Film describes American society in the 1930s and 40s, including World War 2. CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations) President John L Lewis and Father Coughlin speaking. Harlem street scene. Crowd entering a subway station in New York City. Newspaper headlines posted in China Town New York. Storefronts of Greek and Italian merchants in downtown New York City. Signs seen include 'Grande Deposito Dolio Doliva,' and 'Anthony Coulapides, manufacturer of high grade cigarettes.' Hebrew writing and star of David seen on side of building. Buildings with Spanish language signs in New York. A parade float with Virgin Mary depiction. Wide shot of a vineyard. View of a water wheel turning at a mill. Boys skinny dipping. 1930's and 1940's era cars on deep snow covered roads of an American town. Homes in deep snow. People recline on a beach in Florida in winter while on the same day in New Hampshire people ski, some pulled by horses. Skiers on slopes. People slip while walking across a street during a blizzard. A boy takes removes an apple from an icebox (early refrigerator). Dust storms in farm country of the rural Midwest during the dust bowl. Man races across a field toward a barn as a dust storm bears down on it. A farmer leads his horses out of a corral. A farm is destroyed by dust storms during the dust bowl. A family piles their remaining things on a farm truck and abandons their farm destroyed by the dust bowl. A poor family in a shack in the River Mississippi Valley area.
A film about achievements of various African American men and women citizens in the United States. A statue of Booker T. Washington, founder of Tuskegee University in Alabama. View of African American scientist and inventor George Washington Carver, as an elderly man, working with another scientist in a laboratory. African American judge of New York city court. African American explorer Matthew Henson is seen looking at a globe (he was with Admiral Peary planting the American flag at the North Pole in 1909), and an unnamed African American surgeon at work in an operating room in New York. Next scene shows famous "father of the blues" musician and composer W.C. Handy (William Christoper Handy) smiling. Next is seen the financier and publisher of the Amsterdam News, Dr. C.B. Powell (Clilan Powell) greeting three uniformed African American women during a World War 2 war bond drive, and handing them a check (close up is shown) for 25,000 dollars, dated January 4, 1942, for the war bond drive. It is from the account of the Victory Mutual Life Insurance Company which Dr. Powell also owned. The check is signed by C.B Powell and Philip M.H. Savory (Dr. Savory was co-owner of the New York Amsterdam News). The next scene shows Elise Johnson McDougald, better known as Gertrude Elise Ayer, who was the first black full-time public school principal after the consolidation of New York City schools in 1898. She was also a noted woman writer during the Harlem Renaissance. She is seated in her office at her desk, likely in P.S. 119 in Harlem, since this is approximately year 1945 and she was at P.S 119 at that time. Her name plaque is visible on the front center of the desk. Principal Ayer smiles as a woman delivers a document to her. Next is seen the African American historian, author, and professor, Lawrence D. Reddick, serving in his role as the curator of the Schomburg Collection of African American Literature. In an art studio is seen the famous "Harlem Renaissance" African American sculptor and painter Charles Alston, at work on a sculpture. Next scene shows the famous African American contralto singer, Marian Anderson, receiving a bouquet of flowers and smiling after a performance. This transitions to a view of African American orchestra conductor Dean Dixon leading an orchestra in a performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. Several views of different sections of the orchestra performing under Dixon's direction. Clip closes with brief shots of campuses of several historically black colleges and universities in the United States like Howard University, Hampton, Tuskegee, Fisk, Prairie View. A football game underway in one of the colleges, and view on the field as quarterback throws a pass.
Views of a vintage 1930s New York City police car on a busy street of Manhattan, New York City. At start of clip, the Columbus Circle statue of Columbus can be seen in distant background as car heads possibly down 59th Street and then down 7th Avenue. A policeman driving the car, and another cop sitting next to him looking out through the window. People walking on sidewalks, cars parked at the sides of road. Other 1930s vehicles on road including cars, taxis, trucks, and buses. A horse-drawn wagon or carriage is also seen. A corner shop with sign "Primadora" is seen. Near end of clip the car passes a Madison Square Garden entrance advertising the "National Horse Show. November 4 through November 5. International Military Jumping every night."
As film begins, interested parties are seen filling seats in New York City Hall to attend a public meeting to witness and hear reports of the New York Board of Estimates and Apportionment. Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia occupies a head chair as members of the Board begin to take their seats. LaGuardia makes some comment with expression of irritation. As the members take their chairs, City Comptroller, Frank J. Taylor is seen at extreme left of the scene. Brooklyn Borough Pres. Raymond V. Ingersoll, in white suit, stands in right side of the image. Camera focuses on the Mayor, who has a sheaf of reports in front of him. View from a short distance shows Mayor and assembled Board members shows Board of Aldermen President, William F. Brunner seated at LaGuardia's right and Queens Borough Pres. George V. Harvey, at his left. Camera focuses on the Mayor, as he reads a report and comments to others. Closeup of Brooklyn Borough President. Raymond V. Ingersoll as he concentrates on a report. Closeup of Manhattan Borough Pres. Samuel Levy looking at a report as Bronx Borough President, James J. Lyons, at his right, speaks to him. Mayor LaGuardia looks over toward him and smiles. Remainder of the film is devoted to camera view of the Mayor examining and commenting on reports.
A huge crowd of men and women pedestrians is seen on the sidewalks and roads of New York city. Elevated views and street level views of busy New York City streets with buses, trolleys, and motor cars crawling their way around pedestrians in the rush and traffic. Jam packed streets and stores in Manhattan. 'Buy Now' scheme seems to attract people which would give them triple advantage of escaping the last minute rush, seizing on bargain prices and providing work opportunity for thousands during the Great Depression. Mass of shoppers seen on busy avenues and on lower east side neighborhood streets where push cart vendors sell many kinds of clothing and items. Men and women seen shopping buying things for holidays.
Sailors aboard USS Tennessee (BB-43) look at city buildings as the ship leaves Brooklyn Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York. Several other vessels including a submarine chaser underway in the harbor. Officer and staff sit on deck under the deck guns. Men aboard a patrol boat. The patrol boat with the U.S. flag on bow, rushes in water. Several other vessels underway.
CRITICALPAST.COM: About Us | Contact Us | FAQs - How to Order | License Agreement | My Account | My Lightboxes | Shopping Cart | Advanced Search | Featured Collections | Website Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Links ©2024 CriticalPast LLC.
License Agreement |
Terms & Conditions |
Privacy Policy
©2024 CriticalPast LLC.