Skegness Magazine

Skegness on the “Pictures”

As the results of the enterprise of Mr John Henry Canning, the proprietor of the Central Hall, Skegness, our local resort has gone one better than many larger and more populous resorts, being last week filmed as a living picture.

The picture suitably opens at the railway station with the incoming of the Firsby to Skegness express. The passengers are chiefly visitors, but local members of the audience quickly recognised Mr W Freason, the local Town Clerk, who we regret did not apparently favour the operator with a smile of greeting. However, this element was made good by a local errand boy with his barrow.

Outside the station the Lumley Hotel came into the picture and in order to assure prospective visitors that coal was to be had, Messers. Parson Bros. laden lorries happily strolled past.

The activity of Dr. Wallace and Sister Carlton at the Cottage Hospital was very manifest. Next the Cricket Ground was visited, and local players were quickly recognised at tennis, cricket and some other sport in front of the Pavilion. Reuben Henshaw, the groundsman, was active as usual, being quite ready to attend in three parts of the ground in five minutes.

Next the camera proceeded down Roman Bank, passing the G. P. O., Dutton’s Business College, and the Central Hall. Cecil Avenue, Scarbrough Avenue came in on the way to the Park, which showed to great advantage.

The livliness on the Figure 8 was effectively filmed, and the crowded Pier, Grand Parade, happy babies, unhappy donkeys all had a turn.

Then the weather became showery, but this did not stop the photographing, the reproduction remaining remarkably good.

Again we visited the station and this time took a long trip to the Seacroft Golf Links.

Indeed Mr Canning is to be complimented on having produced practically the whole of the resort’s attractions – he must surely have consulted a guide book.

Finally the camera finished up in Lumley Road, the main business thoroughfare, where, in spite of the wet the pedestrians appeared quite happy and content.

It would have been a great advantage if a general view of the sands could been taken but permission for this could not be obtained.

We hope the film may in future seasons be used for propaganda work, as it will no doubt take many full houses at the Central Theatre to recompense Mr Canning for his outlay. The film will be shown tonight and again next week. No doubt the great majority of the residents will be unable to attend because of business, but we hope Mr Canning will give them a “run” in the winter.

Source: Skegness, Mablethorpe and Alford News 1918