You can view the video at our site on YouTube.

The original film was created in 1930. It is black and white (not color) and silent and it runs about 3 minutes. Ed Side, owner/manager of the movie theater, later gave the film (35mm) to Bill Hess and it remained in the Hess family for many years. They transferred it to VHS. A few years ago the VHS tape was given to the Wilson family. Both the Hess family and the Wilson family have given their permission to Washington and Lee University to make this available via our Digital Repository.

The video starts with men in uniform entering Main Street, single file. It is believed that this is the Virginia Military Institute civilian band. (Following World War II, the civilian band was replaced by a cadet band.) In the opening sequence, Trinity United Methodist Church is visible in the background. The parade footage begins with a band (presumably the VMI civilian band), then a group of similarly attired men without instruments, followed by a series of vehicles. There are two fire trucks with the second one carrying a banner for "Warner Bros. Silver Anniversary. The camera pans over parade watchers in front of the Lexington Presbyterian Church on Main Street. The film cuts and then resumes with a shot of the band walking back up Main Street. This is followed by footage of traffic and parade watchers. The film then focuses on the movie theater. The movie showing was Shadow of the Law with William Powell. The film closes with a banner across Main Street: ("Warner Bros. Silver Anniversary, August 1st to August 31st, 1930") and fireworks.