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During Summer 2025, Norma Marcus donated her husband Kerry Marcus’ home movie collection after his unexpected death in March 2025. Kerry and Norma, creatives and massage therapists, had attended a couple of our holiday shows at the Palm Springs Cultural Center and Kerry expressed to Norma his wish to donate his family films to Deserted Films in the future. We are so honored to have the films (and, thanks to Norma, access copies) which were shot by Kerry’s father Irwin Marcus (1928-1984) who was a Quality Control Engineer at Douglas Aircraft (likely the Long Beach location). In the films, you’ll see Irwin, his wife Ennis, Kerry and his brother Morey, Irvin’s mother, and other family, neighbors, and friends. During these eventful home movies we follow the Marcus family through hijinks at home, haircuts, and lots of visits to Southern California locations such as Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, La Jolla, Knott’s Berry Farm, Marineland, George Van Tassel’s Integratron (in nearby Landers) and a variety of national/state parks. We also visit exhibits like a replica of the Apollo 8 space capsule and both the Seattle and New York World’s Fairs. They also went to San Bernardino quite a bit (Ennis grew up there). While some of these locations are obvious by sight, thankfully Irwin affixed fastidious notes giving the contents of each big reel, which contained multiple smaller 50 ft. reels. Thank goodness for his forethought! Most of the reels go back and forth between color and black-and-white film stock — which made much more sense after we found this little note about the latter: “I get it free.” We thank Kerry and Norma for thinking of us. Below are all of the Marcus family films, and you may find one or two crosslisted on other pages. Norma had these films digitized by a vendor and they are all 640×480 resolution (see our note at top about 720 or 1080 resolution.)
KM#1. [“June 1941” Carol Anne’s 1st Birthday, Family Posing.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Titles say “June 1941 – First birthday in the garden, cherry blossom time.” and “Baby Birthday.” Further description forthcoming.
KM#2. [“August 1960, Sept. 1960, Oct. 1960”: Huntington Beach, San Bernardino, Knott’s Berry Farm.] 8mm. Color and B/W. Silent. Notes on can: “Backyard Aug. ’60; Beach, Huntington Aug. ’60; San Berdoo backyard, whole family Sept. ’60; Back home in the living room & kitchen, den, Sept. ’60; Knott’s Berry Farm & Alligator Farm, Oct. ’60; Front of House with Morey inside to Labor Day Party at San Berdoo 1960.”
KM#3. [“Sept. 1960, Oct. 1960, Nov. 1960.”: Birthday, Dana Point, Marineland, Santa’s Village, etc.] 8mm. Color and B/W. Silent. Notes on can: “Morey’s birthday party 240ct. 1960, Stanton Patio & Indoors) 6 Minutes; Dana Point & route 74 to Lake Elsinore (Sky view & on lake bottom Sept. 1960 (6 min-utes); Marineland & Portugese Bend Sept. 1960 (3 Minutes); Santa’s Village 6000 ft up in San Bernardino Mountains Nov. 1960 (3 Min.); Total 300 feet in order as given.”
KM#4. [“Nov. 1960; Kerry Trying to Walk.”] 8mm. Color and B/W. Silent. Notes on can: “1) Thanksgiving at San (Berdoo?); 2) Irv Popas’ (sp?) place Westminster with Kerry, Morey, Bobby, and May; 3) Xmas with the Nelsons, 1960; 4) Morey and Kenny in the living room & den, Stanton; 5) Family outdoors, Stanton patio & Morey’s upteenth haircut; 6) Doug’s (sp?) flight camp, none (or home?) of the DG-8 & Kerry trying to walk.”
KM#5. [“Catalina, Newport, April 1961.”] 8mm. Color and B/W. Silent. Notes on can: “Fishing Trip Catalina Island & Newport Harbor; Morey, Kerry – Backyard; Beach — Newport & Seal, April ’61 – to — July 1961.”
KM#6. [“Las Vegas (Feb. ’61); Arcadia (Jan. ’61); Kerry’s 1st Bday (April 1961).”] 8mm. Color and B/W. Silent. Notes on can: “Picnic in Arcadia, Jan. ’61; Morey & Kerry; Las Vegas quick draw action & Nevada scenery Feb. ’61; Kerry’s one year old birthday party, April 1961.”
KM#8. [“World’s Fair, Seattle, B.C., Oregon, Mt. Shasta, San Francisco, June 1962.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Notes on can: “1962 Vacation Trip to the World’s Fair June. 1. San Francisco, Alcatraz, and a sailing ship, the bay Bridge to Redding California, Bel-Air Motel; 2. The white mountain is Mt. Shasta and Lake Shasta. Olympic state capital. Seattle and the Monorail to the Worlds Fair. The Space Needle, and the top of the Needle, the city of Seattle from the Needle top; 3. The Fair water ski show and band; 4. Boat ride to British Columbia, Victoria, capital city; 5. Going home, wading in Oregon stream, some beaches in Seattle and once again Mt. Shasta. Motel in Frisco the last night of Vacation.”
KM#9. [“April, Kerry 2 yrs.; May, Hemet; Sept. Twist; Nov. L.A.; Dec. Knott’s: 1962.”] 8mm. Color and B/W. Silent. Notes on can: “TYPICAL SUNDAYS: Kerry’s birthday party, 2 years old in April 1962. (6 Min.)… A Sunday trip to Hemet Valley & Lake Elsinore (Dry Lake). May 1962. (3 Min.)… Twist party next door, another way to spend a California Sunday. Sept. 1962. (3 Min.)… Space Flight Exposition, Los Angeles. Another Sunday. Nov. 1962. (3 Min.)…Knott’s Berry Farm with Chief Red Feather, Western back ground. The first Atomic Merchant Ship the Savannah, Long Beach Harbor. Dec. 1962. (3 Min.).”
The Space Flight Exposition, sponsored by the American Rocket Society, took place November 13-18, 1962, at LA’s Pan-Pacific Auditorium. We were excited about a “Twist party”, but can’t find it! – DF
KM#10. [“Nov. ’62 — April ’63: Thanksgiving ’62; Marineland ’63.”] 8mm. B/W. Silent. Notes on can: “Thanksgiving in San Bernardino and morning after, 23 Nov. ’63; Morey’s Measles, Morey & Kerry eating at home, Feb. ’63; Morey & Kerry in the house, also a swinging party outside, Feb. ’63; Morey & Kerry in tub, also Kerry and a Toucan bird at Marineland, cave scene with Morey and Me (Irwin), March ’63; Kerry’s three year old birthday party. 100ft. 6 April ’63.”
KM#12. [“Nov. – Trains; Sept. – Seal Beach; Oct. – Bluff Cove; Dec. – Hesperia; Dec. 1963 – Santa’s Village.”] 8mm. Color and B/W. Silent. Notes on can: “Flash Back — Nov. 9, 1962, Trains in Living Room; Flash Back — Nov. 11, 1962, Seal Beach & Bath Tub Scene; To date — September 1963 — Bluff Cove Trip; To date — Oct. 1963, Morey’s 6th birthday; To date — Hesperia in Nov. & Lake Mathews in Dec. 1963; To date — Santa’s Village with Cath (sp?) and Freyda & Us.”
KM#13. [“Fishing, April ’64; Kerry Bday 4 yr.; Griffith Park, May 1964; August 1964; July 1964; June 1964.”] 8mm. Color and B/W. Silent. Notes on can: “Morey & Kerry Fishing at Local Lake and Monster bubble demon — Stanton on patio, April ’64; Kerry’s 4th birthday at home & Mother’s Day at San Bernardino, April & May 1964; Sunday afternoon, San Bernardino, Back yard and Griffith Park merry-go-round in L.A., June 1964; Sunday EXERCISE with kids in our Living Room & breakfast on patio right after July 1964; Sunday afternoon backyard ,just goofing off, August 1964.”
KM#14. [“New York World’s Fair, NASA, Port Authority, Pepsi Cola, Unisphere, Aug. 1964.”] 8mm. Color and B/W. Silent. Notes on can: “New York Vacation Part 1 of 2. 1) Train to New York, New York & Mom in her apt.; 2) World’s Fair – Entrance, General View of Transportation Area, Chrysler Exhibit, NASA, Port Authority, Ford Ride, Sinclair, Pepsi Cola, Kodak, GE, Unisphere at Night, Fair from up high.”
KM#15. [“Part 2 of 2: World’s Fair, Dupont, Coney Island, American Museum of Natural History, Aug. 1964.”] 8mm. Color and B/W. Silent. Notes on can: “New York Vacation Part 2 of 2, August 1964; 3) Dupont Show – Statue of Liberty; 4) Coney Island Aquarium with Mom, Coney Island misc. with Ilene, Les, & Kids; 5) American Museum of Natural History, Times Square & 42nd Street Vicinity with Mom (on Train?) with kids; 6) Train home & San Bernardino.”
KM#16. [“La Jolla; San Bernardino; JAL DC-8, Long Beach; O’Neill Park; Air Museum; San Juan Capistrano, Feb. – Aug. 1965.”] 8mm. Color and B/W. Silent. Notes on can: “1) Sunday Trip to La Jolla, 1 Feb. ’65; San Bernardino 14 Feb. ’65; Vacation San Diego, Sea World, Zoo, Aug. ’65; Sunday Trip to (O’Neill Regional) Park, Aug. ’65; Air Museum, Morey’s 8th Birthday, Oct. ’65; 5) San Juan Capistrano with Mother, 9 Jan. ’66.”
KM#17. [“Hollywood & Vine, 1966; Knott’s, May 1966; Blue Angels, May 1966; Busch Gardens, Sept.; Port of Call, Feb. 1967; Flying Saucer (Convention); Jan. 1966-July 1967.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Notes on can: “Hollywood & Vine/Knott’s Berry Farm with Mother, Jan. 1966; Blue Angels — El Toro Marine Base, Pierpoint Landing with Sarah & Kids, May 1966; Busch Gardens with Kids & Ennis, Sept. 1966; Morey’s 9th Birthday Party, Oct. 1966; Port of Call (Ports O’ Call Village), Home, Palomar 200-inch Telescope, Feb. 1967; Giant Rock & A Time Machine (, Flying Saucer People Convention Area, Pioneertown in Yucca Valley, Home, July 1967.”
KM#18. [“Swim, July 1967; Marineland, Sept., Disneyland, Sept.; Knott’s & Mt. Wilson Observatory, Nov. 1967; Santa Ana Zoo, 1967; Gorman, 1968; July-Nov. 1967” + 1968.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Notes on can: “Swimming In Neighbors’ Pool, July 1967; Marineland, Sept. 1967; Disneyland, Sept. 1967; Knott’s Berry Farm & Trip to Mount Wilson Observatory, Nov. 1967; Santa Ana Zoo & Nuclear Power Station, Nov. 1967; Trip to Gorman, Calif., Jan. 1968; 300 feet, 25 mins.”
KM#19. [Trip to La Jolla & Home Horseplay, Jan. 1968); “Gold Panning (March 1968), Lake Tahoe, Death Valley High Sierra, Mojave, April 1968; Apollo 8 (Jan. 1969); Air Show – Orange (City, Aug. 1969); San Francisco (Sept. 1969); Jan. 1968-Oct. 1969.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Notes on can: “Jan. 1968, Trip to La Jolla & Home Horseplay; March 1968, Gold Panning – San Gabriel River; April 1968 Vacation – Mojave Desert, High Sierra Mountains, Mt. Whitney, Death Valley, Convict Lake, Lake Tahoe, Virginia City, Fort Sutter, Sacramento, Gaviota Beach and Home; Jan. 1969, (mock-up of) Apollo 8; Aug. 1969, Air Show, Orange City; Sept. 1969, Vacation – San Francisco; Oct. 1969, Morey’s Birthday 12 years.”
KM#20. [“DC-10, Sequoia Nat’l Park, Kerry & Morey, 9/’71.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Further description forthcoming.
