Thomas James West Explained

Thomas James West (1855 – November 1916) was an English-born theatre entrepreneur. He toured stage companies in the US, New Zealand and Australia and in 1908 established West's Pictures in Australia.^[1]

Over the next few years it became one of the most significant film exhibitors in Australia and New Zealand, eventually branching out into production.^[2] In 1912 this company merged with Australasian Films.^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}

Notes and References

1. News: MONEY IN MOVING PICTURES. . The Evening News. Sydney . 16 March 1906 . 22 December 2015 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
2. News: A CINEMATOGRAPH KING. . . Adelaide . 28 February 1910 . 22 December 2015 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
3. Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, p 26
4. News: Late T. J. West's N.S.W. Estate. . The Referee. Sydney . 3 October 1917 . 22 December 2015 . 14 . National Library of Australia.
5. News: PICTURE GOSSIP. . The Evening News. Sydney . 18 September 1913 . 22 December 2015 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
6. News: DEATH OF MR. T. J. WEST. . . 2 December 1916 . 22 December 2015 . 14 . National Library of Australia.