The Lost World of Mitchell and Kenyon

[Steve]

These were discovered in a cellar in Blackburn. I saw some last night on the news and they are really interesting. One was of Preston in 1905. They all seem to be in the North West. It was fascinating to see ordinary working class people going aboput their daily lives. I'll be tapeing this.

The Lost World of Mitchell and Kenyon
BBC 2
Fri 14 Jan, 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm 60mins

The discovery of 800 short films from the Edwardian era is the basis for this new series. The films have been rescued after lying hidden in a cellar for over 80 years.

Restored to their original clarity, these films shot by pioneering film-makers Sagar Mitchell and James Kenyon now take the viewer into a lost world.

Presenter Dan Cruickshank uses the films to throw new light on Britain at work and play before the First World War.

This first programme shows us life in the new cities as well as the cotton mills and factories, and reveals a vibrant family life through interviews with descendants of people captured in the films. The Boer War is raging but Mitchell and Kenyon are on the spot to film its heroes.

[michele cryer]

Sounds fascinating Steve...I love old film of our towns.

Another series, which is currently showing on ITV 7.30pm Thursdays is called The Way We Were...I think it's been on before...each week this looks at a different aspect of life and work from the 1940's and 1960's and is very interesting too, with interviews from the people, some celebrities, who lived during those times.

[Mitch]

I missed this programme unfortunately - wouldn't mind borrowing that tape sometime Steve.

You know it's interesting that this film archive is receiving the attention it is - there was already existing a considerable film archive of the working class about there business to be found in places like the NorthWest Film Archive on Chorlton St in Manchester (there's some fascinating film here on the Vickers Shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness), and there's lots of recordings of interviews with working class activists at the North West Sound Archive, underneath Clitheroe Castle of all places.

Both these archive centres are open to the public, but it's difficult to get access, they give preference to university students viewing the film and there is little effort to raise awareness beyond these networks that these archives are there - in a way they've been buried and there are increasing bureaucratic barriors to the working class connecting to their own history.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that this documentary cuts through that, as television has the power to reach large numbers of people, as does the web. I suppose part of the story of this archive is that it was found in a cellar, hidden for many years and that it's a large achive by the same two men. Fact is though that there is much of this film footage scattered about - perhaps this will lead to more of that getting on tv? Hope so.

There's also a massive amount of letters, photos and working class archives at the Lancashire Records Office in Preston. I went along once to look at the Selina Cooper archive which Jill Liddington set up there in the 1980s. Bloody hell, that was a bureaucratic nightmare - I had to fill in a separate form for each bit of the achive.

There used to be much more grassroots education courses, which were either very cheap or free run though such groups locally as the Independent Labour Party around here in Burnley and Nelson - but we don't have that anymore. I'd welcome such courses like these in anarchist networks in the North West.

How about a public showing of this documentary Steve either in Preston or Burnley with the projector, with discussions and so forth.

[Steve]

It turns out that this was the first of a series of three. Next week concentrates on sport & leisure including the first ever film of a Manchester United match (They won it and holiday trips. There is going to be a tour showing the films and you get get the series on DVD
see ttp://www.bfi.org.uk/collections/mk/news/index.html for details.

Just to say last night was fascinating, seeing ordinary people go aboput their day-to-day business. The only boring part was when they concentrated too long on one subject, a returning officer from the Boer War and his grandchildren wittering on, frightfully middle class.

Look forward to the next week. I hope to tape all three.

[michele cryer]

LOL re the Bore War Officer...I found that extremely boring...and yes, very middle class...'ooh, look at the hat she is wearing? and look at all the ladies hats'...pass me the sick bowl please!

I loved this programme, felt sad when I looked at the youngsters and imagined many of them not having survived beyond the First World War even...

I was very interested in the stories that the working class families told of their grandparents, working in the mills or down the coal mines...both my mum and dad's families were heavily involved in these industries. A very useful series for anybody studying social history I would think. Yes it is a shame that the general public doesn't have easier access to the other footage available Mitch...maybe something will now happen to rectify that.

I look forward to watching the other 2 editions, though, unfortunately, I'm not too taken with the narrator's voice..but that's just personal!! LOL

[Steve]

Your right, the presenter/narrator got on my nerves too.

[michele cryer]

Phew! I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that!! I was beginning to feel sorry for the guy...lol

[Steve]

Late result courtesy of Mitchell and Kenyon

Turf Moor December 6, 1902

Burnley 0, Manchester United 2

Some things just don’t change! ;D

[Mitch]

I managed to catch this last Friday, and whats more I watched it with Deecan who has lived in the area for many years, and gave me a much better commentary than Mr Cruickshank. Urr I agree with you both 'Sir Cruickshank's style is a little, 'oh aren't the working class quaint wot wot. I've seen him on other documentaries on canal and industrial history and his approach was the same there. Still, he does his research - I was more interested to listen to people from the community though talking about people on the films and things they remembered.

The Turf Moor scene was fascinating, there was only about 30 in the audience around the pitch. Did you see that piece on the 'SUFFRAGIST' march as well - my eyes popped out of my head as I couldn't work out where the march was and I was looking for faces I recognised.

I was fascinated to see the banners on this march with 'suffragist' not 'suffragette' on them. Also, there was some scene in Nelson where they were demolishing a chimney - couldn't work out where that was in Nelson either.

I was irritated also by those stupid contemporary reinactions - this seems to be a trait now in historical related documentary - I blame that idiot David Starkey for this. For gods sake, when you got original footage from 1905 and so on, you want to see that not some pathetic contemporary reinaction in Mitchell and Kenyon's shop.

Be great to have a group showing of this at some point.

[michele cryer]

I couldn't agree with you more Mitch..those reconstructions are just a waste of time in which more film footage could be shown!

I hope that we can all get together to watch these programmes as I missed the 2nd one.

[michele cryer]

Just a quick reminder to everyone...I missed both eps 2 and 3 of this series...would it be possible to have an evening together watching it on the projector perhaps, Mitch?

[Steve]

I've got the three on one tape. I must warn you though that the second and third do repeat the story of how they found the tapes just in case the viewers had had a collective memeory loss and the presenter seemed to get more irritating. Also they continued to do those silly re-constructions.

[Mitch]

Absolutely, if Steve doesn't mind lending the tapes to you, you could PM your address to him? I missed the first episode. Also, be great to watch them with you, as there were a few snippets from Nelson I think particularly in the second episode, and I couldn't work out where they were. Wouldn't mind another look at the suffragist march clip particularly as well!

Also, lets chat about film gatherings this week when we meet. Sally from Lets been asking also about it.

Best Mitch

[michele cryer]

Mitch, that sounds like a simply maarvelous idea....tea and biscuits anybody? Cucumber sandwich? Or would one prefer a chip buttie with that pint of ale? ;D

Looking forward to getting these filmshows on the road!!!

Steve, if you could lend me your videos I would be most grateful, and will try not to cringe at the narrator and 'actors'!!! LOL