The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free

Holiday: Whitley Bay 1935
All set for a Spanish City stroll with hordes of fun-loving holiday makers at Whitley Bay in the 1930s.
From the collection of:

Overview
Bright and breezy Whitley Bay welcomes stylish sun seekers during a 1930s Race Week and revels in its fame as the ’Blackpool of the North East’. Filmed less than a year before the Jarrow March, this amateur film revisits the languor and exuberance of an escape to the Tyneside seaside town between the wars. Holiday makers forget their troubles at the Spanish City amusement park filled with exciting rides such as the figure-of-eight rollercoaster and Virginia Reel.
Opened on 14th May 1910, the Spanish City theatre and pleasure gardens symbolised seaside holidays and fairground romance to generations of Geordies. It was topped by an iconic ferro-concrete dome, of national significance as the largest freestanding dome in Britain after St Paul's Cathedral. The Virginia Reel ran from 1925 to the 50s and was built at Spanish City by its inventor Henry Elmer Riehl, who constructed his first ride in 1908 at Coney Island’s Luna Park, USA, the blueprint for all early amusement parks. Also pictured are fairground stalls featuring a macabre mechanical clown game and the latest marching Mickey Mouse toys, an early example of cartoon character merchandising by Walt Disney.
Related

Presentation and Launching Ceremony of the New Whitley Lifeboat Presentation and Launching Ceremony of the New Whitley Lifeboat
Non-Fiction 1912 6 mins Silent Location: Whitley Bay
A flash mob of local swimmers crash the grand christening and launch of a new lifeboat for Whitley Bay.

Sam Presents Scramble and Rally Sam Presents Scramble and Rally
Amateur film 1958 11 mins Location: Whitley Bay
Iconic scooters and loony races at an international rally in the seaside town of Whitley Bay.

Whitley Bay (Northumberland Coast) Whitley Bay (Northumberland Coast)
Promotional 1926 16 mins Silent Location: Whitley Bay
Pack your swimming trunks and a time machine - Whitley Bay in the 1920s is the next hot holiday destination.

SAM Presents "Scooter Weekend" SAM Presents "Scooter Weekend"
Amateur film 1957 12 mins Location: Whitley Bay
Fleets of Italian scooters descend on Whitley Bay for a Whitsun weekend rally and carnival parade in the pre-Mod era.

Whitley Bay Whitley Bay
Amateur film 1950 10 mins Silent Location: Whitley Bay
A Mecca for fun – Whitley Bay still thrills the holiday crowds in the 50s

Queen's Silver Jubilee, Whitley Bay Queen's Silver Jubilee, Whitley Bay
Home movie 1977 3 mins Silent Location: Whitley Bay
Children of Ocean View in Whitley Bay gather for a feast at a patriotic street party for the Queen's Silver Jubilee.

New Perspectives: Tangerine New Perspectives: Tangerine
Short documentary 2025 3 mins
Harry Wallace, a student at Northumbria university, explains why Sean Baker's LA-set comedy-drama, about a transgender sex worker on the hunt for her cheating -ex, is worth your time.

Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode
Inside Film 2025 44 mins
Daniel Craig talks to Mark Kermode about his acting career, from his early role in Love is the Devil through to the Luca Guadagnino directed Queer.

New Perspectives: Fish Tank New Perspectives: Fish Tank
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Adam Smith of Northumbria University explains why Andrea Arnold's coming-of-age story, about a girl who uses dance to escape, is his favourite film on BFI Player.

New Perspectives: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Ball of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.

Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.

On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.