The Boat Show

With between five and six thousand people visiting it in its three day season, Gisbone's first boat show can be classed as a "roaring" success.

The Gisborne Yacht Club, who sponsored the show, is more than happy with the results. The profits are almost double the original expectations of the committee and the club's planned rescue launch is, financially at least, a virtual reality.

Power boats lined up outside the Army Hall made an impressive entrance to the show and was a constant source of attention for many hundreds of entranced small boys.

In contrast, the centre aisle in the Army Hall was dominated by bulging sails of superbly groomed yachts.

Yacht club president Murray Upton acted as general compere of show.

Boat show was officially opened by the mayor Mr Barker, an "old hand" at official openings.

As a prelude to the opening of the boat show, a procession of boats set out from the harbour, up the main street, turned at the clock and returned.

The parade was led by the St. John Ambulance Brigade Band and although held at 12.15 on a mid week afternoon, attracted no small measure of attention to itself.

The brilliant colouring of the "Las Vegas" made it stand out as a showpiece.

The only boat of its kind in the parade, "Otazel" also sported a rather odd-looking pilot.

Two-boy power trolley made the trip up the street. Several motorised horses made the return trip much easier.

Seaweed-draped girls looked at home.

Canoe and Tramping Club's display consisted mainly of canoes and kayaks of varying designs.

View from the stage was dominated by the enormous terylene sails of the idle-along class yacht "Musette".

Sun streaming through skylight, shows up the fine texture of yacht's sail.

J. McCullough's "Zephyr" was a sparkling attraction.

Clinker built boats contrasted with the more common plywood and fibre glass types on display.

Popular as the boats and trade exhibits were, the strongest public support went to the mannequin parades held each night of the show.

Demonstrating the new season's casual and beach wear, the mannequins utilised a smartly constructed staging, with a full rigged yacht as an appropriate backdrop.

Adrienne Bruce

Ann Foreman

Janet Moss

Adrienne Smith

Crowd took an intent interest in the parade. Note all eyes upward with exception of one male pair admiring shapely ankles.

Pam McAnenev

Robyn Strachan

Ann Foreman

Robyn Strachan

There is no doubt the mannequin parades were good; the models even better.

But the real scene stealers were undoubtedly the juniors in their quaint little swim suits and beach shorts.

Obviously enough the two hits of the parade were the two youngest; two-year-old Susie Anderson and 2½-year-old Noel Upton, pictured here along with some of their fellow models.

Louise Warner

Susie Anderson

Wendy Fitzgerald

Louise Lyle

St. John Ambulance Brigade Band provided overture

Jane Bird

Patricia Coup

Cherie Harper

Noel Upton

Two unexpected models in the mannequin parade caused quite a rumpus. At left Lionella Neill models a chemical creation by "Pharmacy", while Johanna Thorburn flashes a style that could have been the cause of death of Christian Dior. Spectator Burnley Cooper (centre) needed binoculars to get a better view of the "shapely sheilas".

Members of the Canoe and Tramping Club demonstrated the assembly of a portable canoe. From a tangled mess of dowelling, plywood and canvas (left), two men constructed a fully serviceable canoe in about ten minutes.

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 52 : October 15, 1958

The Boat Show