Francis Lyndhurst
English theatrical scenery painter, film producer and film director (1878–1952) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Francis Leonard Lyndhurst (born Lindhurst Francis Schmitz; 2 March 1878 – 31 May 1952) was an English theatrical scenery painter, film producer and film director. He is known for setting up an early film studio at Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.
Francis Lyndhurst | |
|---|---|
Lyndhurst at an unknown date | |
| Born | Lindhurst Francis Schmitz 2 March 1878 Kensington, London, England |
| Died | 31 May 1952 (aged 74) Chichester, Sussex, England |
| Occupation(s) | Theatrical scenery painter, film producer, film director |
| Years active | 1914–1952 |
| Spouse |
Dorothy Rogers (m. 1907) |
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives |
|
Early life
Lindhurst Francis Schmitz was born in Kensington, London, England on 2 March 1878.[1] He was baptised, a son of Francis Henry Schmitz (1856–1914), a clerk from Paris, and his wife, Annie Maria (née Mower; 1858–1942), at St Clement, Notting Hill in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea on 26 May 1878.[2]
Career
Lyndhurst's first films, beginning with The Showman's Dream in 1914, were made at Shoreham Fort, by his production company, Sealite,[3] or Sunny South Film Company.[4] He set up the Glasshouse Studio in a nearby, glass-sided, building, in 1915.[5] The business failed and he returned to his former occupation of scenery painting.[4][5]
Lyndhurst stored his films in a barn, which was destroyed by bombing during World War II. No copies of any of his films are known to survive.[6]
Lyndhurst bought a farm, in order that his sons should avoid fighting in the Second World War. Later a portion of the land was used to build chalets and set up a holiday camp.[7][3]
Personal life
Summarize
Perspective
Schmitz married Dorothy Constance "Dora" Rogers (born 28 March 1887) in Brentford, Middlesex in January 1907.[8] They had five sons together; Francis Geoffrey Lyndhurst (né Schmitz; 1907–1996),[9][10][11] John Bellas L Lyndhurst (né Schmitz; 1912–1992),[12][13][14] Jim "James" Lyndhurst (né Schmitz; 1915–1958),[15][16][17] Richard Alan Kenneth Lyndhurst (1916–2002),[18][19] and Anthony Arthur Joseph "Joe" Lyndhurst (1924–2000).[20][21][22]
On 18 February 1916, during the First World War, he legally changed his name from Lindhurst Francis Schmitz to Francis Leonard Lyndhurst, because of anti-German sentiment.[23] In October 1916, he unsuccessfully sued a man, John Bull, for libel, for calling him "German", claiming it was the worst possible insult.[24]
Lyndhurst and his wife purchased a piece of land in Lambeth, South London in 1933. The couple later bought a farm.[25]
Lyndhurst had three grandchildren; Francis Richard Lyndhurst (1935–2013),[26][27] Valerie D R Lyndhurst (married name: Rees;[28] born 1943)[29] and Roy G A Lyndhurst (born 1945).[30]
Lyndhurst died at his home, Hundred Streddle Farm, in Chichester, Sussex on 31 May 1952. He was 74.[31][32] He was buried in Birdham on 4 June 1952. His widow died in Chichester on 2 April 1964, aged 76.[33][34]
Lyndhurst would have been the grandfather of Nicholas Lyndhurst (born 1961),[35] an actor[36] who is best known for his role as Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses,[37] and the great-grandfather of Archie Lyndhurst (2000–2020),[38] the late actor and designer, who was best known for his role as Oliver 'Ollie' Coulton in So Awkward.[7][39][40]
Credits
- Building a Chicken House
- Harnessing a Horse
- Moving a Piano
- Some Fun
- Study in Skarlit
- The Jockey
- The Showman's Dream
- Tincture of Iron
- White Washing a Ceiling
Source(s): [41]
References
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