Weirdo Video Rare & authentic films of cultural, historical, and ironical significance.

Frog Jumping Tournament of Calaveras County

1950

Frog Jumping Tournament of Calaveras County

Frog Jumping Tournament of Calaveras County

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 […]

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El Cortez Hotel Glass Elevator

1956

El Cortez Hotel Glass Elevator

Newsreel: El Cortez Hotel Glass Elevator - 1956

In this newsreel from 1956, the great newsreader Ed Herlihy describes the futuristic glass elevator recently installed in the El Cortez Hotel in San Diego, California. Believe it or not, this will be the future … of soon-to-be developed tract buildings everywhere.

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Anti-War March ’67

1967

Anti-War March ’67

Newsreel: Anti-War March - 1967

In this clip from 1967, newsreel presenter Ed Herlihy narrates  the anti-Vietnam War marches which took place in New York City, San Francisco, and across the US. Martin Luther King, Jr. petitions the UN, students burn their draft cards at demonstrations, and anti-anti-Vietnam protesters make their support of the conflict known. Fifty years later, we […]

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Baghdad Pact ’58

1958

Baghdad Pact ’58

Newsreel: Baghdad Pact - 1958

Over 60 years ago, an uncertain peace held the Mideast together, while 60 years later, an uncertain war pulls it apart. The late, great Ed Herlihy narrates this report from the Baghdad Pact conference in Ankara, Turkey in 1958.

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82nd Congress Opens

1951

82nd Congress Opens

Newsreel: 82nd Congress Opens - 1951

Welcome to the US Capitol as the 82nd US Congress convenes in early 1951, where new faces in both the Republicans and Democrats are taking seats. Lyndon B. Johnson rose to Senate Whip as the Democratic Senate majority would be cut to only two votes. The Capitol building is seen being remodeled to accommodate a […]

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Ike Re-elected

1950's

Ike Re-elected

Newsreel: Ike Re-elected - 1956

We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. – Dwight D. Eisenhower 60 million Americans went to the polls in the US 1956 election to grant Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower another term in the White House. It was a “grave hour of world crisis,” but on […]

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Frisco in Grip of Strike!

1930's

Frisco in Grip of Strike!

Newsreel: 'Frisco in Grip of Strike! - 1934

In this newsreel, presented is a look at the historic 1934 West Coast Longshoremen’s Strike which lasted nearly three months and led to the establishment of unions for port workers on the West Coast. On Bloody Thursday, after fights broke out near San Francisco’s Embarcadero between police, strikebreakers and waterfront workers, the situation took a […]

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Art in Italy

1950's

Art in Italy

Newsreel: Art in Italy - 1953

This newsreel is an overview at art in Italy in 1953, specifically at an exhibition in Milan, showing great works of art scaled to fit to  postage stamps by Carrado Mezana. The crowded event displaying the detail and craftsmanship of Mezzana even draws the president of Italy, Luigi Einaudi. Stamps include portrayals of Galileo, Saint Catherine […]

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Mid-Atlantic Sea Rescue

1950's

Mid-Atlantic Sea Rescue

Newsreel: Mid-Atlantic Sea Rescue - 1953

Experience a rescue at sea in 1953 as the Liberian registered cargo ship Greenville sinks in the treacherous Atlantic Ocean under the assault of 80 MPH winds and 50 foot waves. In harrowing footage captured by a guest on the luxury liner SS Ile de France, the crew rescue 24 of the 26 sailors abandoning […]

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