Documentary which explores the history of the fairground, from the sideshows to the freak shows, and from early hand-powered rides to the arrival of steam and electricity.
Timeshift explores rarely seen images from the University of Sheffield's National Fairground Archive to ride back to the origins of the fairground. From the sideshows, the freak shows and early hand-powered rides to the arrival of steam and electricity, the story of fairs is the tale of one of our first forms of popular entertainment.
The film shows how fairgrounds often provided the only entertainment to rapidly expanding industrial towns. It looks at how, from the 50s, the fairground was the site of youth rebellion, and why we are still entranced by these travelling carnivals that arrive overnight and then vanish just as mysteriously.
Last on
More episodes
Clips
-
![]()
The fairground year
Duration: 01:19
-
![]()
A personal memory of Hull fairground
Duration: 02:07
-
![]()
The British Galloper & The American Carousel
Duration: 03:22
-
![]()
The dodgems
Duration: 01:27
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
-
![]()
The Who
Baba O'Riley
-
![]()
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
The Carny
-
![]()
Chuck Berry
Around and Around
-
![]()
The Kinks
Louie Louie
-
![]()
Van Morrison
She Moved Through The Fair
-
![]()
The Rolling Stones
Not Fade Away
-
![]()
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
The Carnival is Over
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Julian Rhind-Tutt |
| Executive Producer | Michael Poole |
| Producer | Francis Welch |
| Director | Francis Welch |
| Series Producer | Ben Southwell |
Broadcasts
- Tue 2 Aug 2011 21:00
- Wed 3 Aug 2011 00:30
- Wed 3 Aug 2011 03:00
- Fri 5 Aug 2011 00:25
- Mon 13 Feb 2012 20:00
- Sun 10 Jun 2012 20:00
- Thu 24 Jan 2013 00:00
- Mon 24 Nov 2014 23:45
- Tue 13 Oct 2015 02:00
- Thu 12 May 2016 00:30