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Title: BIDDALL'S FUNERAL

Reference number: 3438

Date: 1908 - 1909

Sound: silent

Original format: 35mm

Colour: bw

Fiction: non-fiction

Running time: 1.35 mins

Description: The funeral of George Biddall (badly decomposed and incomplete).

George Biddall, born into a circus family in 1848. Biddall's circus travelled the country. The most famous part of their show was the "Biddall's Ghost Illusion", which gave the impression of pictures moving. When George Biddall died in 1909, people flocked to his funeral in Cockermouth. Buffalo Bill Cody was amongst the mourners.

Shotlist: The late George Biddall with his dogs at Maryport brief shots of Biddall in crowd on street, walking with two large dogs (.11) The Funeral of the late George Biddall, taken at Cockermouth, April 14th 1909 [top of frame cropped] coffin being carried down steps [of fairground booth?) into horse drawn hearse, crowds onlooking, mourners get into waiting horse drawn carriages, shots of funeral procession on crowd lined street (1.35)

[It appears the coffin is taken from caravan/booth at a fairground, possibly Biddall's home as a travelling showman?]