This is one of several films made in the 1930s by Edwin Scaife, an electrical engineer from Leeds.  This film of Blackpool includes rare film of a beauty competition, fashion parade, and diving display at Blackpool’s famous Open Air Baths (or South Shore Swimming Coliseum.) There is also film of the Pleasure Beach Amusement Park and Blackpool illuminations. The film begins with a view of Blackpool Tower in the distance.  The view from the top is shown looking down onto the streets below, the...

This is one of several films made in the 1930s by Edwin Scaife, an electrical engineer from Leeds.  This film of Blackpool includes rare film of a beauty competition, fashion parade, and diving display at Blackpool’s famous Open Air Baths (or South Shore Swimming Coliseum.) There is also film of the Pleasure Beach Amusement Park and Blackpool illuminations. The film begins with a view of Blackpool Tower in the distance.  The view from the top is shown looking down onto the streets below, the Winter Gardens, and the pier.  There is a sign on the front of a building which simply says, “The Baths,” which is clearly the famous Open Air Baths.  Inside there is what seems to be a swimming lesson taking place.  Then there are lots of swimmers sitting around the round fountain in the middle of the pool. Next there is a display of diving from the high boards, with some filmed backwards, watched by a large group of swimmers at the side. This is followed by women parading around the swimming pool in swimming costumes, either displaying their fashionable costumes or as part of a beauty contest.  Some of them are in matching capes, with some young girls joining the parade.  Then there is a display of women wearing historic swimming costumes, each holding a placard displaying what year they are representing, starting from the 1870s.  This is followed by another parade in modern designed costumes with hats, and some with capes.  Women, who are wearing large shiny capes, form a line and parade around.  Others in their swimwear are lounging on the side of the pool.  There is more diving from the boards, and some women have a race on lilos, while others go down a slide into the water.  On the side swimmers line up and do various exercises. There is a parade of floats with various themes and people on the floats in appropriate costumes.  One float is for “Road Transport.”  At the Pleasure Beach Amusement Park, some of the rides are filmed.  There is also a Noah’s Flood themed attraction, with models of the boat and the animals going around on a circular platform.  There is also the Big Dipper, and the Big Wheel.  This is followed by power boats on a lake before briefly returning to the swimming pool where swimmers are in the shallow part.  Signs above an entrance state: “Thank you”, “Hurry back”, and “Always welcome.” The film ends with extensive footage of Blackpool illuminations beginning with the Casino Café lit up in neon.  It is followed by a tram and many other features.