Morecambe Parade

Seaside festivities captured by one of the world’s earliest amateur filmmakers.

This record of festivities at the Lancashire resort can reasonably be described as one of the world’s earlier amateur films. It was shot by William Henry Youdale of Cockermouth, Cumberland. A draper by trade, he was also a magic lantern operator who, off his own bat, made several forays into film – the new media of its day.

The distinction, in this early period, between the films of such ‘amateurs’ and the budding ‘professional’ industry is not a hard and fast one. But this film does anticipate something of the hobby filmmaking to come in decades ahead - parades, carnivals and similar special occasions would continue to be favourite subjects for generations of amateur filmmakers.