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Paignton 1957

The camera - perhaps wielded by an enthusiastic dad - was ever-present on this family holiday in 1950s Devon

Amateur film 1957 31 mins Silent

Overview

Where better to see the golden age of the British seaside than a real family’s trip to the so-called English Riviera? Three happy children, two adorable dogs, and one very impressive sand sculpture are the stars of this endearing - if rather long - home movie. It's guaranteed to make you nostalgic if you've ever holidayed around Plymouth, Goodrington, Dartmeet, or the titular Paignton.

Cameras capable of capturing moving images were, of course, considerably less ubiquitous in 1957 than they are today; and with some rudimentary understanding of shooting techniques (not to mention a steady hand), the cameraperson responsible for these images must have been a forward-looking individual. Look out for their creative homemade intertitles - written in sand at the beach, or spelled out in plastic letters on a pinboard.