Holmes, Fred (Frederick), 1878 - 1951
Dates
- Existence: 1878 - 1951
Biography
Fred Holmes was an instrumental manager throughout Redfern's career, in charge of a number of itinerant shows, and later permanent shows.
Fred Holmes was born in Dronfield, Chesterfield in 1878. He started working with Jasper Redfern around 1894 becoming proficient in photography then developing to become a 'Skilled operator' of animated pictures, a camera man and projectionist.
From 1900 to 1905, he travelled extensively with Jasper Redfern and was the manager for Redfern's vaudeville and animated picture shows. Including the two seasons at Redfern's 'Palace by the Sea' in Southend where he took stills and some movies. When Jasper Redfern set up the first picture house in Sheffield, Holmes became the manager as well as general manager for Redfern's various enterprises around the country.
Redfern and Holmes parted ways in 1912 when Redfern's business folded in 1912 but Holmes was retained as manager of the New Central Hall Cinema, which was named the Tivoli in 1913.
From 1914 until his retirement in 1937, Holmes was the manager of the Heeley Electric Palace on Chesterfield Road. In 1939 he moved to Tupton, Derbyshire and worked at Rawson's brewery, Sheffield during the war.
Fred Holmes died in 1951.
Found in 20 Collections and/or Records:
Central Hall, Norfolk Street, Sheffield Poster, 11 December [1905]
Charles Coborn - The Man who Broke the 'Bank of Monte Carlo'. The Banzai-Parez - Musical Troupe; Jasper Redfern's Animated Pictures - How Money is Made; Harland and Rollison - famous comedy musicians.
Central Hall, Norfolk Street, Sheffield Poster, 4 December 1905
Norfolk Street, Sheffield. Jasper Redfern's Animated pictures and Grand Vaudeville Company. Life of the Notorious Charles Peace. Whale Hunting in the Shetland Isles. Lilian Brothers - athletic act. Fred Hudson - entertainer and mimic. Lil Neville - vocalist. Cytoza, the artist’s model. Printed by Williams, New Walk Colour Printing Works, Leicester. Red and blue type on off white background with red border.
Central Hall Poster, 25 September c1900 - 1920
Norfolk Street, Sheffield. Jasper Redfern's Animated Pictures and Vaudeville Entertainment. Gravetta and Parr - impersonators, comedy and juggling. Percy Farrimonde - singer. Madame Gavetta - vocalist. Stanert and Yondi - musical entertainers. Imperial Concert Orchestra. Printed by Jas Neville, 134 Carver St. Moorhead, Sheffield. Blue type on off white background with blue border.
Central Hall Poster, c1900 - 1920
Devonshire Hall, Morecambe Handbill, c1900 - 1920
Jasper Redfern's Animated and Packed House Monkey Company. Special Attraction of the Sloppy-Faced Bloated Blood-Nosed Comedian - Herbert Betts. George Dinnie - Strongman. J.E. Linstead - Baritone. Mr Phonograph with Dolly Gray and others. Professor Fred. ‘The Manager will nurse babies at 1D per Hour’. 2pp.
Empire, Southend-on-Sea Handbill, c1905
Salmon-trick and musical cyclist riding on one wheel without a saddle, to be filmed. Printed by Neale-Huggett and Pye, Electrical Printers, Weston Road, Southend.
Famous Players’ Review Booklet, 1 - 31 March 1914
Includes synopsis of films, some articles, and black and white photographs of actors and play scenes.
Fred Holmes Collection
A collection of material including posters, programmes, handbills, newspaper cuttings and photographs relating to the shows of Jasper Redfern mainly in the Sheffield and surrounding areas. The collection was created by Fred Holmes who was a manager for Jasper Redfern of Sheffield, a pioneer of early film and exhibition. Jasper Redfern was the first man to show films in Sheffield. Also included in the collection is correspondence between Fred Holmes and Jasper Redfern.
Handbills, c1900 - 1920
Collection of Handbills mainly relating to Jasper Redfern's Motion Pictures, as well as other entertainments and events.
New Palace Theatre, Hull Poster, 18 August 1902
Millie Hylton. Maisamos - Musical Grotesques. Alice Cooke - Transformation Dancer. Sisters Morgan - Duettists and Dancers. Ross and Grayson - Comedians. Redfern's Pictures - The Coronation of King Edward VII. Sybil St. Elmo - Vocalist. O'Connor and Brady - Knockabout Comedians. Little Gitana - Child Vocalist. Glenroy Troupe. Edwin Boyde - Comedian. Red and green.
Palace Theatre, Hull Handbill, c1900 - 1920
George Dinnie the Strongest man on Earth will Wrestle With Jack Carkeek. Mr George Dinnie appears by the kind permission of Mr. Jasper Redfern, now at the Circus. Printed by M. Waller and Son, Chapel Lane, Hull.
Photographs, Cards, Stills and Glass Plates, c1896 - 1925
11 sepia stills of 'Redemption' film by Cinema Éclair. 4 glass plates showing strong man, some acrobats and other scenes with people. 12 black and white portrait photographs of actresses and actors, some with dedications. 6 small collectible cards from Moffat's Sweetmeats part of a series of photos of cinema artistes. 3 photographs of Southend. 6 postcards for 'The Two Falcons' acrobatic act. 3 strips of negatives.
Posters, 1900 - 1905
Collection of posters mainly relating to Jasper Redfern's Motion Pictures, as well as other entertainments and events.
Prince of Wales Circus, Scarborough Hippodrome Poster, c1900 - 1920
Jasper Redfern's Vaudeville and Animated Picture Company. Prof. Gillin - Ventriloquist. The Falcons - Acrobats and Hand-Balancers. Master Leonard Ankers - Boy Comedian. Madame McMullen - Soprano Vocalist. Mr. Charlton Howarth - Tenor Vocalist. Mdlle. Dulcie Murielle - Solo Pianist. Printed by G. A. Pindar, 45 St. Thomas Street, Scarborough. Handwritten bill listing on the back from 'Ye Devonshire Halle'. Black on yellow.
Public Hall, Harvey Institute, Barnsley Handbill, c1900 - 1920
Public Hall, Harvey Institute, Barnsley Handbill, c1900 - 1920
Jasper Redfern's Superb Animated and Singing Pictures. The Falcons - Acrobatic and Hand Balancing Speciality. Harry Heath - Humourist. Edison's Latest Marvel - The Phonometograph. Herbert Betts - Comedian. Grand Gladiatorial Display by Mr George Dinnie. Printed by Bridgens and Son Ltd., Sheffield.
Seven of the Best and Most Popular Songs Handbill, c1895 - 1920
Sung by the great comedian Mr Charles Coburn. Printed by Dysons, Peterborough, 8pp.
Souvenir of English Picture Players Booklet, c1895 - 1920
Includes an introduction, pages describing actors and actresses attributes and characters, and photographic portraits of some of the actors and actresses, 21pp.
Town Hall, Brighouse Handbill, 22 September c1900 - 1920
Jasper Redfern's No 1 Vaudeville Company. Jasper Redfern's Singing and Living Pictures. Herbert Betts - Comedian. J.E. Linstead - Baritone Vocalist. Edison's Latest Marvel - The Phonometograph. George Dinnie - the finest developed man in the world. Printed by Sheffield Independent Press Limited, 21 Fargate.
Various Items, c1895 - 1920
Collection of Various Items mainly relating to Jasper Redfern's Motion Pictures, as well as other entertainments and events.