queen Anne Currie and her retinue arrive for the coronation ceremony. |
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1922 silent bw |
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HIPPODROME CINEMA, BO'NESS [1546]Add to my filmsFootage of the exterior of the Hippodrome Cinema in Bo'ness as patrons emerge. |
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1951 silent bw |
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KINNEIL PUBLIC SCHOOL: Queen Helen Young [0404E]Add to my filmsBo'ness Children's Fair Festival, 1934. Coronation of Queen Helen Young and fancy dress parade. |
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1934 silent bw |
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KINNEIL SCHOOL: Queen Elizabeth Sneddon [0401B]Add to my filmsBo'ness Children's Fair Festival in 1920. The Fair Festival Queen greets children in fancy dress parade. |
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1920 silent bw |
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KINNEIL SCHOOL: Queen Jean Paterson [0403]Add to my filmsBo'ness Children's Fair Festival, 1939. Coronation of Queen Jean Paterson and the fancy dress parade. |
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1939 silent bw |
LAYING FOUNDATION STONE - FREE GARDENERS HALL [1379]Add to my filmsA foundation stone is layed at Free Gardener's Hall, Bo'ness on 5th May 1923, with a procession and brass band as part of the festivities. |
1923 silent bw |
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MAY DAY PARADE, BO'NESS [1376]Add to my filmsGeneral views of the Bo'ness May Day Parade and very brief shots of a display by a young girl using skipping ropes and dancing. [Dated from film stock as 1918*] |
1918 silent bw |
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OPENING OF BRIDGENESS MINERS WELFARE INSTITUTE [1380]Add to my filmsThe opening speech at the Bridgeness Miners Welfare Institute on May 31st, 1924. Shots of two men playing bowls watched by the spectating crowd. |
1924 silent bw |
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ST. MARY'S SCHOOL 1937: QUEEN ANNE [0408]Add to my filmsBo'ness Children's Fair Festival. Coronation of Queen Anne Spence and fancy dress parade. Includes footage from another year (possibly 1938 featuring Queen Kathleen Miller?) |
1937 silent bw |
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UNVEILING BO'NESS AND CARRIDEN WAR MEMORIAL [1387]Add to my filmsLt .General Sir Walter Braithwaite unveils Bo'ness and Carriden war memorial. 12th July 1924. |
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1924 silent bw |
32 hits