Skinner, Skid, 1905 - 1944
Dates
- Existence: 11 November 1905 - 4 December 1944
Biography
Hector William Skinner aka Skid Skinner was a speedway pioneer and a wall of death rider born in Sheffield on 11 November 1905.
Hector marride Alma Johnson aka Dare Devil Alma, a female wall of death rider, who she met while both of them were travelling their stunt rider shows. The couple continued travelling and performing together on the wall of death and had their head office at Hellaby in Rotherham, where Hector had a haulage business.
The advent of World War Two stop the couple from performing and travelling but they had made plans to resume business once the war war over. However, a tragic hunting accident put a stop to their dreams, when Hectore was killed in 1944 near Gainsborough.
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.