Skinner, Alma, 1911 - 2008
Dates
- Existence: 1911 - 2008
Biography
Ellen Alma Morley or Johnson (Alma Skinner) aka Dare Devil Alma was born in Sneinton, Nottigham in 1911 and grew up in Skegness. She started her career as a wall of death rider in 1929, while still a teenager. Alma was working at Butlin’s holiday camp in her hometown, frustrated with the pay rate, when a wall of death show was brought in to entertain the visitors. After seeing the show and eager to improve her earnings, she decided to become a wall of death rider. Alma trained until she became proficient as a stunt rider in just two weeks becoming quite a novelty as a female rider and one of the best known rides in the country.
Alma toured around the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia and it was while touring that she met her future husband Horace Skinner aka Skid Skinner. Skid was himself a speedway pioneer and a wall of death rider. The couple settle in Hellaby in Rotherham.
She performed with Eric Rigby aka ‘Speedy Boyd’ and her own brother Fred aka ‘Cyclone Morley’ as well as with her husband Skid Skinner.
Daredevil Alma, was one of the first female motorcyclists in the UK to take on and master the wooden drum feat.
The outbreak of WWII brought her career to a halt and although her and Skid had plans to return to the wall of death after the end of the conflict, Skid died in a hunting accident near Gainsborough tin 1944 and Alma decided to retire. However, her love for the wall of death and motorbikes never stopped and Alma sold all her costumes to ensure she was not tempted to go back to her dangerous profession. Alma rode a motorbike until she was 80 years old.
Alma took over her husband’s Rotherham based haulage business.
Alma died in 2008, aged 96.
Found in 9 Collections and/or Records:
Alma Skinner Collection
This collection contains digital scans of black and white photographs from Alma and Skid Skinner, Wall of Death riders, highlighting their travels mainly in Norway and Sweden and featuring other acts of that era. Also scans of the Crown Prince of Sweden opening their show in 1936 and staff working at Butlins, Skegness.
Handbills, c1930 - 1939
Alma and Skid Skinner wall of death handbills.
Photographs, c1930 - 1959
Photographs of Alma and Skid Skinner.
Photographs Related to Alma Skinner and Skid Skinner, c1930 - 1959
Black and white and sepia photographs relating to Alma Skinner (Johnson) and Skid Skinner and their Wall of Death activities. Copies from the original albums belonging to Alma Skinner.
Posters, c1930 - 1939
Alma and Skid Skinner wall of death posters.
Skid Skinner and Dare Devil Alma Poster, 28 - 31 May c1930
Skid Skinner and Dare Devil Alma. Fair Ground, Bolton-on-Dearne Fri-Sat May 28th, 29th and 31st. Wall of Death and on the Flying trapeze. Red and blue type.
Wall of Death Handbill, c1930 - 1939
Wall of Death. The Famous Skid Skinner and Dare Devil Alma. Rotherham Fair Ground. See Skid Skinner in his latest and most sensational act on the 'Flying Trapeze', 1p.
Wall of Death Poster, c1930 - 1939
Wall of Death. Skid Skinner and Miss Alma. Dodsdromen, Germany. Listed as Mr Hector Skinner. Black type with photo.
Wizard of the Wall Handbill, c1930 - 1939
Wizards on the Wall. Speedy Rube Knight and Dare Devil Alma. Scarborough, Wall of Death, 1p.