Film info

Creator / Collector

Description
We are in New York, the largest and most populous city in the United States of America.

The filmmaker records the big parade of the Greek Americans during the anniversary of the Greek Independence, which at the time (1971) celebrated 150 years.

The film opens with a parade float bearing the banner "GREEK ORTHODOX COMMUNITY OF ZOODOCHOS PEGHE AND GREEK AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF THE BRONX" and depicting a "tsolia"* in front of a guardhouse. The lens shows us the parade with officers and floats passing by as he stands at a sign informing us that they represent the "ST GEORGE HELLENIC COMMUNITY New Brunswick NJ".

The parade continues with groups holding the Greek and the American flags as we also see a chariot dedicated to Lord Byron. A float with tsoliades* follows as well as a banner from the Orthodox Church of St. Spyridon in New York, marching groups and one more sign of the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Paul. The filmmaker gives us shots of a float with a boat titled "Ypsilantis" and then a group of people representing the "Transfiguration of the Savior”.

Afterwards, we see various groups marching as well as a float that is dedicated to the “KRYFO SCHOLIO” (secret school), with the camera focusing on a sign that represents a book and reads "SAFEKEEP THE LEGACY OF THE EPIC FIGHT OF PALINGENESIS 1821”. This is followed by an honorary group by the Irish-American organization "Ancient Order of Hibernians" (A.O.H.) with their traditional costumes and musical instruments and some Greek schools.

The film closes with the parade, the then Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America Iakovos and some policemen being amused by a man passing by wearing the traditional Greek islands costume.

* They were several historical elite light infantry and mountain units of the Greek Army. Today, they are the members of the Presidential Guard, a ceremonial unit that guards the Greek Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Presidential Mansion in Athens.

Coordinates

People

Collectivities

Film Information

Holder
Aylon Film Archives

Quality
2K

Sound
No

Color
Yes

Duration (seconds)
191

Format
Super 8mm