This is a film made by Pontefract amateur filmmaker Jack Johnson celebrating Pontefract’s Show People through excerpts from many stage performances, by Carleton Theatre Group and local schools, with a musical accompaniment. Title – Jack Johnson presents a tribute to Pontefract’s Show People Title – The Show of Shows The film begins with children waving from a decorated van which is covered in posters advertising a performance of “Strike Happy Note”.  The van drives through Pontefract leading...

This is a film made by Pontefract amateur filmmaker Jack Johnson celebrating Pontefract’s Show People through excerpts from many stage performances, by Carleton Theatre Group and local schools, with a musical accompaniment. Title – Jack Johnson presents a tribute to Pontefract’s Show People Title – The Show of Shows The film begins with children waving from a decorated van which is covered in posters advertising a performance of “Strike Happy Note”.  The van drives through Pontefract leading group a group in historical costume to the theatre.  There is a poster showing the play in performance on 20th to 23rd June, 1973 at the Assembly Rooms.  The parade passes the bingo/cinema, showing Kama Sutra.  There is a series of photographs of the casts for other productions.  Then the film continues showing excerpts from quite a few performances, accompanied by a soundtrack, including the song ‘No business like show business.’  (The sound is usually unrelated of stage shows being shown.)  The shows are mixed up, including the sound of Music, Oh what a lovely war, and possibly Oklahoma!, South Pacific and the Mikado. Intertitle – “When we are married” Carleton Theatre Group Excerpts from J B Priestley’s play are shown, outside and then indoors. Intertitle – Pontefract Girls’ and Boys’ Secondary Schools Hello Dolly at School Hall Carleton, for six days 24 to 29 June. Intertitle – “O, Pomfret, Pomfret” Carleton Theatre Group Excerpts from a play, possibly Richard III.  Then there are more excerpts, including a black and white minstrel scene, a scene with performers in Japanese dress, girls skipping, and wombles. Title – Intermission Title – Pontefract Show People There is an extract of a performance of Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat, followed by other performances, maybe Gilbert and Sullivan, including a children’s performance. Intertitle – “Royal Hunt of the Sun” Carleton Senior Boys. An excerpt from the Peter Shaffer play. Intertitle – “The school for scandal” Carleton Theatre Group An excerpts from Sheridan's play, performed outdoors in historic costume, then indoors. Intertitle – “Magyar Melody” Pontefract Amateur Operatic Society An excerpt from the 1938 musical. Intertitle – “The Admiral Mr Fletcher” Pontefract’s Famous Film This is an excerpt from the film of this name about the local historian and crime novelist Joseph Fletcher.  It begins leafing through one of Mr Fletcher’s books, before we see Mr Fletcher outside a village church, and then with his illustrator friend  on bikes, with steam trains passing by each other and ending with views of a sunset. Intertitle – programme for Pygmalion Carleton Theatre Group at the Grange, Weds 14 Oct. There is another long excerpt of various musicals and other shows. These are followed by a show featuring teenagers with scarves around wrists, a la the Bay City Rollers, the 1970s Scottish boy group.  It finishes with a montage of shows, or possibly a pantomime, including a large cast singing in Victorian/Edwardian costume with someone in a duck costume, and a stage full of people wearing playing card tee-shirts. Title – The End Title – No People like Pontefract’s Show People