Made by the Todmorden Youth Club Film Unit, this film documents a Thanksgiving Pageant which was performed in September, 1945.  Title - The TYC Film Unit Presents Thanksgiving’ week.  Todmorden.  1945 September 15-22. The film opens with a shot of a street in Todmorden, and there is a Chemist’s in the background.  Crowds gather along the roadside with their backs to a platform.  At the back of the platform is a large poster, marking how much money has been raised for Thanksgiving week. The...

Made by the Todmorden Youth Club Film Unit, this film documents a Thanksgiving Pageant which was performed in September, 1945.  Title - The TYC Film Unit Presents Thanksgiving’ week.  Todmorden.  1945 September 15-22. The film opens with a shot of a street in Todmorden, and there is a Chemist’s in the background.  Crowds gather along the roadside with their backs to a platform.  At the back of the platform is a large poster, marking how much money has been raised for Thanksgiving week. The target was £150,000. The Mayor and other local dignitaries stand on a lower platform. A military band marches down the street, followed by men in naval uniform, army uniform and air force uniform.  A naval band follows in the procession, as do the St John Ambulance, women in uniform, girl guides, another band, brownies and scouts.  They are followed by the Collecting Lorry, with some coins scattered in its open back. At the Central Vale Park, Burnley Road, Todmorden, the parade marches to Central Vale Park, backed by trees and countryside where a covered stage has been set up. Those taking part in the parade and others in attendance line up facing the stage.  There are shots of the crowd. From the stage the Mayor makes a speech, followed by an officer from the RAF. (Colour)  A pair of peach coloured curtains are drawn back to reveal a blue backdrop which reads ‘Man’s Heritage’, Title - A pageant performed in the park Todmorden, on Saturday September 15th 1945. Man’s fears Fear of attack. Curtains are drawn back to reveal the stage, on which is a family group of cavemen, making fire, sewing and eating.  Another caveman runs in front of the stage, and one of the original group pretends to launch a spear at him.  Behind the stage, a group dressed in brightly coloured costumes from an indeterminate era (possibly meant to be Ancient Greek or Roman?) walks about.  Another man in costume runs up to them and gestures. They are joined by boys in green and brown tunics with swords. All run off together. A group of ladies and a young boy in Regency Dress walk behind the stage.  Two boys dressed in uniform meander.  Back on the stage, two boys and a girl are ushered into a shelter by an ARP warden, who stands and stares at the sky. The curtains close on him. Title - Fear of slavery. Behind the stage a train of slaves - people in blackface- chained and whipped by their white overseers’ are doubled over under the weight of baskets full of cotton. On the stage, the back hung with Nazi flags people scrub the floors and are beaten and kicked by SS Officers. Title - Fear of disease. On the stage a group of cavemen are huddled around someone prostrated on the ground, pulling him about.  A group of brightly dressed Stuarts walk up to the stage, followed by another group. One member from the second group falls to the ground with plague.  Everyone moves away and look anxious.  A group of contemporary nurses carry a stretcher, a baby, and help a wounded girl hobble past the stage. Various ‘wounds’ are attended to. Title - Fear of famine. A group of girls in pinafores, aprons, and head coverings kneel with arms raised before a girl dressed as, and holding, corn or wheat.  She teases the others with the corn, as Death climbs on to the stage.  The girls shrink in horror.  He waves a stick and the corn dies, the other girls tumble in a domino effect.  People in Western American style clothing stroll along, waving a Union Jack and carrying a bale of fleece. Title - Fear of being homeless. Monks line the stage, helping up people in medieval costume and welcoming them.  A group of modern guides and leaders help child evacuees as they wait to be taken on by families.  There are also Cavemen, Native Americans making smoke signals, and a contemporary paper boy who stand on the stage. Title - Man strives to attain freedom. Freedom of speech. A group in Stuart clothing throw invisible fruits and jeer at a man in the stocks.  Two men in contemporary dress stand on chairs, shouting at one another over the heads of their listeners, and at their listeners.  A group of Europeans’ sit around listening to the radio, they are set upon by Nazis. Title - Freedom to worship. Ancient Romans stand around looking bored. A Christian prisoner is marched up to the group by Roman soldiers. The Christian is sentenced and taken away. A group of pilgrims look towards the New World. Title - Man’s heritage the fruits of the earth. Tableaux of miners, land girls, freed slaves, roman ladies, people of all sorts, stand around with food, fleece, and water. Title - The end. A man in uniform is escorted into a marquee by two gentlemen in everyday clothes. Inside the marquee a tea is being served.