The inaugural pageant was staged by department store John Martin & Co. (John Martin's) in 1933. The brainchild of John Martin's chairman, Edward Hayward, the pageant was based on similar festive parades in North America.

With the exception of 1939-1944, when festivities were suspended due to World War II, the pageant has taken place every year - rain, hail or shine.

Generations of South Australian children have been delighted by the annual spectacle.

Since 1996, the Christmas pageant has been owned and organised by the South Australian Government, through the South Australian Tourism Commission. A long-term pledge of sponsorship from six of the state's credit unions has ensured the continuation of this South Australian icon beyond the life of its originator, John Martin's.

Read more about the history of the pageant on SA Memory at Adelaide Christmas pageant

SA Memory visitor, Elizabeth Foster, wrote to inform us that she features in this footage. Elizabeth carried the 'S' in 'XMAS' that year, and her nieces can be seen riding the Space Rocket; Merrilyn Fryer (aged 8) stands outside of the rocket and her sister Christine Fryer (aged 6) is seated inside.

'60th John Martin's State Bank Christmas pageant 1933-1993', Sunday Mail, 31 October 1993, 24 p. supp.

Adelaide's once-a-year day, Adelaide: Commercial Printing House, 1978.

'Street pageant delights crowd', Advertiser, 20 November 1933, p. 16.

A touch of magic [videorecording] : [the story behind the Christmas Pageant], West Lakes?, S. Aust. : Cine News Productions, 1993.