Friday, June 28, 2013

Sepia Saturday 183 : The River Caves In Blackpool


Marilyn chose a photograph of the entrance to the Wombeyan Caves in Australia for this week's Sepia Saturday theme and I am pleased to be able to emerge from the sepia darkness of my recent holidays to feature this fine photograph of none other than Auntie Miriam (well, at least I think it is her). That great cataloguer, her husband Frank Fieldhouse, entitles the shot "By The River Caves, Blackpool Pleasure Beach", although surprisingly, for him, he doesn't date it. I would guess it was taken some time in the mid 1930s, but that rather severe expression on her face is timeless. 

The "River Caves" was a popular attraction at many a seaside pleasure park on both sides of the Atlantic 100 years ago. It would entail rides through caves and tunnels on boats presenting a series of themed displays - the one at Blackpool was based on the idea of "Around The World In 80 Days". Perhaps Miriam was a little jet-lagged (or boat-lagged) and that is why she is looking so uncharacteristically fierce. Having just travelled half way around the world in 48 hours I can sympathise with her feelings.

You can easily go around the world in far less than 80 images by checking out the other participants in Sepia Saturday 183 by following the links on the Sepia Saturday Blog.

23 comments:

  1. Now you've got me wondering about The Virtual Caves of Blogpool. How about the theme, Around the World in 80 Posts?

    Great to have you back safe and sound, Alan.

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  2. What an unexpected pleasure to have you join us this week Alan; I thought you would still be too jet-lagged. And how nice of Aunty Miriam to honour us with her presence too.

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  3. Maybe Miriam is squinting into the sun. The river caves sound a bit like a tunnel of love AND Disney's "It's a Small World."

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  4. Perhaps Miriam did not like what happened during the ride.

    Welcome back, Alan.

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  5. Good to see you again, Alan! The pleasure showing on my face is slightly more than that on Auntie Miriam's.

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  6. I'm thinking like Wendy that Merry Miriam's squinting. Very interesting to hear about the boat trips through the caves. Hope you had a wonderful vacation.

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  7. Welcome back, Alan!

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  8. That reminded me of floating on an underground river in Mexico.

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  9. Welcome back Alan, and thanks for the photo of the River Caves. In my research into the attractions of the Pleasure Beach at Blackpool some months ago, I came across mention of the River Caves, so it's great to see a snapshot taken there.

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  10. I like Aunt Miriam's dress. Has the bit of a gamin look. Hoping that does not upset your recollection of Aunt Miriam, welcome back.

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  11. Your aunt sounds quite the woman. I hope you've enjoyed your travels.

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  12. She looks far room happy when she's in a pleasant place. There's room for lots of speculation in this photo.

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  13. Maybe the River Caves didn't live up to her expectations.

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  14. I have to admit that I did have the same thought as Mr. Scotney! I visited Blackpool for the first time when I was twelve, with the Flamborough Original Players, (Village Theatre group). Whatever was my mother thinking, to let me go with them for the weekend, alone! But they were different days back then: 1949. The worst thing we did was to eat shrimp in bed at midnight. How could I have known then, that on my next visit to Blackpool ten years later, my husband would propose on the last bus back home from visiting the Lights.

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  15. Fantastic photo and I too am rather taken with the handkerchief style hem of Aunt Miriam's frock.

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  16. Glad you're back here, home again. River caves on seaside geography puzzles me...obviously man-made....and tunnel of love concept kind of proved it. Now I've got to get that "Small World" tune out of my head...thanks a lot, Wendy!

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  17. Oh, my goodness, you doth have a way with words -- "that rather severe expression on her face is timeless"

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  18. She does look miffed..perhaps she was hungry..that dress is stunning..looks like a fun dress to wear! Glad to see you have returned. I hope the Americans treated you well on your vacation..how did poor Miss Amy fare whilst you were gone? I bought a postcard the other day of Blackpool..it must be a sign..it will be mailed to you if you wish to inspect it further. Email me at captainconnie2001atyahoodotcom with your snail mail address:)

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  19. I wrote a story a while back which took place, in the late 1890's, in part, in Blackpool, but in my research of the playgroud there at that time, I found nothing about river caves. I wonder if they existed then? I could always go back & add them to the story. And I, too, like Aunt Miriam's dress. Looks a little late Roaring 20's. You were in San Francisco. Did you get to Yosemite? That's my 'backyard'. :))

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    1. The ride 'The River Caves' is probably now known as 'The Water Caves'. If you search for Humphrey Spender, photographer, he does have photos entitled 'River Caves', but the ride is a dry one in form of a train. Very confusing. I think if the River Cave ride did exist, it was probably re-vamped as 'The Grotto' after Spender's photos. I used to visit the pleasure beach from 1945 onwards, and the Grotto had an animal band as the front facade and was sited where the Alice ride is now.

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  20. Welcome back Alan.

    I have photos of my Nanna wearing a similar hat in 1929.

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  21. A fine old photo. The enlargement caught some details and expanded the interest of the shot. Good post.

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  22. Was there Gravol in the 1930s?!?
    :D~
    HUGZ

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