Manchester and Salford Harriers' Cyclists' Procession | movie | 1901 | Official Featurette - video Dailymotion

Edwardian cycling competition. | dG1fSjhGTGVRcGVWVDg

Transcript

00:00 (no audio)

00:07 (drumming)

00:10 Fancy dress cycling events were popular throughout the north of England at this time

00:14 and took place in Southport, Bradford and Sheffield.

00:17 (drumming)

00:19 Founded in Manchester by Arthur R. Albert in 1894,

00:23 the Fancy Dress Cyclist Parade was a charitable procession in which, quote,

00:28 "The object is to get at the great public by means of humorous and picturesque outdoor display

00:33 "and then gather from the amused crowds contributions for the benefit of some noble charity."

00:39 In reality, they were a great opportunity for the people of Manchester

00:43 to dress up in outrageous costumes with themes ranging from the American Wild West

00:48 to scenes from British history.

00:51 (drumming)

00:54 (clicking)

01:02 (jazz music)

01:09 Clowns mingle with marching bands as the procession winds its way

01:13 around Broughton Rangers football ground in Manchester.

01:16 Later, this place was known as The Cliff.

01:19 Manchester United trained there for many years.

01:22 Filmed on Saturday 22nd June 1901,

01:26 members of the local Navy Brigade solemnly march past the camera.

01:30 (jazz music)

01:39 They're followed by various soldiers of the Empire...

01:42 (jazz music)

01:49 ..and then come a group of cavaliers from the court of Charles II...

01:53 and another clown.

01:55 (jazz music)

02:05 Comely maidens in rustic dress pose for the camera beside their decorated bicycles...

02:10 (jazz music)

02:13 ..followed by more cavaliers...

02:16 (jazz music)

02:19 ..even the odd American Indian, and all manner of other costumes.

02:23 (jazz music)

02:29 A.D. Thomas, the showman who filmed this event, then takes centre stage himself,

02:33 posing alongside some of the paraders before the scene cuts back to the procession.