This reel features different events which took place in Hull in the early 1930s as well as a royal visit during Hull’s Civic Day celebrations, possibly in 1945. (Colour 1945 stock date)  The film opens in front of the Royal Station Hotel where a huge crowd have gathered as well as members of the military who are lined up and standing at attention.   King George VI and the Queen arrive, and King George inspects lines of uniform soldiers in Paragon Square.  The footage is being filmed from an...

This reel features different events which took place in Hull in the early 1930s as well as a royal visit during Hull’s Civic Day celebrations, possibly in 1945. (Colour 1945 stock date)  The film opens in front of the Royal Station Hotel where a huge crowd have gathered as well as members of the military who are lined up and standing at attention.   King George VI and the Queen arrive, and King George inspects lines of uniform soldiers in Paragon Square.  The footage is being filmed from an elevation position.  A tent has been set up alongside the Hotel, and there is a line of cars parked nearby.  After the inspection, the King and Queen get into the car.  The Queen is dressed in a fur-trimmed coat, and the King wears a heavy overcoat and hat.  The Royals dive off and proceed to visit individual houses.  Cars are parked along the neighbourhood street.  Escorted by the Lord Mayor, the King and Queen walk down a path to the front door of the house, and the street and houses have been decorated with bunting for the occasion.  The Royals look around the house and speak to the residents before they make their way back into the car and drive off.  Here, it can be seen that the street is crowded with spectators who are held back by a policemen until the cars pass, and after which, the crowd disperses into the street.   Following this, there is a brief shot of a fountain in the city centre.  (B&W 1933 stock date)  A gala is taking place, and children are gathered around a maypole in the middle of a field.  Cars have been decorated for the parade, and many people are in fancy dress. Sign – Kit Cat School & Music Leading the parade are many people in 18th century costume, and a crowd lines either side of the procession route.  There are many different floats, and one has a large sign, “The Litter Louts Dream – Why Didn’t I Keep Hull Tidy?  Litter endangers Limbs & Life – Safety First – Banana Skins!  Orange Peel!!  Think of their danger to others.”  Some of the floats include horse-drawn carriages, one in particular for Robson’s Poultry & Chick Foods.  Other motorized vehicles include a police motorcycle with a sidecar.  There is a long line of motorized floats, all of which are heavily decorated.  One represents LNER British Coal, Iron & Steel, and there is a Nobels float covered in flowers.  The procession includes floats which represent local businesses such as a carpet and rug store, complete with camel and display of oriental rugs.  Also included are groups from the Boys Brigade and Co-op groups. The gala concludes with a display by firemen on an open field.  They demonstrate how to use the hoses before large ladder is raised.  The firemen climb to the top of the ladder, and attached by a rope, hang off the ladder at different levels.  (B&W stock date 1932)  Title – Hull Fair The lively Hull Fair is crowded with people, and there are many tents set up for the many attractions.  Performs shout from atop small stages in order attract spectators to their events.  Some of the fair attractions include Princess Lena Smallest Women in the World Alive The Living Doll.  Other performers can be seen, some dressed as cowboys and Indians, some as clowns, and others are dressed in drag.  The filmmaker also captures members of the crowd who have come to the fair, and beyond the tents, a roller coaster can be seen in the background.  Other attractions include the Den of Death and the Fossett & Bailey Combined Show.  At this stage, a band performs including a bagpipe player and a dancing clown.  The film moves onto show some of the different rides at the fair bumper boats.  Dressed in waders, one of the ride operators stands in the middle of the pool while children ride around in the boats.  There is also a Waltzer, Carousel, roller coaster, and swings, all of which are full with those enjoying the fair.   Following this is footage of some of the food stalls including an ice cream vendor.  Returning to the main stages, The Wild West Show is advertises to contain, “The Most Thrilling and Daring Acts.”  There is also a stage advertising African Jungle Life, and here black performers stand outside the entrance.  Now dusk, the fair lights are illuminated, and the filmmaker focuses on some of the individuals visiting the fair.  There is more footage of the fair rides before moving into the food tent.  The tent is very crowded with vendors and patrons, and lights are strung along the top of the tent.  (B&W stock date 1932)  Title – Hull Rag Day The last portion of the film captures Hull Rag Day celebrations in 1932.  Crowds of people line the city centre streets.  A bit of traffic passes through the intersection before the parade begins as well as shots of Hull which are in need of regeneration.  There are many decorative floats and people in fancy dress who also make up the procession.   People dressed as skeletons collect money throughout the parade.   The parade is made up of motorized and horse-drawn floats, some of which carry people through the parade.  The procession moves onto a narrow street lined with shops.  All the footage is taken from the same vantage point, and the shop of a Nautical Optician can be seen in the background.  It’s a lively parade, and the crowd gathered smiles and laughs.  Again, the skeletons collect money from the crowd before the parade goes further into Hull.  There are more people dressed in costume including gypsys , sailors, and men dressed in white hoods.  Towards the end of the parade, some of the crowd begins to walk with the procession. Title – The End.