The words of Robert W. Paul
(on a proposal to work with
H.G. Wells)
"... and, therefore, asked Mr. Wells to discuss the idea. He called at my suggestion, at my old office at 44, Hatton Garden - probably at the end of 1895 - and I clearly recall the incident. I had already taken steps to develop the Kinetoscope into a projecting apparatus, which I then named the Theatrograph.
Mr. Wells was evidently interested and helped by suggesting various books, including 'Extinct Monsters' by Hutchinson, which I still have. The optical devices and means for carrying out the idea were, so far as I recollect, not discussed in detail; the specifications had already been lodged in the Patent Office. I do not think Mr. Wells showed any interest, or knowledge of the working details, in respect of motion pictures; very few people knew of such, or of their possibilities.
He did not pursue the matter, and it was not feasible for me to carry it out to its realisation, on the score of expense, and in the face of the opinion of those who, like Sir Augustus Harris, firmly believed that the motion picture would be 'dead' in a few months' anyhow.' "
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