Wall of Death

From the collection of

East Anglian Film Archive at the University of East Anglia
The East Anglian Film Archive, the UK's first regional film archive, offers a unique record of the East of England's social and cultural history. As part of the University of East Anglia, we continue to lead moving image heritage research and inspire audience participation through community projects and events. Our collections represent a broad range of amateur and professional creativity, from 1896 to the present day.

Wall of Death


Southend can boast that in the summer of 1929, the UK’s first Wall of Death was unveiled at the Kursaal, one of the world's first amusement parks which now offers a bowling alley, a casino and other amusements. The film includes an interview with George 'Tornado' Smith, the owner and creator of the Wall of Death, who became synonymous with the sideshow at the Kursaal, and even performed with his tame lioness, Briton in a sidecar after she grew too big to ride on the handlebars.


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