At Wessex Film and Sound Archive you can see and hear history, from late Victorian times to the present day, through moving images and sound recordings. The Archive contains over 36,000 film and sound recordings relating to Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, including film and tapes of local TV and radio.
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Southsea's Roller Rink and Seaside fun
Join in the post-war rollerskating craze down at Southsea Rink in this nicely made film from Archibald Peskett
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Overview
Archie Peskett's remarkable film starts with skaters whizzing round the rink on Southsea Common – later joined by star skaters, Jean Phethean and Ken Byrne who give an exhibition performance. We see holidaymakers packed onto the beach while the family walks about the decorative Rock Gardens and look at a miniature steam train. The entrance to Southsea Pier is also filmed from a passing car. After filming picnickers and speedboats on the Solent we end with Downland views.
Archibald Peskett, better known as Archie, was a tailor at Gieves and Hawkes Naval Outfitters in Portsmouth. He was also a member of the Portsmouth Film Society and many aspects of this film display Archie's considerable skills at using light, pattern and rhythm – particularly in the skating sequences. He and his fellow club members also used the self-conscious technique of 'filming the filming' - and several sequences show such filming in progress.
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