Please read Understanding catalogue records for help interpreting this information and Using footage for more information about accessing this film.

Title: HOLIDAYS AT HOME 1942 - 1944

Reference number: 1494

Date: 1942 - 1944

Director: p. Robert J. Black

Sponsor: Edinburgh Corporation "Holidays at Home" Committee

Sound: silent

Colour: bwcol

Fiction: non-fiction

Running time: 28.00 mins

Description: 'Holidays At Home' was a scheme to encourage people to enjoy a holiday without occupying space on the trains or using petrol to travel. Councils arranged entertainments, dancing, shows, games etc in local open spaces. This film helps to promote Edinburgh as a holiday area for its local people.

See also ref. 3423 which is an edited version of this film, but also has additional footage.

See also ref. 5585

Shotlist: [Please note this film is physically held on one reel]

REEL I

[COL] Credits (0.08); West Princes Street Gardens. Opening ceremony by the Rt. Hon. Sir William Darling, CBE, MC, Lord Provost, preceded by a display by the drums and pipes of Edinburgh City Police (0.12); Shot of the castle from Princes Street Gardens (0.15); General views of pipe band (0.28); Opening ceremony by the Lord Provost (0.43); Couples dancing, most ladies (1.08); West Princes Street Gardens. Dancing in the gardens - children's hour. Children dancing and close-ups of the band playing. Also shots of couples dancing, some in uniform (2.24); Accordion band playing and shots of the crowds (2.45); Man being interviewed by the BBC (3.00); Crowd shots (3.13); General views of children singing and dancing (3.57); Visit of United States Army Band, Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, 5 August 1944 (4.03); General views of the band playing (4.47); The City Chambers. The Committees in Session. 1943 - Baillie James Miller. 1944 - Councillor Robert Hamilton (4.48); [B & W] General views of the Committees in session (5.26); [COL] Tours of the old town. Round about Parliament Square (5.31); General views around Parliament Square and crowd shots (6.04); The Meadows. A picnic in progress (6.08); General views at picnic with shots of donkey rides, races and shots of crowds (6.25) [B&W] Holidays at Home. Royal Scottish Academy 117th Annual Exhibition. A talk on the pictures will be given here tonight at 7 p.m (6.29); Interior shots of the Royal Scottish Academy (6.38) [COL] A cycle tour leaves the Mound for Dalmeny Kirk (6.41); Shot of same and close-up of the cyclists arriving at Dalmeny Kirk (7.20); East Princes Street Gardens. Display of folk dancing and physical culture (7.24); General views of folk dancing including Highland dancing, sword dancing and gymnastics (8.15); East Princes Street Gardens., Pipes and drums of HM Irish Guards, Band of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Pipe band of the KOSB. General views of bands playing (8.59); East Princes Street Gardens. Fencing and boxing displays. General views of crowds and display of fencing and boxing by youngsters. Gymnasts display (10.03) Goldenacre. A sheepdog trial. General views of open air ground as shepherds and dog demonstrate their skills. Presentation of the cups. (11.04); Royal Botanic Garden. A garland collected during the Summer Tours. General views people in garden and shots of flower beds, etc (12.06); Newhaven An NFS fire float display and aquatic gala. Also RAF Rescue Display. Shots from water of crowds lining shore. Shots of swimmers, fire floats with hoses turned on (12.20); Brief shot of young women, possibly Newhaven Fishwives Chorus. RAF Rescue Display (12.46)

REEL II

No credits. [COL] Granton - an open air dance. Children dance as band plays (0.19); Inverleith Park. An NFS display. Members of National Fire Service demonstrate various methods of rescue and use of types of appliances in fire fighting (1.24); Inverleith Pond. The "Edinburgh Model Yacht Week". General views crowds and model yachts, some are steam powered (2.23); Corstorphine. The ever popular "Zoo Days". General views animals and crowds at zoo, band plays and singers entertain crowds of children (3.30); Milk is delivered. Shots of children drinking out of bottles. People picnic. Shots of bandstand as man addresses crowd (3.56); Murrayfield. The Softball Finals and Royal Canadian Air Force Band. Band leads parade of competitors. Military figures have a few shots with the bat (4.24); General views players and cheerleaders. Band plays, shots crowd (5.34); Tynecastle Park. Press Charities Sports featuring the Military Police Dogs. General views of stadium during netball, football and dog display (6.25); Stenhouse. The "Holyrood" trophy final. Shot cup. General views football match and presentation of cup (6.46); Colinton. A picnic in Spylaw Park. General views park as people enjoy leisure pursuits (7.11); Braid Hills. Edinburgh's own golf course. General views golfers (7.31); South Morningside School. The accordianist and the Punch and Judy man. General views of children dancing to accordionist and watching puppets. Close-up of Punch and Judy (7.59); Tours of the suburbs from Morningside to Duddingston by Conducted Tours. General views group at church. Group of ATS girls in uniform and rest of party outside Sheep's Heid Inn (9.05); Niddrie Marischal School. The children's hour. Two children entertain their peers in playground (9.23); Portobello, dancing at the bandstand. Band and people dancing (9.48); Portobello. A swimming gala. Brief shot two men in sea swimming (9.59); Leith Links. A concert party. General views same. Old Time dancing. Same. (10.48); Meadowbank. Highlights of the gymkhanas and displays. Naval pipe band leads procession of servicemen on march past. General views open air ground as various displays of hand-to-hand combat, agility and parades take place. Pigeons released. Races, football, two young boys box blinds, displays of skill and strength and unarmed combat. Presentation of cups, sack race, etc. [underexposed] dancing, obstacles race (15.29); Pan up to castle (15.42); The End (15.45)