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... one of the boldest and most visionary showmen in the early years of the industry. Born in London as Spencer Cozens, he began exhibiting films in Canada, and there married Eleanor Huntley, who played an active part in his business affairs under the romantic name of Senora Spencer. ... Spencer travelled around Australia as an exhibitor, and after a film-buying trip to Europe, returned early in 1908 to lease the Lyceum Hall in Sydney, which he remodelled as a permanent venue for film presentations. Promoting his Lyceum shows with a wide range of ingenious gimmicks (including Senora Spencer as Australia's only woman projectionist), he quickly established primacy in the trade. Pike & Cooper: 9.
Spencer left Australia and returned to Canada with his wife, where he bought a ranch in British Columbia. In 1930, depressed after some financial reversals, he went on a shooting spree, killing his storeman and wounding another man, before drowning himself in a nearby lake. Wikipedia entry.
The Life And Adventures Of John Vane, The Notorious Australian Bushranger (S. A. [Stephen Australia] Fitzgerald, 1910) Spencer's Pictures, prod. Charles Cozens Spencer, dp Arthur Higgins; Jim Gerald, Lance Vane, Max Clifton; longest title
Dan Morgan: Notorious Australian Outlaw (Spencer's Pictures, 1911) "Aborigines associated with a bushranger" Malone 1987: 3; Pike & Cooper: 29
Captain Midnight, The Bush King (Alfred Rolfe, 1911) Spencer's Pictures, dp Ernest Higgins; Alfred Rolfe [Alfred Roker] (Edgar Dalmore/Captain Midnight), Lily Dampier [Rolfe's wife] (Elsa), Raymond Longford
Captain Starlight, or Gentleman Of The Road (Alfred Rolfe, 1911) Spencer's Pictures, from the play by Alfred Dampier, based on the novel Robbery Under Arms by Rolf Boldrewood, dp Ernest Higgins; Alfred Rolfe, Lily Dampier, Raymond Longford, Stanley Walpole, Augustus Neville; opened Spencer's Lyceum Sydney 16 March 1911 and ran for a profitable extended season; over 3000 ft
The Fatal Wedding (Raymond Longford, 1911) Spencer's Pictures, screenplay, scenario, script Raymond Longford, dp Arthur Higgins; Raymond Longford (Howard Wilson), Lottie Lyell (Mabel Wilson), Walter Vincent (Robert Curtis), Tom Cosgrove (Toto), Harry Saville (Peter Schwartz), George Ellis (Constable O'Reilly), Mr Henderson (Reverend Dr Lanceford), Miss Clare (Cora Williams), Helen Fergus (Bridget), Elsie Rennie (Jessie), Master Anson (Frankie), Jack Goodall; first film to bring together Longford, Lyell and Higgins; 3500 ft
Life Of Rufus Dawes, The (Alfred Rolfe, 1911) Spencer's Pictures, wr. Alfred Rolfe from the novel For The Term Of His Natural Life by Marcus Clarke, dp Ernest Higgins; Alfred Rolfe, Lily Dampier, Raymond Longford; 4000 ft
Romantic Story Of Margaret Catchpole, The (Raymond Longford, 1911) Spencer's Pictures, dp Ernest Higgins; Lottie Lyell, Raymond Longford, Augustus Neville; 3000 ft (?)
Sweet Nell Of Old Drury (Raymond Longford, 1911) Spencer's Pictures, wr. Raymond Longford from the play by Paul Kester; dp Ernest Higgins; Nellie Stewart, Augustus Neville, Charles Lawrence; 4800 ft
Tide Of Death, The (Raymond Longford, 1912) Spencer's Pictures, wr. Raymond Longford, dp Tasman Higgins; Augustus Neville, Lottie Lyell, Frank Harcourt; 3000 ft, 33 min.
Midnight Wedding, The (Raymond Longford, 1912) Spencer's Pictures, wr. Raymond Longford from the play by Walter Howard, dp Ernest Higgins; Augustus Neville, Lottie Lyell, D. L. Dalziel; 3000 ft
Bushman's Bride (Spencer's Pictures, 1912)
Australia Calls (Raymond Longford, 1913) Spencer's Pictures, wr. C. A. Jeffries, John Barr; dp Ernest Higgins, Tasman Higgins, Arthur Higgins; racist film warning of the Yellow Peril; 4000 ft, 44 min.
Shepherd Of The Southern Cross, The (Alexander Butler, 1914) Australasian Pictures, prod. Stanley Twist, wr. Nell Shipman, dp Ernest Higgins; Arthur Shirley, Vera Pearce, Roland Conway, Clare Stephenson, Tien Hogue; Charles Cozen Spencer's last film
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