West's Pictures
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film production, Film exhibition |
| Founder | Thomas James West |
| Fate | Merged with Australasian Films in 1912 to form The Combine |
Area served | Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain |
Key people | Thomas James West, Franklyn Barrett, Henry Hayward |
| Products | Newsreels, narrative films |
West's Pictures was an Australian company involved in film production and exhibition during the silent film period, established by the English theatre entrepreneur Thomas James West (1885–1916). Under West’s direction, it grew to become one of the leading film exhibitors in Australia. The firm regularly created newsreels and produced a number of narrative films, with some directed by Franklyn Barrett.
The early productions often featured contemporary narratives developed through a collaborative process involving writers, technicians, and directors. West collaborated with Henry Hayward to distribute films across Australia and New Zealand, enhancing screenings with variety performances such as "The Brescians." They built a network of cinemas spanning Australia, New Zealand, and Great Britain, including notable venues like:
- On 5 December 1908, the "Olympia" theatre opened on Hindley Street in Adelaide, marking the city’s first permanent picture house.
- In 1909, Royal Hall—later known as West's Cinema—was launched at the intersection of Peter Street and Bath Street in St Helier, Jersey.
In 1912, West's Limited combined forces with Australasian Films, becoming part of "The Combine," which eventually developed into the Greater Union group.
T. J. West’s enterprise was frequently mistaken for A. J. West’s distinct 'Our Navy' company (established in 1902), though the two were unrelated. Nonetheless, in 1912 T. J. West obtained exclusive screening rights for A. J. West’s 'Our Navy' films within Bournemouth.
Select filmography
- The Christian (1911)
- All for Gold, or Jumping the Claim (1911)
- The Strangler's Grip (1912)
- The Mystery of the Black Pearl (1912)
- The Eleventh Hour (1912)
- A Silent Witness (1912)