Biddall's Funeral

Film of the late George Biddall and his dogs at Maryport . Then his funeral at Cockermouth on 14 April 1909. Biddall's circus travelled the country and the most famous part of their show was "Biddall's Ghost Illusion", which gave the impression of pictures moving. When George Biddall died in 1909, people flocked to his funeral in Cockermouth inlcluding Buffalo Bill Cody, who was amongst the mourners.

Shots include the coffin being carried possibly from a fairground booth into a horse drawn hearse with onlooking crowds. Mourners get into waiting horse drawn carriages and there are shots of the funeral procession along the crowded street.

Biddal’s funeral is one of very few films that still survive in Scotland from this era. It shows the impresario greeting townsfolk in Maryport, Cumbria, then his very lavish funeral not long after, in the nearby town of Cockermouth. The family filmed the event and showed it on the same Ghost Show a few days after, using the takings to pay for the coffin and gravestone. The film was accompanied by George’s son Victor, who was the show’s ‘elocutionist’. These professional vocalists commented on the action to make these short, silent films more entertaining.

Thanks to Mitch Miller for additional information.