John Davies

John Davies was a cameraman who worked for Movietone, and Terry Gallacher recalled that he ‘had an unusual history in the Newsreel business’: ‘He and his brother and sister were employed by Kay Laboratories (the processors of all Movietonews work). John was, for some years, the chief grader who was responsible for the grading of prints and intermediary materials for the newsreel and other productions. He applied to join Movietonews in 1955 and was accepted because of the exodus of cameramen from Movietonews to ITN in 1955. ITV commenced broadcasting in September 1955.' Davies’ first credit is for ‘C[ivil].D[efence]. HELICOPTER’ in British Movietone News No.1372 of September 1955, and in April 1956 Movietone sent him to Cyprus, where he filmed stories beginning with ‘CYPRUS BULLETIN’ in No.1404A of May 1956. These dispatches continued until Davies’ report of the preparations for Suez - ‘THE FIRST LANDINGS’ in No.1431A of November 1956. As the story card notes, ‘Flying in a British transport aircraft, one of Movietone’s cameramen filmed exclusive pictures of paratroops about to make the first landings.' Davies then returned to covering general domestic stories for Movietone, his last credit being for ‘INVENTION’ in British Movietone News No.1684A of September 1961. He then moved to Australia after successfully applying for a job with the Australian Broadcasting Commission television station ABW2 in Perth, Western Australia. He remained at ABC until his retirement in 1978.

Sources

BUFVC, T. M. Gallacher, ‘Additional Notes,' October 1998. Obituary, http://www.ammpt.asn.au/newsletter/July11/2011_Ed_26_Page_17.html (accessed 4/8/2011)