William Haggar

Arthur William Haggar, a film pioneer of the silent era, began his career as a traveling entertainer who later bought a Bioscope show and earned his money in south Wales. Beginning in 1902 he began making ground-breaking fiction films which made him one of the earliest British film directors. "Desperate Poaching Affray", one of his most popular films, is believed to have influenced early narrative drama. It is one of four films by this director that is known to survive, though Haggar himself created more than 30 documented films with the help of his family, who made up his film company.

Though Haggar's fictitious filmmaking began in 1902, he began making films in 1901. These films were not the sort of documentaries created by August and Louis Lumiere, but were of the more entertaining side as Haggar himself understood what would entertain audiences.

In 1902, Haggar's first great masterpiece, a film called "The Maid of Cefn Ydfa" earned his popularity. This film was shown at the Swansea fair and was one of the first films to gain a regional audience. But it was "Desperate Poaching Affray" that became increasingly popular, having sold over 480 prints in Europe and America, and was such a success that it was widely pirated.

British pioneer producer and director, a former fairground showman and musician. Began in films in 1898 as an exhibitor of 'Bioscope' shows. From 1901, he made short films featuring himself and his family, shot outdoors, often in just a couple of hours. He established 'William Haggars Coliseum', later renamed 'Haggar's Electric Palace', in Aberdare (Wales) in 1910.

Father of Will Haggar Jr., Fred Haggar, George Haggar (1875-1879), Ellen Elizabeth Haggar (1877-1890), James Haggar, Walter Haggar, Archie Haggar (1882-1895), Rose Haggar (1885-1967), Violet Haggar, Henry Haggar, and Lily Haggar.