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
Son of the Man from South Bank
Now that’s magic! A young Paul Daniels performs with a flourish at the Middlesbrough Circle of Magicians.
From the collection of:
Overview
Watch closely now as a star is born! Teesside’s most famous magician Paul Daniels puts on a sparkly show at Middlesbrough’s Magic Circle with sleight of hand tricks and a floating ball illusion. He is assisted by his first wife Jackie, who was no mean magician herself. Unlike the London circle, Middlesbrough always opened its doors to women. At the time, Paul and Jackie had a stage act as the exotic-sounding Eldanis, performing on the northern club circuit.
The magical illusion of film was an early influence on Daniels as his father was a cinema projectionist at the South Bank Hippodrome, Middlesbrough, from the war through to its closure in 1956. His son joined him as a paid assistant at the tender age of nine. Born Newton Edward Daniels in April 1938, he fell in love with magic, aged eleven, on a wet holiday in North Yorkshire when he picked up a children’s book of party tricks. His obsession took him all the way to international stardom and a TV audience of 20 million at his peak. The great Tommy Cooper was an admirer when Daniels first burst on to the television scene in the 70s: ‘Paul Daniels is to magic what Muhammad Ali is to boxing.”
Related
The Big Country The Big Country
Promotional 1970 16 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Tuning into the biggest consumer market for television advertising in Britain with Trident TV.
Son of Plain - Advertising Man's Guide to Tyne Tees Television Son of Plain - Advertising Man's Guide to Tyne Tees Television
Promotional 1964 11 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Is comedian Clive Dunn the Don Draper of the British advertising world? Watch this imaginative Tyne Tees TV marketing film and decide.
The Disabled and Work The Disabled and Work
Documentary 1981 32 mins Location: Middlesbrough
A film which shows the desire and dedication of those with disability to become integrated into the world of work.
College Church May Procession College Church May Procession
Home movie 1965 2 mins Silent Location: Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough’s Catholic children make their way to church to take part in their First Communion in the 1960s.
Middlesbrough Football Song Sung by School Choir Middlesbrough Football Song Sung by School Choir
News 1975 2 mins Location: Middlesbrough
A schoolboy choir sing the praises of Middlesbrough Football Club.
River Tees Trip River Tees Trip
Amateur film 1979 4 mins Location: Billingham
A river trip explores the industrial heartlands of Teesside in the 70s.
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.