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Courtesy of Scottish Screen Archive |
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| | | 16mm, 13 mins, colour, silent, amateur |
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| Made by | James Blair |
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| Scottish Screen Archive collection |
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A visitor's amateur film of a day at the 1938 Empire Exhibition in
Bellahouston Park, Glasgow. Shots of the various pavilions, visitor attractions
and display at night of the innovative "dancing waters" and illuminations. Show full synopsis
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The last of the great exhibitions of the industries, crafts and culture of the countries of the British Commonwealth and Empire, the 1938 Exhibition was held in Glasgow from May to December, one of the wettest summers on record. It attracted some 12million visitors. The Blair family were typical of the many who flocked to see the majestic pavilions, ascend Tait's Tower on the hill overlooking the arena, visit the amusement arcade and the Highland clachan (village) and by night witness the illuminations and the dancing waters. James Blair recorded on his cine camera some of the sights that the family enjoyed. He shot his film on 16mm colour stock, which was a very expensive hobby, and would suggest that the Blairs were a relatively well-to-do
family.
Within the Exhibition arena was a cinema in which films about
Scotland and the countries of the Empire were screened.
Janet McBain
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Complete film (16:38)
