PLAYTIME

Year Published: 1950

Description: This travelogue, “Playtime,” was produced c. 1950 in Great Britain by Arthur C. Stevens showcases many attractions in England including: Towers Bridge in London, the River Thames, the Tower of London (built 1066 as a fortress and prison, scene of murders, bloodshed and sinister associations), St. Paul’s Cathedral (Christopher Wren’s masterpiece) standing among buildings bombed during WWII, Westminster, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, children and adults feeding pigeons outside the National Gallery, Piccadilly Circus, The Mall, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park as well as street scenes and window shopping along Regent Street. 02:51 At London Zoo in Regents Park, visitors enjoy watching penguins, polar bears, Bengal tiger, orangutan, panda at London Zoo in Regents Park. 03:05 At a fair at Hampstead Heath families and children enjoy the merry-go-round, carousel, Whirl of the Swirl, and various carnival games. 03:27 Small craft boats participate in a regatta in a river outside if London. 03:38 Windsor Castle 03:42 Hikers and motorists walk and ride the country roads and motorway. 03:50 British Marbles Championship match is on at Tinsley Green. 04:02 Aerial view of Brighton Palace Pier and beach showing sunbathers, carnivals, and people wading in the sea. 04:24 Speed boats race and the lights of Brighton seaside resort twinkle. 04:36 Young ladies in swimsuits participate in a beauty contest. Spectators watch from lawn chairs while a judge adjudicates contestants. 05:58 A lady peers across the bay through a telescope watching sail boats in mid-race during a regatta. 06:43 A Royal Navy cruiser lies off shore receiving guests from a tender. 06:52 Onboard, families and children play on carnival rides like roundabout, swings, seesaws and slides. A sailor dressed as a pirate serves cream cakes and biscuits to the children. Kids consume ice cream and bottles of ginger pop. A large crane hoists kids and parents in a large basket. 07:39 Outboard Racing commences as speed boats race around a watery course. Some boaters struggle to start their engines. 08:16 Bottle of champagne are distributed by a line of waiters who take a swig and laugh. 08:22 Onlookers at a police-sponsored carnival watch as a daredevil on a motorcycle jumps through a ring of fire. Other stunt drivers and police officers trick ride motorcycles, including one officer who skies behind his own bike. 09:02 A motorcyclist circles the open air arena with two men hanging upside down on a bar attached to his bike. 09:13 The British Grand Prix auto race is in progress with Formula One racers scorching the track. Some racers spin out. The race features drivers in a 1951 Exoto Alfa Romeo Alfetta 159. Car 22 drives a Maserati 4CL. Car 31 spins out and cars 39 and 26 race hard against each other. The driver of car 42 climbs out of his vehicle having skidded off track. The crowd looks on. 09:56 A Curtiss JN “Jenny” biplane performs acrobatic dips and dives. 10:10 Three biplanes fly a precision demonstration. 10:17 A woman poses sitting in a cockpit 10:20 Another plane flies acrobatically performing an 8-point roll for the crowd while planes speed past trying to snatch flags from a stationary platform. 10:41 A man relaxes outdoors in a chaise lounge playing guitar as a woman pulls a lawn roller. END

Complete Record: This travelogue, “Playtime,” was produced c. 1950 in Great Britain by Arthur C. Stevens showcases many attractions in England including: Towers Bridge in London, the River Thames, the Tower of London (built 1066 as a fortress and prison, scene of murders, bloodshed and sinister associations), St. Paul’s Cathedral (Christopher Wren’s masterpiece) standing among buildings bombed during WWII, Westminster, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, children and adults feeding pigeons outside the National Gallery, Piccadilly Circus, The Mall, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park as well as street scenes and window shopping along Regent Street. 02:51 At London Zoo in Regents Park, visitors enjoy watching penguins, polar bears, Bengal tiger, orangutan, panda at London Zoo in Regents Park. 03:05 At a fair at Hampstead Heath families and children enjoy the merry-go-round, carousel, Whirl of the Swirl, and various carnival games. 03:27 Small craft boats participate in a regatta in a river outside if London. 03:38 Windsor Castle 03:42 Hikers and motorists walk and ride the country roads and motorway. 03:50 British Marbles Championship match is on at Tinsley Green. 04:02 Aerial view of Brighton Palace Pier and beach showing sunbathers, carnivals, and people wading in the sea. 04:24 Speed boats race and the lights of Brighton seaside resort twinkle. 04:36 Young ladies in swimsuits participate in a beauty contest. Spectators watch from lawn chairs while a judge adjudicates contestants. 05:58 A lady peers across the bay through a telescope watching sail boats in mid-race during a regatta. 06:43 A Royal Navy cruiser lies off shore receiving guests from a tender. 06:52 Onboard, families and children play on carnival rides like roundabout, swings, seesaws and slides. A sailor dressed as a pirate serves cream cakes and biscuits to the children. Kids consume ice cream and bottles of ginger pop. A large crane hoists kids and parents in a large basket. 07:39 Outboard Racing commences as speed boats race around a watery course. Some boaters struggle to start their engines. 08:16 Bottle of champagne are distributed by a line of waiters who take a swig and laugh. 08:22 Onlookers at a police-sponsored carnival watch as a daredevil on a motorcycle jumps through a ring of fire. Other stunt drivers and police officers trick ride motorcycles, including one officer who skies behind his own bike. 09:02 A motorcyclist circles the open air arena with two men hanging upside down on a bar attached to his bike. 09:13 The British Grand Prix auto race is in progress with Formula One racers scorching the track. Some racers spin out. The race features drivers in a 1951 Exoto Alfa Romeo Alfetta 159. Car 22 drives a Maserati 4CL. Car 31 spins out and cars 39 and 26 race hard against each other. The driver of car 42 climbs out of his vehicle having skidded off track. The crowd looks on. 09:56 A Curtiss JN “Jenny” biplane performs acrobatic dips and dives. 10:10 Three biplanes fly a precision demonstration. 10:17 A woman poses sitting in a cockpit 10:20 Another plane flies acrobatically performing an 8-point roll for the crowd while planes speed past trying to snatch flags from a stationary platform. 10:41 A man relaxes outdoors in a chaise lounge playing guitar as a woman pulls a lawn roller. END

Transcription

e [Music] to London every year come thousands of people from all over the [Music] world to see Tower Bridge the city's Ocean Gateway the Tower of London built in the 11th century steeped in history and romance scene of murder Bloodshed and Sinister associations then St Paul's Cathedral the greatest Masterpiece of Christopher Ren which now stands in solitary isolation amidst bomb building raised during the second world war and which became the symbol of a nation's fortitude and endurance in adversity and so to Westminster where on the banks of the river temps stand the houses of Parliament the mother parliament of democracy within whose walls is shaped the destiny of the country with standing like a sentinel above all Big Ben whose Chimes are known throughout the world from history in the making to history that is passed up White Hall to trala sare Square upon which site were the Royal Stables of Stuart days in the background is the Church of St Martin's in the fields and the National Gallery in the center the figure of Nelson at the foot of whose column children of all ages feed and make friends with London's famous pigeons from trala Square Picadilly circus for so long the Hub of the universe is but a short walk and of course it's here that OS the god of love holds sway then to the m at the end of which we see Buckingham Palace and standing in front the Queen Victoria Memorial the London home of their majesties the king and queen Buckingham Palace originally built in 173 has since witnessed many scenes of Royal Splendor and of a country's happiness and so to the quiet beauty of one of London's peaceful Havens amid the noise and bustle of city streets and Beauty visitors and londoners alike find relaxation a green Oasis in a city of gray buildings but in and around London there are so many things to do and see window shopping in region Street a zoo to visit in regions Park wherein a housed animals from all over the [Music] world including the children's favorite the panda a fair on Hamad Heath in Northwest London where every holiday time everybody joins in the [Music] F now up River from London to Teddington the end of London River here every year a regat of small craft is held and then on to Windsor with its famous royal castle but on foot or a wheel at holiday times The Loner leaves the metropolis and seeks his pleasure further a field perhaps down to Sussex to tingly green to see a marbles Championship oh well shot sir [Music] but it's the sea which is the real attraction down below us opens a Vista of sea washed beaches which like a magnet draw towards them thousands of people all on pleasurebent seeking relaxation fun and the ever elusive Sun so let's take time off and get in the mood first a speedboat trip to tone oneself up then by night to see the twinkling lights of a seaside resort and for beauty a bathing [Music] Bill not one but thousands of Britain's most beautiful girls parade in bathing costumes every year each hoping like this girl to be crowned beauty queen of one of Britain's more popular Resorts and once crowned looking forward to the final parade when she hopes to be judged the beauty queen of the year as good of you as any and what fun for the judges can someone tell me the name of this place I wonder how one gets on to these committees looks like a good job to me do you think he gets paid for it as well [Music] heavens above Mr judge no handling the goods please I can see you so much Beauty May blur the vision a bit but glasses my dear sir they're all good and all good Lookers Ganser a lady too oh oh sorry ma'am I see it's cows you're looking at every year the elite of the British yachting world come to this famous resort to take part in its equally famous [Music] regata amateur yachtsmen in their class racing against each other for the glory of sport and presenting to the eye of the onlooker one of the most beautiful of all spectacles frail craft and ocean Greyhound both Queens in their own [Music] right at holiday time too the Royal Navy enters into the fun flying offshore we see a cruiser beded and ready to receive its guests hundreds of happy children on board ship there is everything they could possibly want roundabouts swings slid all the fun of the fair and served by a pirate cream cakes and biscuits ice cream and ginger pup what does it matter if you do know the pirate is just an able Sean in fancy dress yes there is something for everyone and anyone can play [Music] but if your fancy doesn't turn to cuties cows or children's parties and you prefer something a little noisier here it is outboard motor racing churning up the water they speed around the course all right he'll get going pursued by an ear splitting noise I'll give up whilst the onlookers get their fill of Thrills and cheer for their own particular [Music] favorite well he won't [Music] belong yes that is a prize oh heck but he's had it h i uh don't mind if I do so foiled again but what's this Daredevils on two wheels a police Carnival with the speed cops giving the gong a rest showing off their faces and just showing off skis behind [Music] Wheels look Mom no ends [Music] and what about this for giving your pals a lift good job he's a cop but why ride on two wheels four are much safer and here are some four-wheelers really burning it up as they go scorching around the racetrack in search of speed Ace Kings of the motor racing World in competition for new honors accidents a few and what few there are are insignificant [Music] yes it's time out for Speed and it's all for [Music] entertainment and time out for fun for the excitement of the thousands who every holiday time leave their homes in search of pleasure entertain laid on wherever they go whether it's on the sea on land or in the air and here as a finale the acrobats of the air turn on the greatest thrill of them all hopping skipping and jumping over and through all types of obstacles twisting turning and some assaulting their way through amazing stunts [Music] but after all maybe like me you're just Plum lazy and prefer to sit and watch others work [Music]

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