An amateur film produced by Bryan McIvor of the annual Easter bonnet parade and competition taking place inside the Empire Social Club on Hope Street, Haverton Hill in 1971. The film features the annual parade of bonnets through the club and the awarding of prizes to the winner. A musical band, ‘Rialto’, prove the backing for a number of singers much to the enjoyment of the men and women of all ages who end the film dancing along to the music. Sitting along a side wall inside the Empire...

An amateur film produced by Bryan McIvor of the annual Easter bonnet parade and competition taking place inside the Empire Social Club on Hope Street, Haverton Hill in 1971. The film features the annual parade of bonnets through the club and the awarding of prizes to the winner. A musical band, ‘Rialto’, prove the backing for a number of singers much to the enjoyment of the men and women of all ages who end the film dancing along to the music. Sitting along a side wall inside the Empire Social Club a number of women of various ages sit chatting. The men are nearby around small tables chatting and drinking pints of beer. A group of men and women sit around a table together, one woman has her arm over the shoulder of the man sitting next to her. She poses with a young couple, her arms around their shoulders. The camera moves around the room passing men and women sitting together drinking, smoking cigarettes and talking. A line of women in various decorative and colourful Easter bonnets parade around the club passing those sitting at their table watching. On stage two men help an older woman speak into a microphone, the women in bonnets stand nearby. Two come up on stage and the older woman presents them with their prizes, she is given a bouquet by the male compere who kisses her on the cheek before she leaves the stage. The women in bonnets join friends and family around the club and everyone continues to drink and chat happily. The woman with her bouquet poses for the camera as she sits at a table with friends or family. Sitting in front of the stage four women move their head in unison to the music being performed by the band and male singer above them. ‘Rialto' is written on a panel beside the trumpeter on stage, around the room people continue to drink and chat, some clap or sing along with the music, several women still wearing their bonnets. Everyone is happy and a little drunk. A man pulls a face at the camera, on stage a woman sings into the microphone accompanied by the band, a man on saxophone beside her begins to dance beside her. At the bar two women serve drinks to customers, on stage a second man performs thrusting his arm into the air, a number of women sing and clap along to the music. The audience applaud and back at the bar the two barmaids have a chance to chat with two men. Some of the seated audience continue move their heads along with the music, while on the dance floor some of the younger members groove to it including two young woman one in hot pants. The music ends, the crowd cheer and a couple kiss passionately where the film ends.