The Media Archive for Central England is the public screen archive for the East and West Midlands. An independent charity and company based at the University of Lincoln, MACE acquires, catalogues, preserves and makes widely available moving image materials that inform our understanding of the diverse cultures and histories of communities between the Lincolnshire coast and the Welsh border.
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Pageant of Birmingham
Spanning the years from dinosaurs in Birmingham's Bull Ring to the city's pride at being the 'Hub of Industrial England'. A cast of 8,000 celebrate a great city.
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Overview
Gwen Lally (1838-1963) was a noted pageant master of the inter-war years producing giant civic celebrations at Warwick Castle and Tewkesbury before taking charge of a cast of 8,000 to celebrate the centenary of Birmingham's Charter of Incorporation in 1938. Perhaps the scene of cave people battling prehistoric beasts is lacking a little historical accuracy but there's no denying the vigour and skill put into the full blooded recreation of the Battle of Crecy.
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