Right or Wrong? (Making Moral Decisions) – 1956 This sober little slice of postwar moral instruction asks a deceptively simple question: what is the right thing to do? When a warehouse window is smashed and a teenage boy is picked up by police, the story becomes less about vandalism and more about loyalty, responsibility, and […]
MORE ...Tour the home of Santa Claus in this vintage, amateur-produced cult classic, A Visit to Santa from 1953 by Clem Williams Films. After Mom puts the Dick and Ann to sleep in their bunkbeds on Christmas Eve, they wonder aloud if Santa Claus ever received their letter. Santa, sitting in a Naugahyde chair in his […]
MORE ...Celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of the Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, later celebrated in Mark Twain’s famous story, the International Frog Jump gets underway at Angels Camp, California. The croakers bare such distinguished names as Winnie and Clem from England, a Canadian jumper, Thames River Tom, fed on vitamins made from genuine Canadian maple […]
MORE ...Your Fight Against Fear To fear is natural. Some fears protect us; some fears harm us. No matter how hard we try, we do nots seem to be able to drive some fears away. Fears persist every time we face new situations or challenges. Puppies respond by hiding when they are threatened. What are some […]
MORE ...Performing his signature number, Cab Calloway sings Minnie the Moocher in this performance from the 1950’s. As ever he adds a few surprises like the sexy shadow dancer gyrating in the background and a new spin on his familiar scat singing. Born in New York State with a middle class upbringing, Calloway’s parents pushed him […]
MORE ...Just because you’re snowed-in here-and-now doesn’t mean you wouldn’t have been in similar circumstances there-and-then. In this case, the passenger train “City of San Francisco” has been stranded in over ten feet of snow after a blizzard within the legendary Donner Pass. The travelers survived this journey, unlike their fabled predecessors, the legendary Donner Party […]
MORE ...This brisk 1950s educational reel marches through American history at parade tempo, presenting the nation’s presidents as a steady procession of destiny, duty, and dignified portraits. From Washington’s quiet authority to Eisenhower’s confetti-soaked homecoming, each leader receives a polished, efficient summary. Triumphs are emphasized. Complications are softened. History moves forward with reassuring inevitability. The tone […]
MORE ...Teenage girls … Tantalizing … AND Terrorizing! Gang Leader: There’s a gang … And I’m the boss! Schoolgirl: Oh. I see. HIGH SCHOOL HELLCATS Teacher: Biologically speaking, it’s a primary importance that men should want to mate. Class: Hey, that’s cool! Yeah! Woo hoo! Schoolgirl: What should a girl do? Join up with a gang, […]
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