Set up in 1977, the North West Film Archive preserves moving images made in or about Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Cumbria and offers a variety of access services to users in the public, academic and commercial sectors.
This film is part of Free
Big Dipper
Hold on tight! We're off, riding the wooden rollercoaster at Blackpool's Pleasure Beach.
From the collection of:
Overview
In the 1970s, the scream-inducing thrills of the Big One at Blackpool's Pleasure Beach were still in the distant future, and the Big Dipper wooden rollercoaster was as exciting as it got. This is still a ride worth taking, however, as the camera mounted on the first car shows us - definitely an occasion to hold on to your hat, glasses, and anything else that's loose; hold on and enjoy the ride!
Related
First Film of Blackpool First Film of Blackpool
Non-Fiction 1899 3 mins Silent Location: Blackpool
Blackpool Tower is hard to miss in this local version of a 'phantom ride'
Windsor Safari Park and a visit to Blackpool Windsor Safari Park and a visit to Blackpool
Amateur film 1971 5 mins Silent Location: Windsor
Join the Lee family as they tour Windsor Safari Park and its famous Dolphinarium in this film from 1971. Then follow them to Blackpool Beach for pony trekking and donkey rides.
The Lancashire Way The Lancashire Way
Advert 1948 4 mins Location: Nelson
A tribute to Lancashire, land of industry, leisure, sublime landscape - and laundry detergent
Easter Holiday Scenes Easter Holiday Scenes
Non-Fiction 1929 8 mins Silent Location: Blackpool
It’s Easter and men, women and children all over England enjoy a day out, be it on the beach, at the races or at the zoo
Hendon of the North Hendon of the North
Non-Fiction 1928 1 mins Silent Location: Blackpool
Blackpool goes plane crazy
Miss Blackpool 1963 and other local scenes Miss Blackpool 1963 and other local scenes
Amateur film 1963 11 mins Silent Location: Blackpool
Bathing beauties, comic celebrities, veteran cars, and the world-famous Lancashire light show.
Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion
Short documentary 2026 22 mins
Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and curator Matthew Barrington discuss Frederick Wiseman’s High School with Sandra Hebron.
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.