W. P. Kellino


William Philip Gislingham was a British music hall musician and acrobat and, using the name W. P. Kellino, a film director.
He was producing films for Cricks and Martin when Matthew J McKeigue suggested that Billy Merson, who had never appeared in films, should be featured in a comedy. Gislingham and McKeigue fixed up the production of “A Spanish Lore Spasm”, which was Merson's first picture. For this they made use of Cricks and Martin's studio at Croydon.
The film was an instant success, and arrangements were immediately made for a second comedy, with Billy Merson as the star. They also decided to feature Merson in a series of two-reelers, and this decision brought about the formation of the Homeland Productions Syndicate, Ltd. and the purchase of a new studio at Twickenham under the banner of the Homeland Syndicate.
Homeland Syndicate, Ltd. was registered on 21 September 1915, with a capital of £1,000 in £l shares, to carry on the business of cinematographers and manufacturer of machines, films, apparatus and other accessories, etc. The directors were Gislingham, Billy Merson, and S Thompson.
The Merson Comedies produced by Homeland were:
He was the father of the cinematographer Roy Kellino.

Selected filmography

The Green Terror Alf's Button The Fordington Twins The Fall of a Saint Saved from the Sea The Autumn of Pride Rob Roy Young Lochinvar The Mating of Marcus Sailors Don't Care Smashing Through Alf's Carpet Alf's Button Who Killed Doc Robin? The Poisoned Diamond Royal Cavalcade Lend Me Your Wife Pay Box Adventure