This film features the 1924 Hebden Bridge Band Carnival which took place on a dreary day in August, 1924.  The carnival is typical of the events which took place in the 1920s and includes a procession through the streets of Hebden Bridge, elected Carnival King and Queen, and fancy dress competition. Title - Hebden Bridge Band Carnival Saturday, August 30th, 1924.  Taken Exclusively for this Theatre. The film opens with carnival spectators gathered as the carnival King and Queen, dressed in...

This film features the 1924 Hebden Bridge Band Carnival which took place on a dreary day in August, 1924.  The carnival is typical of the events which took place in the 1920s and includes a procession through the streets of Hebden Bridge, elected Carnival King and Queen, and fancy dress competition. Title - Hebden Bridge Band Carnival Saturday, August 30th, 1924.  Taken Exclusively for this Theatre. The film opens with carnival spectators gathered as the carnival King and Queen, dressed in drag, exit the building (Simpson brothers.)  The crowd throws confetti and streamers at them.  The King and Queen make their way onto he back of a waggon, and a large key is hoisted to them.   The procession begins down Bridge Lane.  Lead by a brass band, the King and Queen’s vehicle comes next.  Many more motorized floats follow, making their way down the narrow street lined with spectators.  Both participants and spectators are in fancy dress, and many groups, including those made up of school-aged children, process in between the floats.  The boy scouts also march in the procession.  It’s a somewhat ragged and disorderly parade, but most of the participants are smiling and enjoying themselves.   There are both motorized vehicles and horse-drawn waggons which make up the parade.  It includes a new Austin Ambulance which was bought in 1922 to replace the horse-drawn ambulance.   Some of the groups processing on foot run to catch up with the rest of the procession, and spectators continue to throw confetti and streamers.  Local business sponsored floats include D.L.C. The United Yeast, William Holt Poultry, and William Clegg Grains. The next section of film is taken from a moving vehicle.  The vehicle is briefly stopped in the procession, and the crowds of spectators make their way up the hill and along the pavement, walking towards the camera.  The majority wear hats and are dressed in long coats.  They laugh and smile at for the camera.  The crowd is made up of people of all ages.   Filmed in a similar manner to a “phantom ride” there is a shot from the car looking down Market Street, the street and buildings which have been decorated with bunting.  People walk alongside the procession while others have found a spot at a fence near the bus stop.  This is followed by more footage of those who have turned out to watch the event.  The large crowds of people smile for the camera as it passes.   There is a brief shot of the carnival King and Queen (the Simpson brothers) who playfully kiss for the camera.  Now at Calderfields, the fancy dress parade begins.  Spectators have lined up at the side of the field, and others can be seen on crowded bleaches in the background.  The people of Hebden Bridge model a variety of costumes as they make their way past the judges and head of the Hebden Bridge Times, Mr. Kershaw.  After the parade, some of the people in fancy dressed are in a group with the spectators, and the cameraman takes a panning shot to photograph everyone gathered including Mr. Greenwood, Fred Cockcroft, his wife, and two sons Selwyn and Roy.     The film ends with a shot taken at the Picture House.  On the front steps of the cinema, Fred Cockcroft and his wife stand with Mr. Greenwood, the cinema manager, and his wife, Roy Cockcroft, and Fred Whitely the cinema projectionist.