The Media Archive for Central England is the public screen archive for the East and West Midlands. An independent charity and company based at the University of Lincoln, MACE acquires, catalogues, preserves and makes widely available moving image materials that inform our understanding of the diverse cultures and histories of communities between the Lincolnshire coast and the Welsh border.
This film is part of Free
Nottingham Goose Fair October 1959
Without a goose in sight, but with plenty of candy floss and toffee apples, the annual extravaganza of the showman's art of entertainment brings thrills to Nottingham.
From the collection of:
Overview
Captured by an unknown film-maker, the 1959 Goose Fair promised thrills aplenty, from the 'Temple of Black Magic' to all eleven feet of 'Kap-Dwa the two headed giant' ('he is not just a tall man' the ads intriguingly point out). An optimistically early appearing by Father Christmas in the Autumn sunshine and the sight of the mayor of Nottingham taking his turn on the dodgems adds to the fun.
Immortalised in Alan Sillitoe's 'Saturday Night and Sunday Morning', which was published the previous year, Nottingham's annual Goose Fair has a history that dates back to the thirteenth century. Farm produce, including the thousands of Lincolnshire geese that were sold at the fair for centuries, have now gone, so there's no chance of anything like the cheese riot of 1764, a local upheaval which culminated in the mayor being bowled over by a large cheese. Even so, the fair lives on as a highlight of the local calendar, a fixture on the Forest Recreation Ground every October since 1928 when it moved from its original city centre location.
Related
Alternative Press Alternative Press
Current affairs 1978 11 mins Location: Harborne
By local folks, for local folks' - printing the local news where you live.
High Jinks at Nottingham High Jinks at Nottingham
Non-Fiction 1928 1 mins Location: Nottingham
Visitors to Nottingham Carnival enjoy themselves on land and water
Jack Dunnett MP for Nottingham Central Jack Dunnett MP for Nottingham Central
Non-Fiction 1971 9 mins Location: Nottingham
Nottingham MP Jack Dunnett: a true man of the people who puts his constituents first but still finds time to support his local football team.
University of Nottingham: Carnival Revue 1951 University of Nottingham: Carnival Revue 1951
Home movie 1951 22 mins Silent Location: Nottingham
Students from the University of Nottingham take to the streets with fund raising, fancy dress and frippery as their annual carnival lights up Festival of Britain year.
Nottingham Goose Fair Nottingham Goose Fair
Non-Fiction 1926 1 mins Location: Nottingham
It's the time of the Nottingham Goose Fair and the crowds are out to enjoy the rides, stalls and other amusements
St Ann's St Ann's
Documentary 1969 45 mins Location: Nottingham
Stephen Frears' documentary about two hard-working families living in unsanitary houses in St Ann's, Nottingham
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.