Margate in the 1950s & 1960s

[lollyclan]

Bags being the first one on the time machine back to decent times like these.

[groovygraham123]

fantastic video footage and well done for getting some footage of the caterpillar ride in as well ... I hear there is one packed away ready for when dreamland re-opens ... can't wait!

[mpsarge2]

miss those days.. The steel Peir and the Diving horse from that era also

[barrowboy6]

I very nice vid. Brought back many wonderful memories to me. Last summer I had a guided tour around Dreamland and heard about their plans for it's re-birth. It looks as though it may well happen as much of the funds have already been raised.

[scooota]

looks like the old lady with a wobble at 2:55 is taking snuff is that right?

[MrCharcharchar]

is that dunoon

[louellasnugglebunny]

It's interesting to know that they had cotton candy in England back in the 50's & 60's but it didn't catch on in Holland until the late 1980's!

[louellasnugglebunny]

It's interesting to notice that they had cotton candy in England back in the 50's or 60's but it didn't catch on in Holland until the late 1980's.

[rodtemplar]

Those were days of innocence and fun. Now just thugs and junkies hang out there.

[storinge]

Excellent video! There used to be a miniature bus that would give rides around the car park, a house that turned upside down, the Sphinx (a maze in the dark), and a water ride in round tubs through a magic grotto. The Scenic Railway was superb - let's hope it gets rebuilt.

[poopole]

thanks for this posting i used to love dreamland does anyone remember the guy who used to twist baloons to make dogs shapes ?

[michaelmorley61]

How wonderful to see these shots of the MV Royal Daffodil. I remember her well like the other Thames steamers of that time.

Yes they really were the good old days.

[Hariaka]

I kinda wish I was born back then. Margate is a husk to what it is in this video. So sad.

[exproggo]

This is a brilliant piece of film. You must be so proud. Thanks for getting it on here. I shared it to my FaceBook page..and here's what I wrote:

(next post)

[exproggo]

I found this...trawling YouTube. Some guy filmed it in 1961...the year I was born. A beautiful documentation of Margate in full holiday mode. 48 years ago...strange to think that a lot of the middle-aged people enjoying themselves here are probably passed away now. A timely reminder that we should cherish life, give it our best shot while we can...and take no shit from anyone. This guy has played a big part in preserving the past. It's exactly what our current photographer-friends are doing now.

[michaelmorley61]

A big amen to what you say. They were special days and everyone seemed more content. Thanks for this wonderful film.

[storinge]

Fantastic!

[capney]

Many thanks for the memories

[GLG1957]

You are all so fortunate to have had Margate and all it had to offer to your childhood. I visited Cliftonville in the summer of 2007 and could feel the spirit of the past all around me. This video is an instant favorite for me.

[slapavisionarchival]

amazing film archive, even home 8mm produced valuable results :D

[BIVVIEDUP]

excellent post thanks, just wish it was like it now

[Lizziekins]

This is such a delight, thank you so much for posting it . I spent every annual holiday of my childhood and teenage years in Cliftonville and Margate and well remember Tony Savage at the Lido. However my biggest treat was being taken there to see sheriff Danny Arnold at the Golden Garter Saloon. anyone else remeber it ?

[wimboes50]

Oh I remember it so well! Sadly most people will never know just how packed and popular the place was.I visited a few days ago for first time in ages, stood in the middle of a derelict Lido and dreamed on Tony Savage and the scramble to get a deck chair!

[Jeremycj]

Yes. He features on Flickr.

[Jeremycj]

Brilliant footage

[Hickey66]

Yes, those of us now in our 60's remember. Beano's to Margate. It is nice to look back from time to time.

[exproggo]

Absolutely awesome. Takes me back.

[funkster999]

fuckin brilliant video, What happened? check my video of the scenic railway, Tradegy!i remember the days when my mom used to get me free entry tickets from the bingo. it was always busy, loadsa beano's n holiday makers! this was only the late 80s. we need to turn it back into a resort not spend 30m on some stupid gallery!

[rtsf1182]

you're right, sod the art gallery, spend millions on dreamland!!!

[theefishlippedone]

Nice vid is the music by Tony savage?

[kester1940]

Good thought - I guess I should have used Tony Savage, as I still have an LP that my parents bought on one of their holidays. He was resident organist at the Lido in Cliftonville, wasn't he. The Hammond Organ you hear on my soundtrack was actually an American musician, Ken Griffin, and the title of the tune is appropriately 'I'm Drifting Back To Dreamland'.

[meljaxon]

I used to go to Margate every year with my parents for a holiday in the 60s. Sadly they are no longer with us and this video has really brought tears to my eyes. Such lovely memories of our holidays and look at Margate now. It is so so pitiful. Poor Dreamland and poor Margate altogether. It is heartbreaking.

[tenterden16]

I too spent many happy days at Margate with my parents. It was sheer magic walking through the covered entrance and into the main park. The Scenic Railway/Sky Wheels/Caterpiller/Racing Coaster and The River Caves. The smell of candyfloss and onions gave it a day never to be forgotten. I lost my Mother thirty years ago but when watching this video, I am beside her once again.

[meljaxon]

tenterden16. Thanks for your message. I know how you feel. I remember the covered entrance and the walk into the main park. Check out The Headless Lady, on You Tube. She was one of the sideshows in the main park just as you came out of the covered entrance, her sideshow was on the right, just beneath the scenic railway. My mum died in 1993 and my dad, two years ago, but Margate and Dreamland will always remind me of them. I remember going on the river caves with my dad. Never forgotten. x.

[tenterden16]

Thanks melijaxon. Yes, I do remember the Headless Lady and the other side shows in Dreamland. I have looked at the youtube clip. It's very clever, I would like to know how it's done but if you knew then the magic has gone. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Dreamland will open again in a year or two as a Heritage Park. I for one will be the first to visit. All the best.x.

[wimboes50]

@meljaxon Totally agree. I went to Margate virtually every summer with my parents from the mid 50s until 1970 and its demise is upsetting. I went back last summer for a day and wandered along the front trying to see any remaining aspects I knew so well. Some are still there but when you recall literally thousands of holidaymakers wandering the same path 40+ years ago young people could not begin to imagine those days now.

[wyb80]

Excellent Film, the people in it wouldn't believe how Margate has been allowed to fall into such a derelict state. It's only looking at old films & Pictures that you can see just how much has been lost. Extremely sad!...Dreamland needs to open Yesterday!

[luvinridin4eva]

Omg how great 2 see margate how is use to be.... its skanky now.... everythin keeps gettin burnt down... bloody chavs!!!!!