Biography of 'Green’s Film Service / Green’s Topical Productions'

Exhibitor, production company and newsreel company

Green’s Film Service was established around the beginning of the First World War by George Green, showman/exhibitor in Glasgow, as an adjunct to his cinema owning business. As the number of cinemas in his circuit increased, Green’s volume of film hires was also increasing. He decided that a more cost-effective process was required, and he began to buy the reels outright. His selection of purchases were so successful with the public that he started to select and supply programmes to other showmen growing into what was to become the renting operation Greens Film Service.

By 1915 Green’s circuit consisted of 10 cinemas with Greens Film Service, having offices in Glasgow and London. By 1917 Greens had a thriving enterprise, renting comedies, serials and dramas, they also launched their own magazine ‘Greens Kinema Tatler’. They had a mechanical department selling projectors, their own printing division for programmes and publicity materials and a musical department.

Investing in Samson Films, and buying out their rival JJ Bennell’s producing plant the Greens acquired an interest in film production. They began producing local topicals for independent exhibitors and their own circuit of screens under the name ‘Green’s Topical Productions’. In October 1917 this topical production activity was further developed with the introduction of the first Scottish newsreel The Scottish Moving Picture News. In May 1919, the name was changed to British Moving Picture News suggesting an attempt to break in to a wider UK market. However the newsreel revered back to its original name in 1921 and by the end of 1922 newsreel making had ceased.

Green’s Topical Productions continued in business until about 1925.

Researcher: Joan Allan

Films associated with 'COCOZZA, Enrico'

37 hits

Asc Desc
	BOYS' BRIGADE RALLY IN ABERDEEN [1336] Add to my films The Lord Provost presents new colours to the Boys' Brigade.		1925 silent bw
	BOYS' BRIGADE RECRUITING MARCHES, LEITH [1726] Add to my films The Boys' Brigade recruiting march, Leith with shots of the flag-bearers marching, a gymnastics display, and a parade by former BB's.		1925 silent bw
	BRITISH MOVING PICTURE NEWS GREEN'S NEWSREEL: Marriage of Green / McMahon [1900] Add to my films A compilation reel including footage of the fairground ride called "The Whip", possibly at Green's Amusements at the Carnival in the Gallowgate, Glasgow. The film also shows the marriage in 1920 of Edward MacMahon to Mary Frances Green, daughter of George Green.		1920 silent bw
	BRITISH MOVING PICTURE NEWS NO 127 and UNIVERSITY NEWS [0516] Add to my films Compilation of local topical and news stories of Glasgow University life, including a rugby match against Edinburgh University, the rectorial elections, and student charity day.		1930 silent bw
	BRITISH MOVING PICTURE NEWS No 166, OPENING OF DRUMPELLIER MOSS [3617] Add to my films Opening of Drumpellier Moss Park, gifted to Coatbridge by Mr W. R. Carrick-Buchanan opened on 13 September 1919. [Made for local cinema. Incomplete]		1919 silent bw
	BRITISH MOVING PICTURE NEWS No. 156, FUNERAL OF THE EARL OF EGLINTON AND WINTON [0565] Add to my films Funeral of the Earl of Eglinton and Winton at Kilwinning, 14 August 1919.		1919 silent bw
	BRITISH MOVING PICTURE NEWS NO. 165, ROTHESAY PEACE CELEBRATIONS [2336] Add to my films Footage of the peace celebrations, including the parade, crowds and band. General Sir Hunter Weston takes the salute at the Town Hall. An effigy of Kaiser Bill is hoisted up the mast of a boat.		1919 silent bw
	BRITISH MOVING PICTURE NEWS, ARDROSSAN SHIPYARD [0560] Add to my films The various stages involved in the construction of vessels at the Ardrossan Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co shipyard. 'Pentland Firth' and "Cromarty Firth" on the stocks, and launch of 'Hunstanworth'.		1919 silent bw
	BRITISH MOVING PICTURE NEWS: Wedding of Alys Couper and Douglas Lindsay [1659] Add to my films The wedding of Alys Couper and Douglas Lindsay, son of Sir John Lindsay, the Town Clerk of Glasgow, at Glasgow Cathedral, June 1920.		1920 silent bw
	BUYING A HORSE [0719] Add to my films An extract from a cinemagazine featuring the music hall comedians Power and Bendon.	Onsite only	1925 silent bw
	COUNCIL'S ENTERPRISE [0563] Add to my films The building of the seawall at Saltcoats, Ayrshire.		1923 silent bw
	GLASGOW'S HOUSING PROBLEM AND ITS SOLUTION [0844] Add to my films Plans for building new housing in Glasgow and encouraging skilled tradesmen to return to working at their old trades on building sites.		1919 silent bw
	GREAT GLASGOW FIRES [1733] Add to my films Coverage of the fire at the Kelvin Hall and Kelvingrove UF Church, Glasgow.		1925 silent bw
	HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS ROYAL VISITS BANFF AND MACDUFF [4432] Add to my films Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal visits Banff and Macduff. Events include the opening of the new harbour, naming of the steam drifter 'Wheat Stalk' and laying the foundation stone of the Banff War Memorial and memorial service. [Longer version of ref. 5645]		1921 silent bw
	HOLIDAY SCENES AT ROTHESAY [2334] Add to my films Holiday-makers arriving in Rothesay by the steamer "Columba". Beach scenes, the ladies' bathing pond, the putting green.		1922 silent bw
	LOCHGELLY AT WORK AND PLAY [0967] Add to my films The people of Lochgelly at work and play, with footage of wash day and playing golf and bowls.		1923 silent bw
	LOST INDEPENDENCE? [5890] Add to my films Greens Film Service records the marriage of Mr. Arthur Mone, formerly an Independent Labour Candidate, to Miss Elizabeth Dunn, at St. Alphonsus', Glasgow on 27th November 1923.	Onsite only	1923 silent bw
	OPENING OF GREEN'S PLAYHOUSE, DUNDEE [0842] Add to my films Graphics used to describe the furnishings and facilities in the new Green's Playhouse, Dundee.		1936 sound bw
	OPENING OF HAMILTON LA SCALA PICTURE HOUSE [1600] Add to my films Opening of Hamilton's La Scala picture house 14th March, 1921. General views of patrons and staff.		1921 silent bw
	PATRIOTIC PORKERS [2995] Add to my films A wartime propaganda film on the benefits of saving household refuse to feed pigs and provide cheap food.		1918 silent bw
	PRINCE AT COCONUT SHY [0853] Add to my films The Prince of Wales at a coconut shy as police patrol the crowds.		1924 silent bw
	PRINCESS ROYAL OPENING NEW HARBOUR AT MACDUFF [5645] Add to my films Green's Topical Productions present the Princess Royal opening the new harbour at Macduff. [See also ref. 4432 for longer version]		1921 silent bw
	REMEMBRANCE DAY [1335] Add to my films Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph, Aberdeen with shots of a pipe band and a boy's trumpet band.		1926 silent bw
	ROTHESAY 1918 [2338] Add to my films A parade through the streets of Rothesay led by a pipe band, the colour party outside a church, with the Marquess of Graham and other prominent citizens.		1918 silent bw
	SCOTTISH CUP FINAL - ABERDEEN v CELTIC AT HAMPDEN PARK, 24th APRIL, 1937 [0849] Add to my films The Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park, Glasgow, where Celtic beat Aberdeen 2-1. Footage of the crowds making their way to the ground, watching the match in progress and the winning team having their photograph taken with the trophy.		1937 silent bw
	SCOTTISH CUP TIES [3357] Add to my films Scottish Cup football matches featuring Motherwell, Ayr United and Partick Thistle.		1921 silent bw
	SCOTTISH MOVING PICTURE NEWS NO. 120, SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL [0576] Add to my films Film of the Scottish Grand National at Bogside (between Irvine and Kilwinning), Ayrshire, won by "The Turk, II".		1919 silent bw
	SCOTTISH MOVING PICTURE NEWS NO. 32 [1238A] Add to my films Scenes of flooding of the river Clyde and footage of the "Tank bank" week in Aberdeen to raise funds for the war effort. [£2 million was raised in a week in Aberdeen]. [See also ref. 1238B].		1918 silent bw
	SCOTTISH MOVING PICTURE NEWS No. 46 [3616] Add to my films Brief shots of the Lowland Regiment the Cameronians leaving Glasgow Cathedral in 1918 after a ceremony where they deposited their flag in the Cathedral to commemorate the heroic services of the regiment in France.		1918 silent bw
	SCOTTISH MOVING PICTURE NEWS, RETURN OF THE INTERNED [2583] Add to my films Taken at Leith in 1918, the film shows the arrival by ship of internees returning from Europe, with the request "watch the picture carefully, and see if you can identify anyone."		1918 silent bw
	SCOTTISH MOVING PICTURE NEWS, ROUTE MARCH 1st BATTALION LANARKSHIRE VOLUNTEER REGIMENT [0376] Add to my films 1st Battalion Lanarkshire Volunteer Regiment march through Coatbridge, March 1917 in furtherance of the National Service scheme.		1917 silent bw
	SCOTTISH MOVING PICTURE NEWS: FUNERAL OF LIEUTENANT GEORGE DINWOODIE [1458] Add to my films Funeral of a young Glasgow Airman, Lieutenant George Dinwoodie, RAF, killed in an accident while flying in Yorkshire. Shots of bearers carrying the coffin onto the horse-drawn hearse which moves off followed by a carriage filled with flowers, 1917.		1917 silent bw
	SCOTTISH MOVING PICTURE NEWS: TANK BANK ABERDEEN, AERIAL DISPLAY EDINBURGH [1236] Add to my films The "tank bank" campaign in Aberdeen, an aerial display and sports at Powderhall, Edinburgh.		1918 silent bw
	SCOTTISH MOVING PICTURE NEWS: Royal Visit to Edinburgh [3360] Add to my films Scottish Moving Picture News. First post - Armistice Royal visit of George V, Queen Mary and the Prince of Wales to Edinburgh, 21 November 1918.		1918 silent bw
	SCOTTISH MOVING PICTURE NEWS: Wedding of John Glaister and Isobel Lindsay [2833] Add to my films The First World War was still raging when the wedding of Captain John Glaister RAMC, son of Prof John Glaister and Isobel Lindsay, daughter of Sir John Lindsay took place at Glasgow Cathedral, 25th May, 1918.		1918 silent bw
	UNVEILING OF WAR MEMORIAL, SALTCOATS [1329] Add to my films Address and unveiling of the War memorial, Saltcoats by Marchioness (of Ailsa), 27th May, 1922. Shots of street parade including Girl Guides, Boys Brigade and Scouts.		1922 silent bw
	VOTE FOR HARRY KEMP [0642] Add to my films "Party political broadcast" by Harry Kemp, a candidate for office on Saltcoats Burgh Council, and shown in his cinema in the run up to the election.		1922 silent bw