George Albert Smith (inventor)

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For others by this name, see George Albert Smith.

George Albert Smith (1864-1959) was an inventor, a stage hypnotist, psychic, astronomer and magic lantern lecturer. In 1896, Smith, of Hove, England patented a camera and projector system. He was also the proprietor of St. Anne's Well Pleasure Gardens in Hove at the time. He purchased a prototype cine camera from local engineer Alfred Darling, who subsequently made many contributions to the cinema technology.

Smith's neighbour James Williamson (1855-1933) also bought a movie camera. Williamson ran a chemist's shop which supplied photographic services and equipment. The neighbours created numerous historic minute-long films. Smith is credited with the invention of the 'close-up' and the use the first to use double-exposure to achieve special effects in moving pictures.

Smith went on to develop the first successful colour film process, Kinemacolor, but was virtually put out of business due to a patent suit filed by William Friese-Greene.

There are some who claim that Smith was the inventor of the "close-up".