Flying the Foam and Some Fancy Diving (1906)

Self-styled pier entertainer 'Professor' Reddish was a specialist in the "flying the foam" stunt, which involved mounting a bicycle and riding it down a steep ramp and then off the end of Brighton's West Pier into the sea.

To this, director James Williamson adds additional layers of entertainment, firstly by showing the stunt from multiple angles (or rather several stunts, as the surrounding crowds differ from shot to shot) and then by showing it in reverse motion so that Reddish appears to be performing the impossible feat of riding his bicycle vertically out of the sea. Similar treatment is then given to more conventional footage of pier divers.

Reddish's foam-flying stunts were clearly a regular attraction, as local photographer George Ruff Jr. took a picture dated 17 June 1904 that could easily have doubled as a still from Williamson's film, but which was presumably not shot at the same time, as no cameras are visible. (Michael Brooke)

You can watch over 1500 other complete films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive free of charge at the BFI Mediatheque. There are Mediatheques at BFI Southbank, London, QUAD, Derby and the new Central Library, Cambridge: http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque http://www.derbyquad.co.uk/bfi-mediatheque http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/online/bfi_media.htm

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• BFI
• British
• Film
• Institute
• Pier
• Brighton
• Old
• Classic
• Documentary
• Stunts
• Diving
• Board
• Bicycle
• Trick
• Sea
• Seaside
• Beach
• Coast
• Splash
• Early

[kludd28]

Take that Jackass! Who needs a TV show to do goofy stunts?

[modelearth]

incredible, a whole world away

[Zanypem]

This is my great great uncle - he also used to dive in flames off of high towers etc into a small tank of water. His daughter Gladys also made a name for herself diving off of piers etc.They toured the various events in the summer season in England.

[Fifi48]

Us English have always been a bit bonkers! Excellent film find

[210ROCKSTA]

ouch

[professorsplash]

Several face-shots!

[bcgrote]

They still do this, but call it Pflug Tag or something now!

[Xavio58]

It's stunts like this that made people think" there must be some better ways to be entertained" and so they invented television,thanks to this guy.

[DADRENO]

I they would only keep pedalling they'd go a lot further!

[rgwholt]

So strange to think that he could make a living riding a bike of the end of Brighton pier.....followed by a not very accomplished display of high diving.......times change, thank god !!!

[WelshWebb]

Sank like a rock.