It was a brilliant day out. The elephant ride was joy for 4-year-old me on my first visit, about 1956. One of the keepers was an old army comrade of my Dad's from the Normandy landings all the hard and bitter way to Hamburg. I got a special ride, sitting on the elephant's neck like a mahout - with someone on the Howdah holding on to make sure I didn't fall off. But the best bit was at the end, when the kind and gentle elephant lifted me off with her trunk and put me into my Dad's arms.
Just glad I was at the right age to enjoy the place ! You just thought it would never close ! The elephant rides were such a unique attraction during a day out there .
Lovely what a wonderful place and a lovely piece of nostalgia a bit like battersea fun fair in London sadly all gone love the speedway in that film lòok at the crowds fantastic
That brought back memories of the late 1950s. early '60s. We used to go as a family for a day out and I went in the evenings to watch the Aces in the speedway. I would have been 10 or 11 at the time, and a group of us went on our own without adult supervision. A few decades earlier my mother's cousin, Norman Hartley, rode with the Aces. The story was when he couldn't afford to pay his workers he'd go to Belle Vue to try and win some cash. With his brother Vincent they started Hartley's Greenhouses which still exists today as Hartley Botanic.
Nice to see a little bit of Kings Hall Christmas Circus. There is so little archive footage around. It was always a spectacular show. No footage ever appears of Pepino's Miniature Circus. I worked at both as a lad.
Thank you vaslav . Pepino's circus was very popular . There must be some footage out there somewhere , what you have seen on this film , is about all I have got and shot !
Given a shilling on saturday .3d for bus to speedway .6d to get in speedway.A walk round the fun fair .We couldnt afford any rides .We clubbed together and bought chips to share on the walk back home up hyde road to chorlton on medlock .Wonderful happy days .
Spot on Lunn ! In its heyday it was helluva place . It was there for a long , long time . Got through two world wars , it was a treat to go there for a long day out .
This footage is like my mother used to tell me about, she lived on grey mare lane, her maiden name was rogers , saturday night at belle vue the dancing or the circus and she was a big peter craven fan watching the aces,i went on to watch peter collins and ivan mauger,the whole belle vue set up was really special to those that remember.
Thanks Martin . It’s great there are plenty of folk who were old enough to enjoy the Belle Vue Gardens when the place was buzzing . I was lucky enough , it was a treat to go there for a day out . Am still speedway mad though !
Glad but sad! The black and white images make me feel so old. As I child I recall asking for or anticipating BELLE VUE visits. The sights and the sounds were magic to us as children, the animals we would never have seen otherwise. Looking back at the different "natural habitat" zoo's I have visited since there is a sadness to what was considered normal at the time and the stark environments in which animals were displayed or survived. Even the little people boxing makes me feel sad that there was a little bit of a Ripley's believe it or not! aspect to BELLE VUE I never saw as a child.
Thanks Takata . It was a big treat for me to go for a day out there . I agree the zoo , then , seemed to be modern enough , I guess a city centre zoo just became a bit outdated eventually , But I enjoyed many happy days there !
I lived on kirky lane across from station-approach fireworks almost every night had a dancehall beer garden every amusement ride under the sun the zoo and animals very well cared for there were two huge car parks across from zoo filled every night all the day trip buses it was a goldmine and across the street the dog track saw a lot of stars at the big hall l couldn’t believe that they had closed it down and razed it to the ground it had everything
Lovely! A wonderful evocation of slower and simpler times, and how neat and tidy everyone and everyplace looked , despite people then having fewer material possessions. Did we go wrong somewhere along the line?
Ah thanks . It was a great place to chill out and relax especially around the Zoo enclosures . You were sort of coocooned in a different world . The small monkey house was our favourite animal attraction and when I got a bit older I got quite hooked on the speedway !
remember it a lot, when i told people you could ride an elephant, people wouldnt believe me, still trying to find pictures of the swinging axe thing as you walked in. some nice photos iv not seen before
Come on now the peel company,time to bring something back like this to manchester,looked awesome,any videos on the fighting,bare knuckle ,,the history of this place is nearly forgotten to the youth of today
The Gorton Monastrey have a few good Belle Vue Zoo displays and sometimes have talks there and bits of video showing . Helps to keep the memories of the Zoo Gardens alive . Yes , maybe Peel Holdings could build a zoo . There were rumours of the possibility of one , near to the AJ Bell Rugby League stadium , the other side of the Barton Bridge !!
![[4k, 50fps, colorized] (1901) Panoramic View of the Morecambe Sea Front.](/img/1.gif)
It was a brilliant day out. The elephant ride was joy for 4-year-old me on my first visit, about 1956. One of the keepers was an old army comrade of my Dad's from the Normandy landings all the hard and bitter way to Hamburg. I got a special ride, sitting on the elephant's neck like a mahout - with someone on the Howdah holding on to make sure I didn't fall off. But the best bit was at the end, when the kind and gentle elephant lifted me off with her trunk and put me into my Dad's arms.
Just glad I was at the right age to enjoy the place ! You just thought it would never close ! The elephant rides were such a unique attraction during a day out there .
Lovely what a wonderful place and a lovely piece of nostalgia a bit like battersea fun fair in London sadly all gone love the speedway in that film lòok at the crowds fantastic
Thanks Kevin . It was there for over hundred years and survived two world wars , so not a bad innings !
That brought back memories of the late 1950s. early '60s. We used to go as a family for a day out and I went in the evenings to watch the Aces in the speedway. I would have been 10 or 11 at the time, and a group of us went on our own without adult supervision.
A few decades earlier my mother's cousin, Norman Hartley, rode with the Aces. The story was when he couldn't afford to pay his workers he'd go to Belle Vue to try and win some cash. With his brother Vincent they started Hartley's Greenhouses which still exists today as Hartley Botanic.
Great story Roger ! I was ten years old in the mid sixties so could enjoy Belle Vue Gardens when it was at its best !
Great footage happy days for sure ❤
Thanks Bernadette . Just glad to get the old Cine film done and is a reasonably good copy .
Champion! Brought back lots of happy memories.
Thanks Ray . Am going to try and do another one of these films on Belle Vue Gardens , just glad I have done at least this one !
Wow. I had a big photo on hardboard of a lions head. Full face no bars, taken inside the enclosure at Belle Vue. Loved the place.
In its heyday it was a day out I looked forward too as a young kid .My mother loved feeding the small monkeys .
Nice to see a little bit of Kings Hall Christmas Circus. There is so little archive footage around. It was always a spectacular show.
No footage ever appears of Pepino's Miniature Circus. I worked at both as a lad.
Thank you vaslav . Pepino's circus was very popular . There must be some footage out there somewhere , what you have seen on this film , is about all I have got and shot !
Given a shilling on saturday .3d for bus to speedway .6d to get in speedway.A walk round the fun fair .We couldnt afford any rides .We clubbed together and bought chips to share on the walk back home up hyde road to chorlton on medlock .Wonderful happy days .
Think I did the same as you Glyn !!
Crazy to think all that was in Gorton and there's not a trace of it anymore 😢sad! It was massive.
Spot on Lunn ! In its heyday it was helluva place . It was there for a long , long time . Got through two world wars , it was a treat to go there for a long day out .
This footage is like my mother used to tell me about, she lived on grey mare lane, her maiden name was rogers , saturday night at belle vue the dancing or the circus and she was a big peter craven fan watching the aces,i went on to watch peter collins and ivan mauger,the whole belle vue set up was really special to those that remember.
Thanks Martin . It’s great there are plenty of folk who were old enough to enjoy the Belle Vue Gardens when the place was buzzing . I was lucky enough , it was a treat to go there for a day out . Am still speedway mad though !
Glad but sad! The black and white images make me feel so old. As I child I recall asking for or anticipating BELLE VUE visits. The sights and the sounds were magic to us as children, the animals we would never have seen otherwise. Looking back at the different "natural habitat" zoo's I have visited since there is a sadness to what was considered normal at the time and the stark environments in which animals were displayed or survived. Even the little people boxing makes me feel sad that there was a little bit of a Ripley's believe it or not! aspect to BELLE VUE I never saw as a child.
Thanks Takata . It was a big treat for me to go for a day out there . I agree the zoo , then , seemed to be modern enough , I guess a city centre zoo just became a bit outdated eventually , But I enjoyed many happy days there !
I lived on kirky lane across from station-approach fireworks almost every night had a dancehall beer garden every amusement ride under the sun the zoo and animals very well cared for there were two huge car parks across from zoo filled every night all the day trip buses it was a goldmine and across the street the dog track saw a lot of stars at the big hall l couldn’t believe that they had closed it down and razed it to the ground it had everything
Lovely! A wonderful evocation of slower and simpler times, and how neat and tidy everyone and everyplace looked , despite people then having fewer material possessions. Did we go wrong somewhere along the line?
Ah thanks . It was a great place to chill out and relax especially around the Zoo enclosures . You were sort of coocooned in a different world . The small monkey house was our favourite animal attraction and when I got a bit older I got quite hooked on the speedway !
The place was a Health & Safety nightmare...... but we all loved it.
Indeed yes . If health and safety officers were to see children enjoying elephant rides , the officers would have a mental breakdown !!
remember it a lot, when i told people you could ride an elephant, people wouldnt believe me, still trying to find pictures of the swinging axe thing as you walked in. some nice photos iv not seen before
Thanks Paul , used to love the elephants , and feeding the small monkeys !
The Pit & The Pendulum in the window of the waxworks.
Wonderful video Roy. Must have been amazing as a kid going there. Looks great thank you
Come on now the peel company,time to bring something back like this to manchester,looked awesome,any videos on the fighting,bare knuckle ,,the history of this place is nearly forgotten to the youth of today
The Gorton Monastrey have a few good Belle Vue Zoo displays and sometimes have talks there and bits of video showing .
Helps to keep the memories of the Zoo Gardens alive .
Yes , maybe Peel Holdings could build a zoo . There were rumours of the possibility of one , near to the AJ Bell Rugby League stadium , the other side of the Barton Bridge !!
does anyone know what was on redgate lane Belle vue back in 1970’s.
I would walk up that street to the speedway stadium ..
What year did this close?
The zoo closed in 1977 . The speedway closed and was relocated in 1988 .Hope that helps!
@@roynicol8353 Thank you.