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
Town Moor, Fish Market, Holy Island & Roman Wall
A swinging 60s Hoppings bursts into life on Newcastles Town Moor with barkers and tasselled showgirls advertising Striptease for Fearless Pashion.
From the collection of:
Overview
The Hoppings traveling fair on Newcastles Town Moor started life as a Temperance festival in 1882 to counter the boozy attractions of the annual Gosforth Park Race Week. Two amateur filmmakers capture the bawdy fun of its popular sideshows, barkers and dancing girls, and the thrill of the fairground rides, in a compilation of home movie film from the 1960s, which also includes shaky footage of Newcastle, North Shields Fish Quay and market, Lindisfarne and Hadrians Wall.
This footage was shot by Geoff and Florence Richardson of the Newcastle Amateur Cinematographers Association, first formed in 1927. Amongst the traditional sideshows at The Hoppings, the old Tom Norman Travelling Palladium Show booth draws a crowd. Tom Norman was a Victorian showman who exhibited freak show attractions and was dubbed the Silver King for his gifted patter by the founder of the Barnum & Bailey Circus. He had once managed Joseph Merrick, The Elephant Man, and stated in his autobiography: But you could indeed exhibit anything in those days. Yes anything from a needle to an anchor, a flea to an elephant, a bloater you could exhibit as a whale. It was not the show, it was the tale that you told.
Related
Watch for free
V.T.O.L V.T.O.L
Amateur film 1969 8 mins Location: Town Moor
Jet set thrills at a 1969 Royal Air Force Exhibition on the Town Moor in Newcastle.
Watch for free
Bingo Bingo
Amateur film 1965 9 mins Silent Location: Jesmond
A business man’s luck runs out when he tries to lose a kitsch bingo prize at the Hoppings fair.
Watch for free
28 June 1967: Town Moor Hoppings 28 June 1967: Town Moor Hoppings
News 1967 6 mins Location: Town Moor
A rap on rain and rates with Britain’s first black British broadcaster and the travelling showpeople at the Hoppings funfair in Newcastle.
Watch for free
Bridges on the River Tyne Bridges on the River Tyne
Amateur film 1957 5 mins Silent Location: Town Moor
A pleasure flight from Newcastle Airport wings its way along the Tyne in the 1950s.
Watch for free
B'nai B'rith Dinner for New President, Jewish Friendship Club Visits, Coco the Clown Visit B'nai B'rith Dinner for New President, Jewish Friendship Club Visits, Coco the Clown Visit
Amateur film 1953 16 mins Silent Location: Town Moor
Behind the greasepaint of an iconic figure in the British circus - Coco the Clown reveals his Jewish roots.
Watch for free
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Watch for free
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.