Spotlight Photos GB

[Simon Robinson]

I'm wondering if anyone might be able to throw a bit more (spot) light onto this company? Taking 'walking pictures' across the UK between around 1932 until 1937 I would love to know more about how the business operated, or whether it was an early franchise system. All the Spotlight walking photos I have seen have three consecutive frames so were clearly taken using an adapted cine camera. I'll add a sample here but you can read more on my site at Spotlight GB.

WP268.jpg

[Ruth Wilcock]

Simon,

I was interested to see that Walking Pictures was a branded paper & attach the back of the photo in question for your interest.

Ruth

[Simon Robinson]

Thanks Ruth. I have companies using the name Happy Snaps listed in Eastbourne and Llandudno ("Only taken on Llandudno pier"!) but not heard of the name in Whitby, so will add to my growing list. It's a fairly obvious name so these are probably just coincidences. Walking Pictures was a branded paper all firms in the trade could buy, I don't think it was an actual company. I do have a few walkies taken in Whitby (identified by the owners) but none have company names.

[Ruth Wilcock]

Simon,

In my book Whitby Photographers, their lives & their photographs from the 1840s [published www.towlard.com]  I show examples of photos by Happy Snaps & Walking Pictures. Happy Snaps is listed in a directory for 1929, but I do not know exactly how long these firms operated in Whitby. As for Spotlight Photos sadly all I have is negative evidence, as so far I have not found them in Whitby. Do you have any evidence to show that they operated in Whitby?  If I find anything useful I'll let you know.

Ruth