S.S. Brighton

Photo gallery, 1930s and 40s
Photo:Souvenir Brochure, opening of the Swimming Stadium, Brighton. 1934
Photo:Hitler Youth outside S.S. Brighton, 1936
Photo:Red McCarthy, dressed as King Bat, in ice skating spectacular at S.S. Brighton, 1936
Photo:SS Brighton ice rink in West Street, c 1946
Photo:Main foyer of the Swimming Stadium 1934/5. The centre piece to the large entrance in West Street were the two Art Deco brass banisters inlaid with diving ladies dominating the stairway. The main foyer was a model to the latest in fashion design with its pastel colours and beautiful inlaid floors. The main feature being a large motif of the S.S. Brighton life belt inlaid in the centre of the floor.
Photo:This is the cast of "Marina" which was the first professional ice spectacular in 1936 to be staged at the Sports Stadium. It was seen by over 250,000 people. The show was produced by Claude Langdon and Dennis Mitchell and went on to tour all the major cities in Britain.
Photo:Neon lighting at the Swimming Stadium. This rare postcard shows the Swimming Stadium taken at night swathed in neon lighting, which was an unusual sight on new buildings in Brighton.Mr George Claude and his French company Claude Neon introduced neon gas signs to the USA in 1924 and the lighting quickly became a popular fixture in outdoor advertising worldwide. Visible even in daylight, people would stop and stare at the first neon signs dubbed "liquid fire."
Photo:Neon lighting on the Swimming Stadium, West Street Brighton. Mr Horace Charlwood whose hobby was to photograph cinemas that had neon lighting on the exterior donated this unusual night shot to my project. This photograph was taken in 1934 and was taken on a Brownie box camera.
Photo:These were the first instructional staff at the rink in 1935
Photo:This original photograph postcard shows the interior of Swimming Stadium Brighton in 1934/5. The ship (Queen Mary) resting on the first floor deck was anchored in the middle of the pool at the end of the day and floodlit.
Photo: Illustrative image for the 'S.S. Brighton' page
Photo:Souvenir Brochure, opening of the Swimming Stadium, Brighton. 1934
Photo:Silver Grill Restaurant of the Swimming Stadium, Brighton. The restaurant was open daily to the general public until 11.30pm each evening and lunch could be had for the princely of two shillings and six pence. A considerable amount in 1934! Dinner for nearly double the price at four shillings and six pence and a full a la carte menu was also available. Even the silverware was of the highest quality and provided by Mappin & Webb of London. The management stated it was always happy to show patrons over its model restaurant kitchens and see its expert chefs at work. The smooth running of the restaurant was conducted under the ever-watchful eye of the restaurant manager Mr L. Novelli, late of the Prince's, London.
This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments about this page

I had no idea that the SS Brighton had been a indoor sea-water swimming pool. I skated there as a kid. I fell over one day and got soaked from head to foot, as if I had fallen into a swimming pool, and had to have my clothes dried in the boiler room before I could go home. Who else can remember that, when this ice rink was demolished, we were told that the Kingswest ice rink would be its replacement? Some replacement it turned out to be. The people of Brighton are still owed one full size ice rink and we want it.
By R H Scott-Spencer (26/01/2005)

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