Harold G. Jones

Harold Jones was born in New York, the son of George W. Jones, who worked for the British Mutoscope and Biograph Company at the Palace Theatre, London. Harold Jones was trained in mechanical and electrical engineering, but he entered the film industry in 1906, and subsequently worked as a cameraman for Trans-Atlantic, the Warwick Trading Company, and Feature Films. He claimed to be the ‘first man in England to fly with [a] kine. camera.' Jones seems to have retained a connection with the Palace Theatre, for which his father continued to provide film, and in September 1911 it was reported that ‘an exceedingly fine film of Burgess’ Channel swim was secured by Mr. Harold Jones...and was exhibited at the Palace Theatre...the following evening.' He was subsequently recruited by the A. C. Company to manage their theatres in India, and in January 1912 it was reported that ‘Mr. Harold G. Jones will sail for Bombay by the P. and O. SS Egypt to-morrow...He is going out to manage a large circuit of theatres in India, his headquarters being in Bombay.'

Jones later returned to London, possibly on the outbreak of war in 1914, and he subsequently became chief cameraman for Will Barker [qv], perhaps when his previous chief cameraman, Leslie Eveleigh, joined the army. After 1918 Jones worked for British Famous Films, and he also filmed the Prince of Wales on one of his Empire tours. He may also have been the cameraman who flew with Sir John Alcock to film ‘LONDON FROM ABOVE’ for Pathe Gazette No.600 in September 1919, and who appears in the item with him. In February 1923 his name first appears in the Topical Budget ledgers as part of the camera team on major events, the first assignment being the opening of Parliament for No.599-1. Jones continued to be listed for freelance work, principally on sporting events, until No.744-2 of the Topical Budget in November 1925, but he also acted as cameraman on Rosita Forbes’ travel film ‘Red Sea To Blue Nile’ (1925). Jones may have continued to work freelance for the Topical Budget until 1929, when he seems to have transferred to Pathe. His first credited item is ‘THE PRINCE OF WALES’ in Pathe Gazette No.1639 of September 1929, after which he seems to have worked as one of the company’s staff cameramen. He was with Pathe until 1938 at least, his last credit being for ‘BRITAIN’S NEW ‘FLYING FORTRESS’ UNDERGOING TRIALS AT FELIXSTOWE’ in Super Sound Gazette No.38/43 of May 1938.

He is also credited as part of the massive camera team for ‘FUNERAL OF HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE VI’ in British Movietone News Number 1185 of February 1952. This is only a possible credit, however, as it was a long time after his retirement.

Sources

Bioscope, 14/9/1911, p.537; 4/1/1912, p.47; 27/6/1912, p.922: Kine Year Book 1921, p.592, ‘Harold G. Jones’: R. Low ‘History of the British Film 1918-1929’ (1971), p.369 (as ‘Harold J. Jones’): NFTVA, Luke McKernan’s biographical index of Topical Budget staff: NoS Number 17609; British Movietone News Number 1185; Date released 18/2/1952.