Here is the 1992 John Martin's State Bank Christmas Pageant. This event, now known as the Credit Union Christmas Pageant is an annual tradition in Adelaide since 1933. It was originally organised by the John Martins's chain of department stores where the employees and family members of John Martin's would all take part. Upon the conclusion of the Pageant, the John Martin's Adelaide store would open the Magic Cave (which has existed since 1896) where parents would be able to take their children to visit Father Christmas and ride Nipper and Nimble, two horse rides. Nipper and Nimble are also featured on two floats in the Pageant. Whilst many regular floats have been updated by being replaced with newer versions of themselves, the oldest float by far is the much loved Nellie the Elephant which has been virtually unchanged since its introduction in 1950. She was withdrawn from the pageant lineup after the 1967 pageant due to breaking down partway through preventing her from completing any pageant she had appeared in up to that point. However, farmers Alby Hill and Ross Hill convinced John Martin's to give them Nelly in 1981 with the intent of restoring her to be able to be reintroduced into the pageant and complete the distance. This happened in 1983. She's appeared ever since and more reliable then ever although there is still the rare occasion when she does breaks down (she made it through this one). Nelly is still owned by the Hill family who perform all the regular maintenance of the float. John Martins were acquired by David Jones Limited in 1985. The pageant was still organised by John Martin's but at one point they partnered with the State Bank of South Australia (known back then as State Bank and now known as Bank SA) to help run and take part in the pageant. In 1996, due to financial reasons, organisation of the event was handed to the South Australian Government and since been sponsored by a group of South Australian Credit Unions whose empolyees now take on the role of participating in the pageant along with their families. Other groups in South Australia are also invited to take part. The Magic Cave still existed at the John Martin's Adelaide store. In 1998 David Jones chose to shut down the John Martin's business and demolish the Adelaide store. The Magic Cave was then relocated to the old David Jones Store which is now Rundle Mall Plaza (situated on the corner of Rundle Mall and Gawler Place). A new David Jones store was eventually built on the old John Martin's location and opened in 2000. The Magic Cave is now located at this store and still feature Nipper and Nimble to this day. This broadcast was produced by Channel Seven Adelaide (SAS-7) and commentary was provided by Lynn Weston and Brenton Whittle, presenters of the Channel Seven program "The Book Place" which you can see being heavily referenced in the opening segment. The ABC used to also broadcast the pageant at this time. Current Adelaide Christmas Pageants are now broadcast by Channel Nine. This is copyright material belonging to Seven Adelaide. I've put this up for the purpose of nostalgia and historical reasons.

• published: 08 Nov 2014
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