Biography of 'Kemp family'

Showmen and cinema exhibitors

GEORGE ‘PRESIDENT’ KEMP Born Leicester (?), Died 1928, Ayrshire
HARRY KEMP Died1972

George Kemp worked as a solicitor’s clerk before becoming a travelling showman in 1882 adopting the stage name ‘President’ Kemp. In 1901 he opened his first Bioscope show. Very much a family affair, George was helped by his son Harry and his brother Walter, who ‘described’ or narrated the stories of the early silent films for the benefit of the audience.

In 1911, anticipating the decline of the travelling bioscope, George retired from the road and opened his first cinema, the Pavilion in Johnstone, Renfrewshire. Two years later opened his second cinema, the La Scala in Saltcoats, a resort on the Ayrshire coast, subsequently converting a wooden building across the street into the Casino Cinema in 1919.

President Kemp retired in 1925 and son Harry took over the business. Harry had introduced a series of concert parties during the 1922 summer season at the La Scala cinema in Saltcoats. It was the first of the now legendary Kemp Summer Shows which ran at venues up and down the Ayrshire Coast.

Kemp’s only Glasgow city cinema, the Capitol in Ibrox opened in April 1927. It was sold 18 months later to Gaumont British. In 1930-1931 the Casino Cinema in Saltcoats was demolished and replaced by the Regal. By the 1960’s Harry had been joined by his two sons Frank and George and had diversified into the amusement arcade industry.

Both the Regal and La Scala cinemas in Saltcoats continued to run and with Harry’s death in 1972 Frank and George took over as the third generation of Kemps.

Researcher: Eamonn Butler

Films associated with 'COCOZZA, Enrico'

14 hits

Asc Desc
	ARDEER SPORTS 1929 [0566] Add to my films Sports day at the Nobel Explosives Factory, Ardeer, Ayrshire; tug-of-war, sack race, pillow fight, and 'tilting the bucket' competition.	1929 silent bw
	ARDROSSAN SHIPYARD SPORTS [0575] Add to my films Open air sports for shipyard workers.	1921 silent bw
	ARDROSSAN SPORTS GALA [0562] Add to my films Coverage of Ardrossan Sports Gala with footage of a boxing match between Elky Clark and Duke Swan.	1925 silent bw
	GOODNIGHT FROM HARRY KEMP [3658] Add to my films Exterior of the Regal Cinema in Saltcoats; Harry Kemp, owner of the Regal Cinema, bids cinema patrons goodnight. Believed shot unofficially by Movietone News cameraman for Kemp whilst filming SALTCOATS GETS NEW ESPLANADE.	1933 sound bw
	HARRY KEMP'S "SCOTCH BROTH" ENTERTAINERS [0567] Add to my films A putting competition, children in the sea bathing and a charabanc carrying the local "entertainers".	1925 silent bw
	JUNIOR CUP FINAL: St. Anthony's v Saltcoats Victoria [0577] Add to my films Coverage of the Scottish Junior Cup Final and two replays between Saltcoats Victoria and St. Anthony's May-June, 1925.	1925 silent bw
	M'GETTIGAN KEMP WEDDING, the [12614] Add to my films Footage of the wedding of Peter M'Gettigan and Mary Kemp, the eldest daughter of cinema entrepreneur Harry Kemp.	1938 silent bw
	NOBEL'S TRIP TO ROTHESAY [0568] Add to my films A workers' outing from the Nobel Explosives Factory at Ardeer - a day trip to Rothesay on board the paddle steamer "King Edward".	1925 silent bw
	SALTCOATS FLOODED [0569] Add to my films The sea front and streets of Saltcoats flooded by high seas.	1919 silent bw
	SALTCOATS GETS NEW ESPLANADE [1330] Add to my films Sir Josiah and Lady Stamp perform the opening ceremony of the new Sandylands esplanade in Saltcoats.	1933 sound bw
	SALTCOATS PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES [0643] Add to my films Procession through the streets of Saltcoats with children dressed in white.	1952 silent bw
	SALTCOATS QUATER CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS [0644] Add to my films Saltcoats Quater Centenary celebrations with the gala procession through the streets.	1928 silent bw
	SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP - SALTCOATS VICTORIA v ST ROCHS [0564] Add to my films Coverage of the 1924 Scottish Junior Cup football match. The teams come out from the club hut and the captains toss. Shots of the game in progress.	1924 silent bw
	VOTE FOR HARRY KEMP [0642] Add to my films "Party political broadcast" by Harry Kemp, a candidate for office on Saltcoats Burgh Council, and shown in his cinema in the run up to the election.	1922 silent bw