Southend on Sea 1960's cine film Peter Pans Playground v2

[wellohmeeeeeee]

Hope the Crooked House is listed. I remember going there a unique place. Also the little model village/ castle all lit up at night with toadstalls as well was this Southend?

[sharonessex]

@wellohmeeeeeee

I expect the place you remember 'Also the little model village/ castle all lit up at night with toadstalls as well' was Never Never Land set on the cliffs which had several nursery rhyme scenes set out with moving characters, lit up at night, which was opposite Peter Pans.

[wellohmeeeeeee]

@sharonessex thanks yes that sounds like it. I did notice a couple of years ago a bit of model castle still there on the left (with back to the pier) facing the fairground. Wonder if film exists of what you describe?

[sharonessex]

@wellohmeeeeeee

This might interest you

[sharonessex]

@sharonessex

u tube will not let me post the link - it is the East Anglian Film Archive

Sunshine-On-Sea

1964 Southend-on-Sea, Essex

[Sheven718]

gret to see the ol' place the way it was, its things like this posting that bring back all the memories, i was in southend just yesterday and it is all so different now, they seem to have moved on and brought the place up to scratch, i have so many happy memories of it from childhood 50s and early 60s, went on the train up the pier ha ha its a new train now but just as much fun, thanks 4 posting sharon, regards dave

[sharonessex]

@Sheven718 Thank you Dave. Glad you enjoyed the Cine Film.

[pinballrobbie]

I was terrified by the laughing Postman ( or sailor I forget which! ) loved the crooked house.

[sharonessex]

@pinballrobbie I believe it was a Sailor - and yes it was the stuff of childhood nightmares.

[MrsJosephMerrick]

What a lovely film! Brings back so many memories. Still going strong, I really think the jigsaw train is still every little kiddies' favourite. My son used to love it when he was a boy.Does anyone remember the old boating lake on the other side of the pier after Golden Hind??I think there was a little train on tracks that also went around it.

[littlemimimimi8]

This is so endearing!! I have been writing about childhood recollections for my children - and this has really jogged my memory! This little train was a 'must' - the first ride we all made for in Peter Pan's Playground - as children in the 1950's, even Mum and Dad somehow climbed over the sides of the tubs and rode with us, my Dad pulling at the sides and giving us an extra spin round on the bends. Does anyone remember the tiny zoo, and Mary the black bear? Great posting!! Thankyou.

[Glitchfindergeneral]

Lucky bunny! Childood on cine. These films really help jog my ropey memory. I lived in Watford as a child and it was Southend every year by coach from about '63 onward, so the Kursaal was already looking a bit melancholy. B&B in terraced houses, strict landladies and the Beatles on the radio all day. Moved to Wales in '96 but managed to visit once recently. All a bit strange now but at least the Crooked House was still standing. Cool! Thank you for the pictures.

[sharonessex]

@Glitchfindergeneral So Glad you enjoyed it - the Helta Skelta is still there, also the whip and so is the gold mine (the ride with the spinning carriages that feature in this) and as you say the crooked house. I am not sure that the owners would like everyone to know just how old some of their rides are... still some of us are still wearing well. Thanks for the comment. Regards Sharon

[Lantaur94]

Lovely video Sharon was there many a time and just loved going on the jigsaw along with my sister Peter Pans holds loads of memories...Thanks for sharing

[viciouswhips]

some nice archive footage, keep uploading please thanks!

[TechNed]

Thanks for this Sharon. I loved those little boats & yes, I remember the Golden Hind. I picture it closer to the pier but apart from Google-Maps-Street-Level-Views­, the last time I saw Peter Pan's, the Kursaal, the pier, the ship or the golden mile was in 1970. (My memory is shot). The Green train was still running & there were still amusements at the end of the pier. In the 2nd series of "Minder", during the final credits, Arthur & his nephew are shown walking along a pier. Is that Southend?

[sharonessex]

@TechNed - Yes the ending credits of Minder is Southend Pier. So glad you enjoyed the Cine Films, wish I had more!

[Dean66Essex]

holy crap !!! they were the days lol. nice video ;-)

[solitaire9]

thats just how i remembered it as a kid! good times! :) thanks for posting

[WaltCoogan]

I snogged my first girlfriend in the crooked house .

[pinballrobbie]

@WaltCoogan just saying "snogged" tells us how old you are ;-)

[sreymind]

I remember getting my arse burnt on the helter sketler because I came off the rug. I loved the crooked house. It would have been the late 70's. So the dummy and swinging cleaver are no more? Is that kind of thing now considered harmful to kids? Like kids don't know the difference between a dummy with red paint, and a real person???

[ConcreteBarge]

THANKYOU - Brilliant!

[sharonessex]

So glad you enjoyed it

[wilkevwilkev]

love to see those old motorboats again great times

[Rachael8989]

I was talking to my friends about that swinging blade exhibit the other day, after seeing a similar scene in one of the Saw films! I was the only one who remembered it. I'm twenty and used to stare at it in terror/amazement in the

early nineties. It was randomly on it's own near the park entrance and then they moved it into the dungeons part of Blackbeard's Pirate Adventure which closed about four years ago. Wonder where the models are now... Glad that i'm not the only one that remembers it!

[essexlol]

They had that for a long time, but before that (pre 70's ? )they used to alternate the display with something different each year. I recall someone having his tongue pullled out.

[sharonessex]

Yes I remember that too!

[hawkeye448]

Oh man!!!!! I remember all this. I was so young. The train, the tunnels, the crooked house. Even the red boxey helter skelter.

Wonderful. Thanks for uploading this :)

Yet were we really dressed like that? LOL.

Does anyone remember that pretty horrific window along the sea front near the Piers side entrances? A dummy lying on the floor with a pendulum blade swinging back and fourth over the dummys cut neck? Unthinkable now for the kids

[sharonessex]

Gosh, Yes I remember that didn't his head come up as the blade swung away? Pretty nasty!

[hawkeye448]

Yes it did.

I seem to have grown up just fine even though seeing such a horrific sight with my childhood eyes. :)

Still, even in the 70's (and early part of the 80s i think) An odd sight to see in an area of sun, sea and Ice Creams.

[clintbembridge]

BLOODY HELL you just made me feel old! I remember that dummy with the swinging blade, do you remember The Golden Hind? The ship that used to be next to it?

[asbomonkey]

Yep it was just outside the old ship.

That swinging blade thingy was still there in the mid 90's I remember thinking how cool it was as a child!

[steve0900]

@hawkeye448 I HAVE NIGHTMARES ABOUT THAT STILL AT 47!!

[steve0900]

@hawkeye448 I HAVE NIGHTMARES ABOUT THAT STILL AT 47!!

[airscrew1]

Pure nostalgia. I remember the jig saw train so well God I wish I could go back. Does anyone reemember the boats next to the Golden Hind?

[domdadomdom]

Anyone remember Never Never Land across the road? It was 2p to get into from Royal Terrace. I just remember lots of lanterns and rockery with a little stream running through it which finished with a waterfall at the end. Next to the wishing well. Went a bit crap in late 70s then fell into disrepair before reopening as some garish Disney mausoleum.

[eddiefuzz]

Does anyone remember how the animals on the jungle ride were a bit creepy, as though they were watching you?

[djptcxx]

i remember going on that, i live in southend but hardly went to "peter pans"

[critch1901]

Got any more old home cine films of Southend Sharon? Chris x

[sharonessex]

I really wish I had, this was taken by an Auntie and Uncle over from Canada, if only we could go back there are so many people and places it would be great to have on cine.