This film is part of Free
Silver Blades Ice Skating
Streatham goes dancing on ice at the coolest place in town.
Overview
The art-deco frontage of the Silver Blades ice rink is a much missed feature of the streets of Streatham. Whether you were a budding Torvill or Dean, a denizen of the Bali Hai cocktail bar, or face down on the ice, it was the coolest place in town. It was certainly good enough for The Kinks, The Small Faces and Manfred Mann who all played there in the 1960s.
Originally opened in 1931, the rink was a key part of the growth of figure skating as a sport, although it was temporarily closed during WWII. This film was made after the site was bought by Mecca and made the fourth in their Silver Blades chain. Sadly the original rink closed at the end of 2011 after its 80th anniversary, but a new rink remains a central feature of the redeveloped site.
Related
Jumping over Tennis Net Jumping over Tennis Net
Home movie 1903 1 mins Silent Location: Streatham
The grown-ups of the Passmore clan let out their inner children as they leap over a tennis net in this early home movie
Streatham Children's Pageant Streatham Children's Pageant
Non-Fiction 1916 1 mins Silent Location: Streatham
Time for Britannia to get off the bus - the Queen is coming to Streatham
Our Business Is Fun Our Business Is Fun
Documentary 1975 60 mins Location: Streatham
Meet Futuristic Fred, the celebrated fairground artist from Streatham.
Flying a Kite Flying a Kite
Home movie 1903 1 mins Silent Location: Streatham
In the year the Wright Brothers made their first flight, an Edwardian family film themselves taking to the skies… sort of.
New Perspectives: La Haine New Perspectives: La Haine
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Charlie Hammersley, a student from Northumbria University, explains how Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film holds up a mirror to society.
Dreamers Q&A Dreamers Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
The film-makers behind a haunting tale of love and community within a UK immigration detention centre visited the BFI Southbank to discuss their film.
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 50 mins
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation at BFI Southbank, discussing the making of One Battle After Another.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.