Lighting Up the Past

From the collection of

Archif Sgrin a Sain Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales Screen and Sound Archive

Established in 2001, the National Library of Wales Screen and Sound Archive holds an unrivalled collection of films, TV and radio broadcasts, video tapes and sound recordings relating to Wales and the Welsh, from 1898 to the present day. The collection spans multiples formats and genres, both professional and amateur.

Lighting Up the Past

Archif Sgrin a Sain Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales Screen and Sound Archive
Rhyl
1 Jan 2003
Sound

Film pioneer makes waves and keeps things lively in Rhyl.

The life and career of Arthur Cheetham, the Wales-based film pioneer who lived and worked in Rhyl, is celebrated in this film which homes in on what made this irrepressible entrepeneur tick -including phrenology, filming the likes of Buffalo Bill, and outwitting the town council over a publicity poster for one of his screenings. Animation by pupils of Christchurch Community Primary School, with live action sequences.

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From the collection

Our North Wales

North Wales is undeniably stunning, but it's worth looking behind the castles, crags and beautiful coastline to uncover some of its unique voices and stories…

North Wales is renowned for its landscape - its mountains, seascapes, rivers and waterfalls have been the backdrop for enough turbulent history to fill whole libraries. Historic and legendary figures abound, but the region has also produced heroes of film, TV and broadcasting, such as the Rhyl-based early film pioneer Arthur Cheetham, Academy Award-winning actor Hugh Griffith, director and actor Emlyn Williams and latterly director Sara Sugarman and actor Rhys Ifans - all good 'gogs', as people from 'gogledd Cymru' are known. In this collection you'll find films ranging from celebration of the region's myths and legends, to revelations of what it was really like to work in one of the area's major industries, and introductions to some burning local issues.

9 videos in this collection

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