| Biography File: People of Campbeltown Picture House | |||
| Full Name | William Walker | ||
| Maiden name / other names | |||
| Birth date | 11th May 1858 | Birth place: Glasgow | |
| Death date | 25th December 1931 | Death place: Newcastle upon Tyne | |
| Father’s full name | William Walker | ||
| Mother’s full name (maiden name in brackets) | Margaret Walker (Sangster) | ||
| Spouse(s) | Mary Walker (MS unknown) | ||
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| Places of residence
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| Occupation history
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| Relationship with Picture House / Rex Cinema |
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| Life story in a paragraph (summary of above)
| Death of Scottish Cinema Pioneer Former Aberdonian News has been received in Aberdeen of the death at his residence, 66 Lovaine Place, Newcastle, of Mr William Walker, formerly bookseller at 36 Bridge Street, Aberdeen, and subsequently at 19 Bridge Street, and the pioneer of the cinematograph in Aberdeen and the North. It was as an entertainer that Mr Walker established a Scottish reputation. Messrs Walker & CO. specialising in lantern exhibitions from Dumfries-shire to the far North of Scotland, concert parties almost invariably accompanying these exhibitions. At one time, it is stated, the firm had over 10,000 slides and were able to illustrate almost any lecture that might be delivered from a public platform. It was not surprising, therefore, that when cinematographs made their appearance the firm speedily recognised their merit for entertainment purposes, and the first of the cinema shows in the North were those of which Mr Walker had the superintendence. He personally went to London to gain all the knowledge he could get from the exhibition of cinematographs there. He made good use of that knowledge when he returned North. Almost thirty years ago Mr Walker left Aberdeen for the South, disposing of his bookseller’s business to the firm of A. Brown & Co. Published: Tuesday 05 January 1932 Dundee Evening Telegraph
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| Contact with family established (details)? | No | ||
| External source references (e.g. census, BMD, valuation rolls, probate index, wills, parish records etc.) include ref. numbers
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| CPH archive or object collection reference | Cinematograph and concert party in Victoria Halls | ||
| Other notes | (on file) | ||
| Researcher | Norman Mowatt | ||
10 Dec
William Walker
Archive, Norman Mowatt, People of the Picture House
