This film is part of Free
Manchester - Where English Dog Racing Originated...
These vignettes of Manchester locals at play conjure a city reeling from its industrial success
Overview
It's the dawn of the Roaring Twenties and the Manchester depicted here is a city on a high, still reeling from its hard-earned status as Britain's foremost industrial powerhouse. While not evident in these brief scenes, WWI had cut the northern textile industry off from most of its overseas markets and a long industrial decline had started to take root. In the meantime, enjoy the Belle Vue funfair rides!
It's likely that these scenes were part of a longer, yet unidentified, film. The intertitle alludes to the fact that Belle Vue in Gorton, north Manchester was the first place in Britain to host a greyhound racing event, a concept imported from the United States. At the time this film was made, though, Belle Vue was more famous for its amusement park and zoological gardens - as showcased here. Don't miss the priceless Charleston dancer's turn towards the end of the film.
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