June 26, 2014

Conferences

SAN FERMÍN CYCLE

Cinema and pre-cinematographic shows in Sanfermines

D. Alberto Cañada Zarranz.
Film Archive of Navarra

The first cinematograph sessions in Pamplona were programmed periodically during the Sanfermiens at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The place destined to this spectacle was a neighbor of other fair attractions, with which it was related by birth. But previously, other amusements had been preparing the public to receive with a certain naturalness, the phenomenon of the projection of moving images, the new way of telling stories, taking advantage of the kinetics of photography. The artistic and entertainment manifestations that were preparing the future cinema spectator are those in which performers or actors illustrated with their skills certain narratives, and those in which the image had a special protagonism. In the following minutes we will give an account of them, in their presentations to the Navarrese public during the San Fermin festivities, just before the arrival and implementation of the cinematograph (around 1900).

Appearance of the Cinematograph that Enrique Farrús, Farrusini, installed at the Pamplona fairs around 1900.
Drawing: Carmelo Astráin

The shows, in brief lines:
TÍTERES: Also known as "Máquina real" or "Máquina de figuras". There are testimonies of their presence in the Sanfermines from 1755 to the present day.

WAX FIGURES: Cabinets of representation of famous people, as well as reproduction of scenes of popular events. One of its first installations dates from 1792, year in which 3 "collections of statues" are registered.

AUTOMATAS: Advances in the field of watchmaking allowed the construction of figures with autonomous movements. In 1798 a collection of "twenty-eight figures, which by spring, wheels, scadra and lever, move..." was presented.

CHINESE SHADOWS: a spotlight, an intermediate object and a screen are the elementary resources that some artists need to show fantastic stories. The placement of a screen already begins to approach this spectacle to the cinematographic one. It was a very popular attraction, common since the 18th century.

PANORAMAS AND COSMORAMAS: Originally designed to be housed in buildings or fixed pavilions, they had a portable version that was used by showmen to do business. It consisted of the presentation of still images, sometimes stereoscopic (relief) and sometimes with a certain movement (passing of canvas by means of rollers). On July 6, 1901 an Imperial Panorama was inaugurated at 15 Navas de Tolosa Street, whose interest eclipsed the newly arrived Cinematograph.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Although it was not properly presented as a show, except for some exceptions, such as the one offered by Eduardo Barbagelata from Bilbao in 1877, the opening of several photographic programs of study in Pamplona throughout the second half of the 19th century was essential to recognize its later application to the cinematographic invention.

PHONOGRAPH: Before gramophones could be acquired for private use, since 1896 phonographic auditions were offered during the Sanfermines that amazed the "clients", who could listen to popular melodies without the need of a live orchestra. It was employee as sound accompaniment in many primitive cinematograph sessions.

MAGIC LAMP: It was the instrument that came closest to achieving what the cinematograph did. It projected still images, but thanks to the combination of several optics and special projection plates, images with movement could be obtained, the so-called "dissolving pictures", which were presented for the first time in public session in the Sanfermins of 1889.

In 1897, the first Sanfermins Cinematograph was installed, in a room in Navas de Tolosa Street. During the Pamplona fiestas of 1902, the first films were shot in Navarre; the first one was a view "taken in the Calle Mayor at the moment the procession was passing by" (July 7th).

To be continued...

Prospectus of the businessman José G. Caballero offering public sessions of Cuadros disolventes.

An imperial panorama like the one in this image was installed during the Sanfermines of 1901 in a shop on Navas de Tolosa street in Pamplona.

Combination of magic lantern projection and shadow puppet projection