London’s Screen Archives enables Londoners see their past come alive on film. Managed by Film London, we are a unique network of historic film collections that cares for, collects and screens heritage film across the city. Together we preserve London’s rich film heritage from feature films to home movies, public information films, newsreels, and records of the capital’s many different industries.
This film is currently unavailable
Video Player is loading.
May Pole Dance July 1956; Picnic Trip to Finchley July 1956; London Zoo Aug 1956; Windsor Castle Sept 1956
Four films capturing a family summer in 1956, with highlights coming from London Zoo, where a very different attitude to animal care is on display.
From the collection of:
Overview
A quartet of films of the Lawford family in 1956, starting with a neatly choreographed dance round the maypole with local children, presumably on a common in Harrow. Next is a picnic in Finchley, and then it’s to London to meet the animals. Trafalgar Square first to feed pigeons, and then London Zoo, to ride the elephant and camel. The fourth film is from Windsor Castle, showing marching soldiers – the children copycat, like Christopher Robin – and beautiful, eerie gardens.
Filmed respectively in May, July, August and September 1956, the highlight is the third film, showing a trip to London Zoo. What’s extraordinary to modern eyes is the very different conditions the animals are kept in. An elephant stands marooned on a concrete island eating food offered by the crowds; the Lawford children ride a camel round the zoo – all three at once! – and then do the same on the back of a baby elephant. We then see some bears in a tiny cage, fighting, swinging and getting rather personal. Also filmed are goats, a polar bear and a great grizzly, the latter on Bear Mountain, which now houses wallabies.
Related
Watch for free
May Day Ponies May Day Ponies
News 1974 4 mins Location: Upper Gornal
Sam Jeavons is a Black Country horse man through and through and May Day is a time to decorate his wagon and bring some colour to Upper Gornal's streets.
Watch for free
Springtime in an English Village Springtime in an English Village
Documentary 1944 7 mins Location: Stanion
An extraordinary and unexpected snapshot of rural life in wartime in which a young black girl is crowned Queen of the May.
Watch for free
The Legend of the Good Beasts The Legend of the Good Beasts
Children's 1956 24 mins
Fabergé animals in a Russian influenced Easter tale narrated by Peter Ustinov
Currently unavailable
Welcome Spring Welcome Spring
Amateur film 1952 9 mins Silent
Spring comes to Scotland in the 1950s: feed playful lambs, pick a host of glorious daffodils, and harness your faithful horse to the plough in this lovely amateur colour film.
Watch for free
Avalanche of Lambs Avalanche of Lambs
Non-Fiction 1923 1 mins Silent
A fluffy white blizzard - of hundreds of newborn lambs - hits a Reading farm, keeping the shepherd's hands full.
Watch for free
Easter Parade, Hyde Park Easter Parade, Hyde Park
1958 4 mins Silent Location: Hyde Park
Easter Parade in Hyde Park, April 1958.
Watch for free
Irish and Proud of It Irish and Proud of It
Crime 1936 72 mins Location: Derry / Londonderry
Kidnapping, mobsters and moonshine! Is this a story is set in a country, which exists only in the minds of those who have never been to Ireland?
Watch for free
Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass) Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2011 33 mins
Over 30 years and 150 projects, the composer shares, with humour and passion, the intricacies of making film music.
Watch for free
Ian Neil (Masterclass) Ian Neil (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2012 74 mins
Neil selected soundtracks for 127 Hours, Shame, Kick Ass, Control and many more. He discusses the job and its complexities, referencing his own work.
Watch for free
Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass) Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass)
2013 61 mins
British cinematographer of The Hurt Locker, Captain Phillips, Hillsborough and Riff Raff reviews the art of the moving image.
Watch for free
Lois Burwell on movie makeup Lois Burwell on movie makeup
Inside Film 2013 17 mins
Lincoln, Braveheart and Magnolia make-up artist Lois Burwell explains how she created some of her most iconic looks, as part of a BAFTA Masterclass.
Watch for free
Gabriel Yared on composing for film Gabriel Yared on composing for film
Inside Film 2013 11 mins
Composer of The Lives of Others, The English Patient and Betty Blue on intimacy and experimentation.
Watch for free
Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan
Inside Film 2012 mins
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's adapter reveals his quest for "the poem of the book" and the importance of simplicity: 'Drain the pond to find the fish'.