Joseph Theophilus Mears was the son of a Hammersmith builder. With his brother Gus he founded Chelsea Football Club in 1905. Gus died in 1912 and Joe, with his son, also Joe and grandson Brian managed the club.

In 1907, Mears acquired the business of the Thames Electric & Motor Launch Co at Eel Pie Island and he went on to build up a large fleet of passenger launches on the Thames. The firm was re-named Thames Launches in 1945.

In 1919 he acquired a garage in Richmond, along with several motor coaches. He formed Joseph Mears Cinemas Ltd which built up a group of cinemas around the Richmond area.

Mears was Mayor of Richmond from 1931 to 1932. He briefly owned Richmond House on Twickenham Embankment, in 1924.

The Luxor Cinema in Twickenham, owned by Mears from 1932-44 and then re-named the Odeon