Programme from the John Martin's/State Bank Christmas pageant, 1988.

One time Managing Director of John Martin's, Geoff Coles said that the pageant was the 'public face' of the store, and that great pride and dedication went into it - evident in the huge amount of preparation that was required to stage the event each year.

The logistics of staging the Adelaide Christmas pageant are complex and, to assist participants, each year organisers produce a programme that lists the order of floats, the route and other essential information.

Amongst other particulars, the programme lists the number of floats and participants, the name of marshals and officials and, importantly, gives detailed descriptions of the proposed timing for the event.

The rate of movement, time at which the head of the pageant will reach a certain point, and amount of time it will take for the entire pageant to pass a certain point are all recorded, enabling the marshals to closely monitor the procession and whether it is running on time. This ensures the smooth running and professional look of the pageant and also enables broadcasters to better plan their presentation.

John Martin & Co.

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.

John Martin's first pageant: 1933 [State Library of South Australia]