CARNIVAL: It was a parade unlike any other, or at least, the write-up in The Era about the parade was unlike any other.
We’ve used a piece or two of the story of the Big Halloween Celebration of 1919 in the past, but we turned back to it again, just to share the enthusiasm, exuberance and eloquence of the journalist whose job it was to record the parade for history.
“Bradford’s Greatest and Best Evening of Carnival” was the main headline, followed by “Triumph of Pageantry and Display at Big Hallowe’en Celebration,” and “Gaiety not dampened by early downpour,” with “Spirit of revelry holds full sway in hearts of many merrymakers — Imposing parade moves over gaily decorated and brilliantly lighted streets to stirring music and many bands, hundreds of maskers.”
Now on to the story of Nov. 1, 1919, which we will share in several columns. The alliteration is admirable. The superlatives are scintillating.
“Notwithstanding an all day rain which washed clean the face of the good little city, the Carnival of Venice, the Veiled Prophets of St. Louis, the Mardi Gras of New Orleans — aye even the Mighty Watson Shows of this city, never had anything on the gorgeous, glowing glorified spectacle presented last evening in the pageant Petrofest of beautified Bradford.
“This Hallowe’en revel was the edulcorated essence of ecstasy poured upon the buoyant spirit of palpitant youth — a ravishment of the senses through a continuous concord of sweet sounds, an eye-filling panorama of beauty shot through with rainbow hats, and an intoxication of pleasure free from ‘the morning after’ sensations of regret.”
More delightful descriptions in part two.
