Empire Pageant (1919)

Empire Day celebration and May Day; 1919. London. Opens with CU little girl with crown; sceptre; flowers; May Queen or similar. Procession - other children in court costumes; carrying Queen’s train slowly; crowd of other children watch. MS parade. Many people in costumes; some to do with war - nurses; wounded soldier in wheelchair; Allies symbols. MS children lined up by church for parade. MS tiny girls carrying rings of white flowers. MS children dressed in costumes of foreign countries - Japanese parasols; etc. boy - military dress. (Glitch - camera problem). MS girls dancing. Ponies pull cart with children etc. MS as men pull float through gate. MS costumed fife & drum group. MS girls with rings of flowers again. Festival continues at park. MS row of children in black face; fuzzy wigs sitting on bench; bouncing up & down playing tambourines in a racist stereotype. Queen & train-bearers walk past tent; then past crowd behind fence; 2 girls with shorter trains follow. MS maypole dance. Good M