Skating-rink in the Royal Baths

About This Movie

Skating-rink in the Royal Baths is this early glimpse into Polish leisure culture, capturing a vibrant ice skating scene from 1894. Filmed by Kazimierz Prószyński with his pleograph, it’s fascinating to see how he played with movement and light. The atmosphere is lively, with skaters gliding around, their energy palpable even through the grainy footage. There’s a certain charm in the simplicity of it all, no fancy edits or special effects, just pure human joy on ice. The skaters’ performances, from graceful spins to clumsy falls, feel so genuine, almost like a window into daily life of the time. It’s a distinct piece of history that gives insight into the social fabric of Warsaw’s past.

Early use of the pleographCultural snapshot of 19th-century PolandUnique atmosphere of public leisure