Niagara Falls Gazette, June 20, 1949 MAGNA CHARTA PARADE VIEWED BY 75,000 AS TWO-NATION CELEBRATION ENDS HERE Forming a fitting background for one of the most exciting public spectacles in Niagara Falls' history, an international throng estimated at 75,000 persons, Saturday night thrilled to a gigantic and colorful Magna Charta parade, the climax to a seven-day, two-nation Magna Charta observance. Concentrated at every vantage point in 25 blocks of Main, Third and Falls streets, the tremendous gathering maintained a continuous ovation throughout a two-hour period, in which 12 marching divisions, composed of more than 140 American and Canadian service, veteran, auxiliary and fraternal units passed in review. In the vast audience were more than 35,000 Canadians and tourists and visitors from all parts of the United States. CARNIVAL ATMOSPHERE PREVAILS West Falls street echoed to the crash of drums and the blare of bugles and brass instruments as 50 bands and musical organizations led their respective units past the saluting base in that street from 8:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. and the entire proceedings assumed a carnival atmosphere after 9:30 p.m. when the bright and many colored uniforms of the marchers were displayed in all their brilliance under the many street, sign and store lights. One hour before the scheduled starting time of 7:30 p.m., many thousands of spectators had taken positions in chairs and on foot, throughout the entire line of march and as the parade passed City Hall, in Main street, spectators filled the entire lawn. Balloon and paper parasol salesmen did a thriving business throughout the entire proceedings. Forty American and Canadian cities and towns and more than three times that number of organizations were represented by the various marching groups and the parade combined the precision of a military procession with that of a giant celebration . . . . PLANES FLY OVERHEAD Overhead throughout the parade flew seven F47 Thunderbolts of the headquarters, 107th Fighter group, and Detachment A, 207th Air Service group, of the Niagara Falls unit of the Air National Guard. At the saluting base were Maj. Gen. Ronald C. Brock, New York National Guard; Air. Comm. W. W. Brown, chief of staff, RCAF, Ottawa, Ont.; Col. W. D. Brown, 57th Light Anti-Aircraft, RCA; Cmdr. Lawrence D. Ruch, commanding officer, Niagara Falls Naval Air station and Mayor William R. Lupton. Air Comm. Brown was awarded the Legion of Honor medal from France only a few hours before his appearance here . . . AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED As announced by the judges, the winners of the various awards were as follows: Louis' Restaurant trophy for best Canadian girls band-British Imperial Veterans Girls band, from Hamilton, Ont. Mack-Friedman trophy for the best majorettes-Jesse Clipper Post Drum Corp, Buffalo. Kaiser Ladies' Wear company trophy for the second best majorettes-British Imperial Veterans Girls band, Hamilton, Ont. . . . . [Again, the list goes on. Trophies were given by the Main Restaurant for the best senior drum corps (from Toronto), Cummings Cigar Store for the best junior drum corps (from Toronto), Maloney Travel Bureau for the best American marching unit (from Medina), Loyal Order of Moose for the best Canadian marching unit (from Hamilton, Ont.), Imperial Hotel for the largest Canadian unit (from Hamilton), Morre's Mens' Clothes for the best brass band (from Sanborn), Hotel Clifton for the best float (Trappaso Nash automobile agency, Niagara Falls, NY), BPOE Elks for the second best float (Saddle and Bridle club, Niagara Falls, NY), "Grand trophy (to be won three years in succession) for the most outstanding Scottish unit from Canada-Niagara Falls, Ont., Kiltie band."] [End of articles] COMMENTS FROM THE EDITOR And that, dear folks, was pretty much what all the Magna Charta parades were like back in the 1930s and 40s. Spectacular get-togethers of the people of Canada and the United States in grand celebration of the ancient Magna Charta of England. Vee L. Housman Editor of "Porter's Past"--newsletter of the Town of Porter Historical Society