William Haggar

William Haggar (10 March 1851 – 4 February 1925) was a British pioneer of the cinema industry. Beginning his career as a travelling entertainer, Haggar, whose large family formed his theatre company, later bought a Bioscope show and earned his money in the fairgrounds of south Wales. In 1902 he began making his own short fictional films, making him one of the earliest directors in Britain. His films were shown worldwide and his short Desperate Poaching Affray is believed to have influenced early narrative drama in American film, especially in chase genre. As a director Haggar is recognised for his use of editing and the depth of staging in his melodramas and crime films.

Early history Haggar was born in Dedham, Essex, where he was apprenticed as a shipbuilder and later a watchmaker. An accomplished musician, Haggar left home at the age of eighteen and joined a troupe of travelling players, working as a stage carpenter. In 1870 he married Sarah Walton, daughter of Richard Walton proprietor of a travelling theatre. The Waltons were a well-known family of professional actors and pantomimists who had been in the entertaining business for many generations.

Moving the theatre deeper into industrial Wales, Haggar found an audience that brought him an unprecedented level of prosperity. The film was a great success and sold over 480 copies in Europe and America and was widely pirated. His work was held in high esteem by Gaumont who presented him with a film camera, mechanical tripod and supplied him with film stock, all free of charge.

Later life After the death of his wife Sarah in 1909, he settled permanently in Aberdare, and in 1910 he opened William Haggars Coliseum, later renamed Haggar's Electric Palace, on a permanent pitch at Market Yard. This was followed by cinemas in Llanelli, Pontardulais, Neath, Mountain Ash and Pembroke. In 1912 he remarried, to Mary Davies, daughter of Jenkin Davies, the proprietor of the 'Bird in Hand Inn' in Aberdare. He and Mary had a house built in Abernant, which they called 'Kinema House'. He was elected to the Merthyr Board of Guardians of the Poor in 1913 and the next year he became a councillor to Aberdare Urban District Council.

With a film career of over 25 years behind him Haggar died on 4 February 1925 at 'Maer-yr-haf' in Elm Grove, Aberdare, the home of his son Walter.

Filmography The Maniac's Gulillotine (1902) Duel scene from The Two Orphans (1902) The Wild Man of Borneo (1902) True as Steel (1902) The Maid of Cefn Ydfa (1902) Weary Willie and Tired Tim – The Gunpowder Plot (1903) Mirthful Mary – a Case for the Blacklist (1903) Weary Willie and Tired Tim turn Barbers (1903) Desperate Poaching Affray (1903) Weary Willie and Tired Tim – A Dead Shot (1903) The Tramp and the Washerwoman (1903) The Tramp and the Baby's Bottle (1903) A Dash for Liberty (or The Convict's Escape and Capture) (1903) Whitewashing the Policeman (1904) Mirthful Mary in the Dock (1904) The Sign of the Cross (1904) The Bather's Revenge (1904) Brutality Rewarded (1904) The Meddling Policeman (1904) Flynn's Birthday Celebration (1904) The Biter Bitten (1904) Snowballing (1904) The Rival Painters (1905) The Squire's Daughter (1905) The Life of Charles Peace (1905) DTs or the Effects of Drink (1905) Fun at the Waxworks (1905) Bathing not Allowed (1905) A Boating Incident (1905) Two's Company Three's None (1905) The Salmon Poachers – A Midnight Melee (1905) Mary is Dry (1905) A Message from the Sea (1905) Pongo, the Man Monkey (1906) Desperate Footpads (1907) The Red Barn Trosedd ( neu Maria Martin) (1908) The Dumb Man of Manchester (1908) The Maid of Cefn Ydfa ( ail-gynhyrchiad ) (1908)