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Fatal Prison Fire
On April 21, 1930: a fire in the Columbus OH prison kills 317 convicts. Silent B&W shots show gutted exterior of prison with fire damage clearly visible, men, including prisoners in striped clothing briefly shown at door. Close tilt and pan shots of twisted metal and charred timbers of interior. Prisoners in yard of jail, marching in lines. Convicts hand out beds from back of truck. 01:11:20 columns of state troopers march by, on guard against the possibilities of rioting.
Beauty Contest
Silent B&W coverage of Miss Greece, chosen to represent Europe in an international beauty contest to be held in Florida. Shots show a judge bringing women before the camera, and the winner, a shapely brunette in glistening evening town, poses sexily for the camera, showing her underarm hair. Interesting shot of woman's back, with bright bank of lightbulbs illuminating the set and a couple of men moving a boxy camera on tripod.
Babe Ruth Signs Yankee Contract
Silent B&W shot of a young Babe Ruth signing contract outside, the paper flapping in the wind. He stands and shakes hands with the other man.
Universal Newsreel Titles
Interesting title shots for the Chicago Daily News Universal Newsreel: a spinning globe animation has the title appear as a biplane flies by. The masthead of the newspaper is superimposed over shot of running newspaper press.
Easter Greetings
Interesting silent B&W: simple animation of easter bunny striking elaborate egg with a stick; it shatters, and the shell fragments rearrange themselves to say "Easter Greetings."
Sox Win Opener
Silent B&W pan of Comiskey Park; Donie Bush of the White Sox shakes hands with Cleveland manager Peckinpaugh. Great old style uniforms. Pitcher Sammy/Jimmy Thomas warming up; WIllie Hudlin, the Indians' pitcher. Upper deck shots of play, including an attempted double that should have been a single. Nice views of 1920s baseball.
Here Comes the Cavalry
Silent B&W shot of cavalry moving in large formation on horses. This looks like the real thing, but then we have clips of bad-looking gun guy out of the silent Western movie era. A woman comes in and puts on holster and pistol, ready to go and fight. She leaves, and he looks even more glum. Back to the cavalry, riding in formation, galloping towards the camera with flag. The pedigree of this film is unclear, but the soldiers look to be pre-WW1 vintage, perhaps shot for use in a Western. Brief sequence at end of gunslinger type clambering over rocks.
George Jessel on Behalf of the
George Jessel sittting in office with blond woman, trying out the speech on her. He makes a long-winded appeal to a benefit fund for retired vaudevillians.
New Boat At Newport
Narrated b&w shots of racing yacht shamrock v at newport ri. Narrator reports rather anti-climatically that the boat didn't have enough wind for adequate trials, so they turned her around and went home.
The Great Nicola
Silent B&W shot of crowd in Philadelphia looking on as the Great Nicola, a man is hoisted in straitjacket, suspended from his hand. He frees himself, Houdini style, and the crowd claps. Title at tails advertises Nicola's appearance in a magic show at the Oriental Theater.
Soundie - The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi
Sound B&W Marlyn Stuart. Comely coeds smile at the camera as a honey-throated male quartet sings, surrounding Miss Stuart. The camera moves on, and we see other women, real 1940s beauties, lounging and smiling at the camera.
Soundie - Any Bonds Today?
Sound B&W NOTE: FILM IMAGE IS REVERSED FOR REAR PROJECTION ON ORIGINAL SOUNDIE MACHINE. Liz Tilton and the Four Sportsmen singing a patriotic number to encourage people to save for Victory. Uncle Sam comes out and sells bonds to friendly people; woman slips money out of her garter and buys War Stamps. 01:21:20 cutaway propaganda sequence: funny caricatures of Hitler and Mussolini, grinning Japanese caricature face superimposed on dead woman; graphic of Pearl Harbor. Uncle Sam "wipes Uncle Japanese from the face of the map."
Soundie - I'd Love to Be a Cowboy
NOTE: FILM IMAGE IS REVERSED FOR REAR PROJECTION ON ORIGINAL SOUNDIE MACHINE. The Le Donne Trio in a western night club performs this comedy number about being scared of cows.
Lady Esther Cosmetics Factory
Silent color footage of balding man testing jar of white cream, shaking his head. Another shot shows jars of Lady Esther cosmetics going by on conveyor belt in front of boxes of dozens of them. We see the machine for filling the jars at work. Rooftop shot, scientist is reading some sort of instrument. 01:24:40 MS a beautiful woman in evening dress. Cu hands at cosmetic table, one applying some clear cleansing liquid (maybe it's to clear off all that make up). CUs of women being made over, pretty 1940-50s types. A variety of women face the camera, and a woman's hand comes into frame, pointing out their various features to accent or conceal. CU mirror in compact, more smiling women. 01:27:40 woman puts on makeup, another puts on eye liner. Back to the scientist on the rooftop, back to the woman putting on cosmetics or cold cream. CU woman with wet face, being examined carefully by a man with a bizarre scientific device. CU woman playing tennis, briefly, then a shot of her dinner plate. 01:29:57 CU woman's face as she cools off in front of an electric fan. More conveyor belt shots, then a woman in a formal red dress comes smiling down stairs and takes the hands of a man off camera. Several takes of this, including a couple of very out of focus shots. 01:31:50 nice CU of woman's face as she hugs man. Exterior of Lady Esther building.
Soundies - America, I Love You
NOTE: FILM IMAGE IS REVERSED FOR REAR PROJECTION ON ORIGINAL SOUNDIE MACHINE. Claude Thornhill big band with mixed quartet in uniform singing this big band classic. Women in Rockettes uniforms collecting scrap tin. Good CUs of musicians. Women selling kisses for victory, including a guy who's too shy, and faints. Nice shots of baton twirling women, as well as woman saxophone player.
Soundie - The Eyes of Texas
NOTE: FILM IMAGE IS REVERSED FOR REAR PROJECTION ON ORIGINAL SOUNDIE MACHINE. Sound B&W man singing in Army canteen, as four leggy women look on. The women sing songs about their home states.
Soundies - Liberty on Parade
NOTE: FILM IMAGE IS REVERSED FOR REAR PROJECTION ON ORIGINAL SOUNDIE MACHINE. Sound B&W shots of fighter planes, then a chorus line of women in martial outfits, kicking up a storm. CU of smiling blonde, women flashing leg and intercut shots of US Navy, Air Force etc. Women in tableau form stand before Allies' flags: USSR, Republic of China. More baton twirling, then women in hot pants and guards outfits, then Uncle Sam with a dancing woman, more rifle and leg play.
Soundie - I Gotta Go to Camp to See My Man
NOTE: FILM IMAGE IS REVERSED FOR REAR PROJECTION ON ORIGINAL SOUNDIE MACHINE. Sound B&W Edna Mae Harris, African American woman, dressing in front of mirror, singing blues about missing her man as she puts her clothes on.
Woman on Phone
Silent color shot of woman working in kitchen, answers phone on wall and talks as she is stirring something in a bowl.
Bicycle Built for Two
Bicycle Built for Two Color silent TLS of man and woman in 1890s garb riding on a tandem bicycle toward camera along a country road, MS pan as they pass (man has a handlebar moustache). MS riders on the ground after falling off the bike, the man shakes his fist in the air at the (presumed) automobile driver who ran them off the road.
The Davis Car
CU man in snow, putting runner on Davis car for better driving in snow. The brave little experimental car makes its way around the parking lot, then we have following shots of car from behind, driving in snow, then closer shots of the Davis car's runner, a ski which substitutes for the front wheel. It doesn't look too stable, and the car is driving very slowly. Interesting shots of Davis car driving by, apparently trying to spin out, unless that weaving is sign of handling problems. Various pretty snow shots with the Davis car driving by, turning around in the snow. 01:08:41 POV shots of road from moving Davis car; useful generic POV winter views. 01:09:49. In a dry parking lot, five Davis cars turn crazy loops: some convertibles, others sedans, all moving in those fabled tight turns on display. Then a line of Davis cars drives by, leaning scarily on the curve. 01:11:11 rather jerky tracking shot of four Davis cars driving slowly down road. 01:13:00 more stable shots of Davis cars on test track, sedans and convertibles driving slowly by camera (several takes)
Board of Elections Meeting
Group of adult, middle-aged, and elderly Caucasian men and women seated in chairs arranged around desk in office of Joe Cipollone, who sits at his desk. General views of the Board of Elections meeting, Cipollone leading.
1970s - Shamu Arrives - Transported via Plane
American Airlines freight airplane, cargo door lifting; adult Caucasian male crew waiting below. Crew takes large blue metal crate from plane. Crate being transported on the ground by forklift; mainly adult Caucasian male spectators and reporters watch and take photographs. Elevated view of Shamu the Killer Whale in travel crate; large pair of sunglasses attached to crate so it appears Shamu is wearing them. Two adult Caucasian female airline flight attendants posing with Shamu. Flight attendant holding a chimpanzee wearing a hat, sunglasses and jacket.
1960s - Leisure - Playing at the Beach
Caucasian male and female children with a few female adults enjoying the beach, playing with foam as waves come ashore; clumps of seaweed on beach.