| Main Performers | Lieut-Col. J A Cole OBE (Chairman),
The Rt Hon J H Thomas, PC MP (HM Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs) |
| Secondary Performers | Mr H E Wilson - organ,
Mr Robert Easton - vocal |
| Set List | 'God Save the Queen' (The National Anthem) (Robert Easton),
13:00 Luncheon,
13:55 Toasts and Mesage from HRH The Prince of Wales (Mr J H Thomas),
14:20 Film of testing the car in Europe and Africa,
14:35 Unveiling and Inspection of the Hillman Wizard |
| Performance Notes | "It was an inspired thought on the part of its sponsors, seeing that it represents the very last word in a British attempt to capture world markets, to introduce it for the first time in the Albert Hall in London, and to give it a proper send-off in proper surroundings.
The Albert Hall has never before been used for such a purpose, and to inaugurate the 'Wizard' every resource and ingenuity was employed. The stalls of the Albert Hall were made into seats for a luncheon, at which some eight hundred dealers and others were present. Mr J. H. Thomas and Sir Austen Chamberlain were there, and, of course, Mr W. E. Rootes, whose energy has been largely responsible for this assault on the overseas markets. During luncheon a screen at one end of the hall over the organ shoed cables from all over the world, and at the close a film was shown of the car in all the stages of its production and tests. During this film mysterious boxes in the amphitheatre were opened, and there stood the cars each attended by experts who were prepared to explain every detail."
(Country Life, 2 May 1931, page xiii)
Programme includes insert on how the Hillman Wizard was tested.
Cars were brought into the arena via the west arena entrance. The arena floor was covered in parquet flooring with mats on top for cars to be placed on. The cars on the stage and the arena floor were all covered by screens before their after-luncheon unveiling. The lower orchestra was made into a bank of ferns. Hanging flower baskets decorated the loggia boxes. Palms and flowers decorated the amphi-corridor loggi box corridor.
The Mayfair Catering Company supplied the luncheon to an invited guest list of 300 VIPs.
Film screen supplied by Mr Noakes. |
| Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/1931/42-44) |