Song of the Pioneer
Song of the Pioneer
Preview Cassette 218343 The birth and history of the Chicago Northwest Railroad system; features historical recreations as well as updated footage of the company and such. The following are a few of the shots within. ECU, pan left, of a topographical map of the MidWestern United States; camera stops at Vandalia, Illinois. Dissolve to a tight LS of seven men in late nineteenth century suits sitting and talking in a meeting room. CU of a fire burning in a fireplace, dolly out to a MS of three dorky men dressed as mountainmen (explorers); two of them wear big, furry hats and calfskin outfits replete with tassles while the apparent leader stands and points to a map hanging over the fireplace mantle. MS and CU of the first Chicago mayor (okay, it's an actor hired to play the mayor) talking to the people about bringing in the railroad; cut to MS's of the mayor lobbying the farmers and other rural folk in their own environment; also features MS/CU cutaways of white spoked wagon wheels passing by the camera (left to right). Tight LS's of an antique train in motion through a plain. CU of a pull-sheet wall calendar which reads November 1; pan left to a MS of an older man pulling specatcles from his face. ECU and CU of a map showing the networking growth of the Northwestern Railroad. TIght LS's and MS's of nineteenth century folk riding passenger trains. MS of a man, his back to the camera, sorting mail by puting them into one of many cubicles. LS's of farm equipment at work in a grain field, followed by a tight LS of the same, then a CU of the blades in operation, then tight LS's of farmers harvesting corn in a cornfield. LS's of streamliner trains in operation, followed by a subjective shot of the train in motion. Brief recreation montage: MS's and tight LS's of folks golfing, swimming, fishing, horseback riding and so on. High angle tight LS's and MS's of cows and pigs being coralled onto trains at some type of railyard; the animals are herded seperately, of course. Tight LS's and MS's of men repairing, working, on railroad tracks. MS montage of railroad workers: ticket agents, wire operators, machinists, secretaries, welders, yardworkers, conductors and engineers. More subjective shots from a train in motion. Low angle tight LS of a streamliner train rolling over the camera angle. Tight and wide LS of Mount Rushmore, one of which is taken from aboard a train (a travelling shot).