Holidays, Special Events, Parties, & Weird Stuff

These films were shot all over the country. Some focus on holidays, weddings, parties, 1956 Olympic trials for women’s track and field, and other special events. Others are simply fun and we like them. The captions in [brackets], whenever possible, include labels from the original item in “quotation marks.” We add estimated dates and other details. For best viewing experience, choose the 720p or higher setting on the player.

#83. [“Toshi”: Male Teenagers at Bus Station, Crowd Seeing Them Off, 1970s.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Several Asian teenagers (one presumably named Toshi) possibly a tennis team) are seen off on a bus trip by a large group. Lots of posing and waving as the teenagers trickle in with their luggage, then tearful farewells and hugs goodbye as they get on the bus. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
52b. [“Rollerskating Show,” ca. 1975.] Super 8mm. Color. Sound. Rollerskating performances or competition. Not sure what else to say — enjoy!
#147. [“Xmas 1953/Maghakian Wedding.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Christmas scenes: nice tree, gifts, playing with toddler in the living room, family dinner, showing off toys, toddlers playing, family posing; wedding reception: throwing the bouquet and garter, group dance, shots of the festivities. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#141. [“KA Rush Movie, School Year 1958-1959.”] 8mm. Color. Compilation film shot at the University of Texas, Arlington. *Warning: images of Confederate flags. Title cards “Kappa Alpha Presents,” “A Year with KA,” and “All About Men,” the film takes us through seasonal and themed events with KA, opens with women (classmates?) kneeling in the grass, bowing in worship motions, a giant confederate flag is rolled out on the lawn in front of the fraternity; men mingle outside, rushing, welcoming new or prospective pledges(?), smoking and lighting a small cannon in the yard, painting and building furniture indoors, a Black lawn jockey statue is shown on the back patio; “Flash – KA Buys a Ship” rolls diagonally across the screen, inserted black and white footage (or footage filmed of another movie playing on a screen) of a viking ship, men and women hanging out, crafting props, banners, and decorations for alumni weekend, panning shot of frat house’s exterior decorated with balloons, giant letters on the lawn which says “Welcome Alumni,” a banner reading “Maverick Says Dealem Down – TU,” a replica football field, and two tall figures or effigies they constructed standing against the house (mascot Sam Maverick? Mavericks weren’t the official mascot until 1971*), front of frat house being decorated as a Civil War-era fort**, frat house decorated like a saloon, another with a life-size papier mache of Yosemite Sam and another parade float figure; “Macabre party” skull sign perhaps for Halloween, fun party with students monster and vampire costumes, “Old South” sign (Homecoming?), live band, men and women dressed up in antebellum-style ball gowns and suits, awards given out, couples posing and dancing, male students seemingly taking a written exam or perhaps filling out paperwork, guys standing and goofing around in the frat house; title cards “From Shadows, Hoodlums” and “Varsity Nite,” (new black and white footage) mixed group, although mostly men, playing guitar and singing in a classroom, clips of theatrical acts on stage, playful singing and dancing; (color footage again) handcrafted animated title card with a moving sailboat, “Sailing with Ragan,” men on a sailboat, smoking and hanging on as the sailboat leans, title card “Rome in Spring” and toga party, men playing baseball in a park, women in the audience, picnicking, title card “The End” over a confederate flag. Description by volunteer Rio Maropis.

*Mavericks weren’t the official mascot of UTA until 1971, but may have been one that students preferred and used among themselves. UTA were still the “Rebels” at the time of this film.
** “During spring semesters, faculty and students celebrated Old South Week with mock slave auctions, Rebel yell contests, shooting guns at ‘Yankee’ targets, and ‘jailing’ any student not dressed in Old South costumes.” (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 14, 2022.) Read more.*Warning: includes footage of a confederate flag.
#138. [“Kindergarten”, 1930s + Italian family at Christmas, 1950s.] 8mm. Color and B/W. Silent. A compilation of two films shot decades apart. Color: Christmas family gathering and opening gifts, Halloween trick-or treating and kids in costume, another Christmas and kids wearing costumes, young girl dressed as a nurse examining “patients,” kids riding a tricycle and a red toy car; Black and white: children playing in a kindergarten schoolroom (building, painting, dolls, etc.), kindergarten kids running down sidewalks and playing outdoors, adults leaving church and some posing for the camera, a man packing a car trunk, a couple on a snowy sidewalk walking a dog, shots of a toddler indoors, shot of the (Pittsburgh?) skyline and a factory with a smokestack, couple with a dog at a park and walking by an estate home, Model T’s and other vintage cars going down a snowy dirt road in the countryside, a snow plow clearing the way, city shots, kids and adults playing in a sandbox, two toddlers playing by the side of a house. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#77. [“Double Exposures,” 1960s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Here the same roll of film was exposed twice, once on each side, which created this double exposure. We scanned this one ourselves, so the quality leaves something to be desired. Lots of toddler footage, family time in the living room, goofing off for the camera, and having lunch together in the backyard. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#48. [Christmas Twins, late 1940s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Same family as #47. A boy and girl (appear to be twins?) play with toys in front of the Christmas tree, dressed in matching overalls and sweaters; tree is thoroughly draped in tinsel. Adorable shot of the girl hugging her baby doll; boy plays with a variety of toy trucks; children play with a grocery store toy (foldable, tin Wolverine Corner Grocery Store set), similar in size to their dollhouse; woman shows them how to (play) feed or give medicine to two baby dolls; toy first aid kit?; girl listens to the dolls’ hearts with a toy stethoscope. Description by volunteer, Rio Maropis, updated by DF.
#47. [Children’s Birthday Party, Christmas, Older Woman Painting, mid-1950s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Same family as #47. A children’s birthday party: kids, cake, and playing with toys; Christmas footage: tree, a pile of gifts, young boy opening presents, an older woman painting, boy playing with toys. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#223. [New Year’s Eve, young adults drinking and playing Twister at a party, ca. 1968.] Super 8. Color. Silent. Your basic tipsy game of Twister! Wait for the cute scene at the end.
#226. [“Xmas/New Years Eve 1964.”] 8mm. (Lovely) color. Silent. Young couple with great midcentury tree opening presents, and another cute apartment for Christmas dinner, a New Year’s Eve party with dancing.
#289. [“Square Dancing, Dancing Class #3,” ca. 1950s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Adult dance class students square dancing in western-style costumes and bobbing for apples at a Halloween-themed party.
#290. [“1957, Thanksgiving, Christmas Dinner, Living Room.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Classic Thanksgiving scenes with big family around the table, carving turkey and eating heartily, kids dressed up in pilgrim and “Indian” costumes, followed by a bigger group around table at Christmas, decor and cleaning up, eating pie, and kids rough-housing in matching outfits in the living room.
#292. [“19des73 Thanksgiving at Joan and Leo’s, 1973 New Year Party, 1974 On Patio at Mom and Dad’s.”] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Fun early 1970s clothes and hairstyles, goofing around in the kitchen and folks waiting around to eat, Christmas dinner, opening presents, a basement New Year’s Eve party, and indeed “mom and dad” on their porch and posing in their yard, summer. See #303 below for more of this family.
#293. [“Horses and Carriage, Skiing, Sleds, Snow, Parade, (Bond or Bend?) White”, 1930s.] 8mm. B/W. Silent. Lovely footage of a family on a country farm on a horse-drawn sleigh, sledding and skiing, a rambunctious dog, a horse pulling skier and kids on sled, a parade with an equestrian doing tricks, horse-drawn fire truck, etc., and finally the exterior of a factory.
#303. [“Christmas with Jim McDonald and Dinner at Joan and Leo’s,” late 1960s/early 1970s.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Family (same as in #292) in fun clothes opening presents and camera stops on every person as they show what they received, guys setting up an 8mm camera in the driveway for some shot, family makes punch and starts drinking champagne, folks fill their plates, the oldest son in a Navy uniform holding a white poodle and siblings come and stand by him.
#305. [Moses Brown Quaker School Boys Doing Sports, Providence, Rhode Island, ca. 1940s.] 16mm. Color. Silent. Boys running races, playing a ball toss game, a man and boy riding horses on the road, girl and boys on a swing set, a boy being taught to lead cattle around, boys posing, then various races and throwing, high jump, and long jump competitions, a ride on a boat or ferry, POV from car of men riding bicycles down the street. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#313. [(Canadian?) Family at Christmas, late 1960s.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Black (possibly Canadian) family documenting their house decked out for the holiday, the woman and girl showing off presents like Barbie dolls and a blender, and ends with the man putting the camera on the kitchen table to get a group shot of the three. These folks might live either in the northern U.S. or Canada as they have an Expo ’67 pennant on the wall.
#316. [Off-air Recording of The Paul Lynde Halloween Special, October 29, 1976.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent (sadly). Amusing filming off television of the Halloween special, including KISS, on the screen!
#326. [Dads Trying to Wrangle Kids on Halloween, Spinning Toddler, ca. 1970s.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Kids with their bags of Halloween candy, one man goofing with one of their masks, another man seeming to reason with a toddler over candy, and that toddler (presumably high on sugar!) spinning and spinning. Super funny.
#323. [“Maria & Party, Dad’s House,” ca. 1970s.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Christmas party with adults sitting around and chatting, outside a couple walking, a man walks by and gestures with raised fist, a man washes his VW bus, older perhaps Hawaiian man playing a ukulele, a man water plants in a backyard with a coal hopper.
#327. [“At the Church and Hall,” (Mission Delores in San Francisco) ca. 1970s.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Wedding and reception with (possibly Latine?) family and large group of attendees — couple exits the church to flying rice and hugs, then the very big wedding party enters a church hall, first dance and all dance to a live band.
#318. [Adult New Year’s Eve Party, Drinking, Inside/Outside Decor, 1972.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Adults sitting around living and dining rooms (full array of booze on the counter), playing with a small dog, and lots of footage of the interior and exterior holiday decorations.
#324. [Well-off Family Opening Presents for Camera, 1950s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Family and Siamese cats enter living room and play with the cats, the group opens their presents — a dictation machine/reel-to-reel recorder, a radio, new clothes (including a fir-collared coat), matching midcentury decorative paintings, a new portable television, etc., and another couple arrive. Cute decor. Fans of the midcentury period will love this 8mm film because it is so perfectly representative of the time.  This is not high design…it’s not the cliche of the “fabulous fifties.”  It is a house that people live in and the gifts that they exchange give us this wonderful glimpse into the popular, perhaps slightly well-off mainstream.  
#333. [Family from Akron Ohio at Outdoor Gathering and at Christmas, 1950s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. We think it’s fun to open toys vicariously. We love that who we might assume is the mother looks a little miffed at the camera person with his or her bright lights in her face this early in the morning. What follows is more typical – kids going nuts for their new toys
#325. [“Hanukkah Party at Elaine’s, 1976.”] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Family goofing at the table and in kitchen, lighting the menorah, eating and chatting.
#320. [Superimposition of Surfers over Family Gathering, Beach and River Fun, Funny Dancer, ca. June 1965.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Family picnicking on patio which is then superimposed by footage of a person surfing, then young people having fun at the beach, on a river in boats, and ends with a young man doing a funny dance in a living room while others watch.
#264. [“Holly – Xmas ’72 at Sears, SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) Xmas Party, First Christmas in Our New House and The Bavins.”] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Toddler Holly versus the Sears department store Santa, running around touching all the toys and dolls and stuffed animals, trying out a couple of different tricycles, checking out the decorated Christmas trees on display, and kissing plastic illuminated Joseph and Mary in a nativity scene. Holly in a fancy dress and Christmas necklace accompanies her parents (and grandparents?) to a SEPTA Christmas party for employees and their kids, Holly takes her gift from Santa this time and gives him a smooch, kids dancing in a circle (with Holly’s grandpa?) New scene: the family’s living room with its Christmas tree, tons of decorations and cards, then Holly coming down Christmas morning to open all her presents. Other family members join them later. Cross-listed under “Melissa’s Obsession: Work and Social Club Parties.”
#196. [“Hawaiian Party,” ca. 1961.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Adults dressed up for a big Hawaiian-themed house party out on a patio, having dinner, hanging out, goofing off, then cuts to guests dancing the twist, with the added twist of a purposeful double exposure over even more dancing party-goers. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#198. [Older Man’s Birthday Party, Family Goofing Around, ca. 1960s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Fun footage of the family goofing around with wigs and instruments to entertain an old man on his birthday.
#208. [New Orleans: Fat Tuesday Party at Dixie’s Bar of Music, Cemetery, 1957.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Three women on vacation in New Orleans, really great costume/drag party at Dixie’s Bar of Music (considered one of the city’s first gay bars), Huey P. Long Bridge(?), Audubon Park, and a cemetery. You can spot Yvonne “Dixie” Fasnacht staring at 00:43 (plus glimpses of probably her sister Irma with grey hair.)
  • This next home movie has some real historical significance. It takes place mostly at Dixie’s Bar of Music located at the corner of Bourbon St. and St. Peter St. in the French Quarter of New Orleans (directly across from Preservation Jazz Hall). Dixie’s, a legendary hangout for artists and writers, notably Lyle Saxon, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, and Gore Vidal, is considered one of the first gay bars in the city and an important part of the modern history of gay New Orleans. Run by two sisters: Dixie and Irma Fasnacht
  • According to an article in the journal, Southern Cultures, Dixie’s place was never raided or her patrons bothered by the police while there.
  • We think this may be Fat Tuesday. The same article mentions that the sisters showed their appreciation to their customers and friends on Fat Tuesday by preparing a special spread. They hired extra help to handle the increased business as out-of-towners also converged on Dixie’s for what became for many an annual pilgrimage. 
  • During this time, cross-dressing was illegal in Orleans Parish except on Halloween and Mardi Gras.
  • Next year in 1958 a group of locals formed the first gay Mardi Gras parade crew called Krewe Yuga.
#225. [“Daddy in Underwear, Part 2, 1960 or 1961.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. “Daddy,” who was probably a Naval officer and maybe stationed in San Francisco (according to the return address), walks through his daily routine for the camera. He disrobes, prays and climbs into the upper bunk in a shared room, then wakes to his alarm, shaves and dresses in an orange jumpsuit for the flight deck and leaves.
#252. [“Rose Bowl Parade 1-1-1962.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Really lovely, colorful footage of that year’s Rose Bowl Parade floats (including one with LAX’s Theme Building and another for the Flintstones), and more.
DR#12. [“Xmas 1985.”] VHS. Color. Sound. David Root and friends celebrate Christmas 1985 together. Footage includes his kitty Ratso, holiday decorations and relaxation, a tour around the house, etc. To learn more about David Root, see DR#2 and DR#5 under “Publications & Resources,” and search for more of his videos by name throughout the website.

UPDATE March 2023: Deserted Films donated the David Root videotape collection to the GBLT Historical Society in San Francisco. Here is a link to the finding aid.
DR#15. [“Oct. ’89 Earthquake.”] VHS. Color. Sound. David Root recorded San Francisco-area television news coverage of the October 1989 earthquake that struck the Bay Area. It’s likely Root lived about 30 miles Northwest of San Francisco in Concord during this time. Live coverage includes KPIX Channel 5, KGO Channel 7, and national coverage by Dan Rather on CBS. To learn more about David Root, see DR#2 and DR#5 under “Publications & Resources,” and search for more of his videos by name throughout the website.

UPDATE March 2023: Deserted Films donated the David Root videotape collection to the GBLT Historical Society in San Francisco. Here is a link to the finding aid.
#341. [“Rescue at Sea, Elmer and Rose Visit Millie, Ginny and Kids [and B. Peck] in Back Yard,” circus, and the beach, c.1957-1960s.] 8mm. B&W and Color. Silent. Donald Ramsay Lawson family films, donated by his daughter Beth Campbell. Possibly California. [Exterior] Marine helicopter taking off; close up of Marine helicopters landing on a dock; close up on signaler guiding helicopter where to land; ship on sea (camera operator perspective from ship); waves on open sea; another nearby ship; transfer of materials between ships; body (either a person or dummy) wrapped up and transferred between ships; [Exterior] child with doll and stuffed animals posing in front yard; closeup on women; [Interior] woman sitting inside a house at a table; young woman; [Exterior] man doing yard work; [Interior] woman smoking and drinking coffee; [Exterior] women and children outside on street posing by car; people getting into car; women and children in front yard; car on street; woman and children inside car; child playing in yard showing off outfit; [Interior] circus performance inside circus tent; [Exterior] large toy train ride; beach; public pool; woman, man, and two children outside by car taking family photos (possibly Elmer and Rose); [Presumably “B. Peck in Back Yard”] children and teens playing in back yard doing handstands and cartwheels; adults and children playing in kiddie pool. [Digitized and partially described by UCLA grad students in IS289-3 “Special Issues in Information Studies: Motion Picture Film Preservation” course, Fall 2022. See notes about the collaboration on the “Events and News” page.]
#445. [“1964 – 75th Rose Parade.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Home movie footage features the 75th Annual Rose Parade including: really great floats, Grand Marshal President Dwight D. and First Lady Mamie Eisenhower waving from a car, as well as actor Phil Silvers and another former cast member (Harvey Lembeck?) of The Phil Silvers Show on a Minute Maid Orange Delight float. This film has been digitized and preserved thanks to a generous grant from California Revealed, which was supported at the time by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
#334 [“Santa Daddy 1967.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Donald Ramsay Lawson family films, donated by his daughter Beth Campbell. Teenage girls perhaps gardening in yard with flowers, summer; interior shot of Santa with kids on his lap and one toddler girl not having it; Santa doing his thing, shaking hands and giving kisses, holding babies and gesturing to the tree. [Digitized by UCLA grad students in IS289-3 “Special Issues in Information Studies: Motion Picture Film Preservation” course, Fall 2022. See notes about the collaboration on the “Events and News” page.]
#370. [“Play,” Rehearsal for Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, ca. 1950s.] 8mm. B/W. Silent. Rehearsals for Tennessee William’s play, A Streetcar Named Desire. Location unknown.
#372. [Christmas Morning, Opening Presents (Including Film Reels), ca.1950s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Adults of all ages sitting around a living room, Christmas decor, tree and presents including a Brownie camera, a case of empty 8mm film reels, a perhaps Bell and Howell 8mm camera, grooming kits, clothes, pen sets, slippers, etc. Likely a California family — kids outside next to a Cypress tree. Girls goofing around, back to adults sitting around. Bonus: a nice vintage gold VW bug. A bit scratched up, but really lovely color!
#367. [Olympic Trials for Women’s Track and Field #1, American University, August 25, 1956.] 8mm, Color. Silent. Rose Caccamise family films. POV from plane flying over landscape, legs of people deplaning a National Airlines aircraft, Nellie and possibly her grandmother descending some marble steps smiling, Rose and her grandmother walking down a street toward the camera, the two sitting outside the McKinley Building on American University campus in Washington, DC, Rose talking to what looks like her personal coach Bob Murray for a moment. August 25, 1956, the 1956 Olympic trials for Women’s track and field events on Reeves Field, American University. A series of races including Olympic hopeful and alternate Rose Caccamise and family (and whose films these are). Significantly, other athletes shown include Tennessee A&I State Tigerbelles Mae Faggs*, Wilma Rudolph*, and Lucinda Williams*, and possibly Isabelle Daniels*. Ends with crowds of spectators and climbing up the stairs into a Capital Airlines plane. Back to probably home to a brick house (or hotel?), yard and street. [Note: Search for “Caccamise” on our site to see more of her family films and Women’s Track and Field Trials for the 1956 Olympics.* signifies Olympic medalists that year. Let us know if we’ve identified anyone incorrectly, or not at all.]
#366. [Olympic Trials for Women’s Track and Field #2, American University, August 25, 1956.] 8mm, Color. Silent. Rose Caccamise family films. August 25, 1956, the 1956 Olympic trials for Women’s track and field events on Reeves Field, American University. Caccamise grandmother (and perhaps grandfather), American University buildings, HBCU Tennessee A&I State’s Tigerbelles Isabelle Daniels*, Wilma Rudolph*, JoAnn Terry, Willye White, possibly Martha Hudson and Lucinda Williams*, plus others, as well as Earlene Brown* and Mae Faggs* watching a race on Reeves Field, a race including some Tigerbelles (Rudolph and others) and others, shot-putter Earlene Brown, a television cameraman setting up, spectators, cameraman, hurdle race (with a Tigerbelle and probably 1956 Olympic team member Irene Robertson — see #366 and #355) Robertson walking held up a bit by another woman, a Tigerbelle (hard to tell which one), a next heat getting ready including Rose Caccamise (in white shirt) and perhaps Isabelle Daniels in glasses), the race (a bit dark), Rose, perhaps a coach or meet organizer, and Tuskegee coach Nell Jackson, Jackson (former Olympian and Hall of Fame sprinter) and Nellie Caccamise, Earlene Brown throwing a shotput, a woman smiling at the camera, then with Nellie, then chatting with Rose and her personal coach Bob Murray, Nellie smiling and shooing away camera, Rose walking off, another race/heat (Tigerbelles and others) and runners milling about (including a nice shot of maybe Willye White?, a live band performing in the stands, Rose showing off a medal, and Alabama license plate for a bus, and the side of the Tuskegee Institute vehicle, and two men loading a trunk. [Note: Search for “Caccamise” on our site to see more of her family films and Women’s Track and Field Trials for the 1956 Olympics.* signifies Olympic medalists that year. Let us know if we’ve identified anyone incorrectly, or not at all.]
#368. Olympic Trials for Women’s Track and Field #3, American University, August 25, 1956.] 8mm, Color. Silent. Rose Caccamise family films. August 25, 1956, the 1956 Olympic trials for Women’s track and field events on Reeves Field, American University. The start of a race (including two of HBCU Tennessee A&I State’s Tigerbelles – perhaps Isabelle Daniels and Lucinda Williams?) shot in slow motion until the end of the race, Rose walking with possibly Olympic team member Constance Darnowski, committee person we think is former Olympian Frances Kaszubski smiles at the camera as she walks past, then the same woman walking down bleachers past the Tigerbelles with multi-Olympic-medal-winning Polish-American athlete Stella Walsh/Walasiewicz (this would be her last Olympic trial), another heat shot in slow motion with the Tigerbelles out front (with we think Isabelle Daniels* out front and Mae Faggs?), Rose and others, a nice close-up of Isabelle Daniels, Rose walking with her coach Bob Murray and perhaps some reporters, Rose running back to the starting line as competitors line up for races, two races in slow motion, Walsh walking, a couple more people walk by, Isabelle Daniels walks by, then Tigerbelles and other athletes, Kaszubski walks past, another race in slow motion — Tigerbelles out front again, a smiling guy in a hat, Kaszubski and others chatting, the runners going around the track, Walsh in the race, a guy running — maybe a fan, Czechoslovakian Olympian (Discus) Olga Fikotová signing autographs, Earlene Brown catching a baseball, Rose speaking with and then posing with her mom Nellie and Walsh, Rose in a dress entering motel room door, lit up Ambassador Motel sign, Rose waving from the door, shooting out the door a neon Cleveland Trust sign, a Cleveland corporation limit (Ohio) street sign, “Entering Shaker Heights” (Ohio) sign and shops behind (Stella Walsh used to live in Cleveland although not at this time, but her parents still did — maybe they were traveling with?) [Note: Search for “Caccamise” on our site to see more of her family films and Women’s Track and Field Trials for the 1956 Olympics.* signifies Olympic medalists that year. Let us know if we’ve identified anyone incorrectly, or not at all.]
#365. [Olympic Trials for Women’s Track and Field #4, American University, August 25, 1956.] 8mm, Color. Silent. Rose Caccamise family films. August 25, 1956, the 1956 Olympic trials for Women’s track and field events on Reeves Field, American University. Footage begins with Cuban hopefuls posing in matching blue and white jogging suits with coaches, a coach for the 1956 U.S. team Nell C. Jackson (former Olympian and Hall of Fame sprinter from Tuskegee Institute, now University) and another man grouped for a picture, Jackson sitting on a bleacher near Tuskegee Institute athletes in brown and white uniforms, a perhaps staff person walking around and over to Rose and her coach Bob Murray and others, Earlene Brown* jogs past the camera over to her teammates on the field, the Tigerbelle group doing calisthenics in white jogging suits, Rose chatting to the cameraperson and jogging around a bit, a few men in the bleachers, rapid edits of more calisthenics, a man taking a photograph or shooting 8mm, Tigerbelle group walks off the field with a man carrying a 16mm camera, Earlene Brown waves to the camera as she passes, members of the Cuban team, people standing about, Olympian Pamela Kurrell* (discus) walks past with likely her coach and says hello to the camera, camera passes Tigerbelles resting, Rose, Murray, and others, really nice shot of Mae Faggs* dressed up and wearing her medal around her neck descends bleacher steps, smiles and says hello to the camera, possibly Olympic team member Stella Darnowski* speaking to someone, a woman with a camera hung around her neck folding up her tripod and packing up, Jackson and other organizers or trainers chatting, committee person with the paperwork we think is former Olympian Frances Kaszubski talking with trainers or staff?, Rose warming up, Isabelle Daniels* relaxing on the bleachers and smiling, Kaszubski directing folks again, runners at the starting mark, race in slow motion, Rose comes in second (?) and is greeted by Jackson, more races in slow motion: seems like Daniels and with multi-Olympic-medal-winning Polish-American athlete Stella Walsh/Walasiewicz (this would be her last Olympic trial). [Note: Search for “Caccamise” on our site to see more of her family films and Women’s Track and Field Trials for the 1956 Olympics.* signifies Olympic medalists that year. Let us know if we’ve identified anyone incorrectly, or not at all.]
#375. [‘Xmas 1953 — Credit Club Xmas Party (Work), Xmas 1954, Crystal Lake Mountains — Snow 1955, Kussen (Johnson Dog), Beach, Memorial Day, Boys Choir (James), Ray’s Folks, Palm Springs, Calif.; December 1955-’56.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. On this long reel is a bit scratched up and dirty, but it includes holiday parties, roadtrips, and vacation footage of a group of young people hanging by a motel pool (help us identify!) in Palm Springs and exploring a bit. Cross-listed under “Melissa’s Obsession: Work and Social Club Parties”, “Our Region.”
#398. [“Thanksgiving, Xmas 1960, Mother’s Day…Harry & Family, Joe & Jay(?), Pets(?)….”] 8mm. Color. Silent. San Diego-area family celebrates the holidays, relax in the backyard and newly erected patio, pose in their Sunday bests, and go camping and motorbiking out in Anza Borrego. Crosslisted over on the “A Short Drive” page.
#391. [Big Family Having Christmas Dinner, Opening Presents, ca. 1960s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Festive get together and decor as Asian family opens presents (including a neat purple Vietnam-era Chinook helicopter toy), dines, and more.
#396. [1956 U.S. Women Olympic Hopeful Practicing (State University College for Teachers at Buffalo now Buffalo State University?) to Trials at American University (Washington, D.C.), ca. August 1956.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Rose Caccamise family films. August 25, 1956, the 1956 Olympic trials for Women’s track and field events were held on Reeves Field, American University. Rose Caccamise practicing sprints on a road in the countryside with her trainer, football players in green sweats warming up on a field, Rose embarking on a plane, POV from the plane, a shot of Nell C. Jackson of Tuskegee Institute, the Tigerbelles team, Rose on the track, various other athletes practicing. [Note: Search for “Caccamise” on our site to see more of her family films and Women’s Track and Field Trials for the 1956 Olympics.]
#389. [“Christmas on Marion St.,” 1940s or early 1950s.] 16mm. B/W. Silent. Footage includes winter fun and Christmas on Marion Street according to the filmmaker’s use of intertitles. It’s a good example of a playful filmmaker who experimentally records holiday activities. He must have had a patient family. We know the segment at the kitchen table was shot in early January because he or she kept the calendar in the shot for a moment.
#449. [“Halloween, Hank’s & (Unclear),” 1960s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Halloween, Christmas, and more. Aside from holiday celebrations, this longish home movie includes footage shot around the local Beaumont-Cherry Valley area. Crosslisted on the “Our Region” page.
#152. [“Xmas Party at Jo’s House, 1955.]. 8mm. Color. Silent. Holiday party: tree and presents, being drinking and chatting in the kitchen, adults and kids in the living room, opening presents, decorating the dog, etc. See also #148, #150, #151, #153, #154, #155, #156, #157, #158, and #159 on the “Our Region” page for more from this collection. This film is also crosslisted there.
#438. [“Palm Springs – Thanksgiving Weekend 1962” plus Erawan Garden Hotel (March 1963) and L’Horizon, May 1963.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Mytinger Family Home Movies. Great footage of the Mytinger family and friends staying at the Desert Isle Hotel and Apartments in Palm Springs, at the former Erawan Garden Hotel in Palm Desert (then Miramonte Resort & Spa, and Tommy Bahama’s, and the property is officially in Indian Wells now), and L’Horizon. Crosslisted on the “Holidays, Special Events, Parties, & Weird Stuff” page. See also #439, #440, #443, #444, and #498.
#535. [“10th Anniversary – Everybody Dance,” 1960s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Rowdy costume party. *Warning: unfortunately, one reveler is in blackface.
#666. [Yardley of London – Cosmetic Industry Careers, 1970.] 16mm. Color. Sound. Travel back in time and space to Canada, 1970, with clips from this fascinating training film for Yardley of London! Donated by local Cathy Logan.
#430. [Latine/Hispanic Americans: New Year’s Party, Midnight, Dressed Up, Dancing, 1971.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. A fantastic view from the dance floor at this New Year’s Party. It’s like you’re there!
Stumpf#22. [“Ocotillo Wells, Scouts (at) Orange County Fairgrounds, New Year’s Eve ’72.”] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Stumpf family films. POV footage from a car through Texas, at the beach, and then POV again in the desert around Ocotillo Wells; then they attend a Boy Scout jamboree in the Orange County Fairgrounds, a parade, and then a New Year’s Eve party which is the same NYE Party as in #538 (McCormick family films). Crosslisted on the “Our Region” page.
#418. [Santa’s Workshop (Colorado?) etc., 1960s.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Not holiday per se, but this family visits what’s likely Santa’s Workshop in Cascade, Colorado, and then they drive through the mountains and visit a touristy Native American village.
#274. [Youngsters Football Game, Creatively Shot, ca. late 1960s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. A game between two uniformed Junior High school (?) football teams with lots of close-ups and slow-motion shots, fancy edits. Perhaps a student film?
#736. [Olympic Trials for Women’s Track and Field #5, American University, August 25, 1956.] 8mm, Color. Silent. Rose Caccamise family films. Athletes practicing, coaches and athletes standing around the field, pan across crowd-filled bleachers, Rose and other athletes in sweats, an announcer shakes hands with Rose, family in yard with dog (Rose, mom Nellie, a woman and young boy), Rose’s (perhaps) grandparents smiling in the stands, bagpipe and dancing on the field, women running 100-meter with Rose in lead. Roxy Caccamise pushing a lawn mower, Rose and Roxy pull up in a dark blue Ford truck, “Roxy’s Music Store, ‘The Home of All Things Musical,’ 8 Jackson St, Batavia, NY” on the door,* they get out and greet the dog, Roxy in suit and hat poses by the truck bed, “Baldwin Pianos, Organs,” boy pushes lawn mower, boys wave and ride by on bicycles.

*Rose later took over ownership of Roxy’s Music. Description by volunteer Rio Maropis.[Note: Search for “Caccamise” on our site to see more of her family films and Women’s Track and Field Trials for the 1956 Olympics.]
#383. [“New Year’s Eve Party, 1967.”] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. A New Year’s Eve party with tipsy guests sitting around, hanging out, then goofing off and dancing. The last half shows off some fantastic outdoor decorations all lit up at night, including a small merry-go-round, a mini Ferris wheel, and lots of simple animatronics. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#419. [Creepy Santa, Toddlers, 1950s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. The Christmas tree, a (terrifying!) plastic-masked Santa arrives, two women and two toddlers sit on the couch as Santa hands out wrapped gifts (the kids don’t seem too thrilled by him!) then departs, shots of the toddlers by the tree, the toddlers unwrap their gifts, a man comes by with more gifts and stockings. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#420. [“Xmas/New Year’s ’68.”] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. On Christmas, a mom and her three kids sit on a couch reading from a book, dad and kids sit by the tree waving for the camera, then the kids play with some toys. On New Year’s Eve, shots of basement decked out for the party, adults in costumes drinking, posing, and playing games (watch for the camera going sideways at one point!) Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#422. [“Christmas 1978.”] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Christmas morning, a boy and girl looking sleepy in their pajamas next to a small pile of gifts, kids posing with dad in front of a menorah on the fireplace, kids posing with their unwrapped gifts (lots of toys!), dad and kids goofing off, then a shot with mom wearing matching kimonos. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado. (Aside: the kids are right around our age, and the toys are super familiar to us: the Telstar Gemini Video console by Coleco, Lace’em Hand Puppets, Rummikub, supermarket play food, Clue…We love the family’s matching kimonos too.)
#431. [Off-air Recording of Movin’ On Television Show, ca. 1974-1976.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Footage of a black and white T.V. playing an episode of Movin’ On (looks like it might be the episode “No More Sad Songs”). Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#437. [“1961-1962 Xmas — Runa’s Party, Mother’s, Ginny’s, Home, Cosmos Meeting, Cosmos Kids Party.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. “Cosmos” refers to Cosmopolitan Club. Crosslisted on the “Melissa’s Obsession: Work and Social Club Parties” page. Adults having a good time at a Christmas party, then a (different?) Christmas party with older adults: opening gifts, goofing off for the camera, Christmas dinner, kids and their toys, house decorations, family posing by the tree; the Cosmos meeting: women gathered in a common room, dancing, chairs and a projector screen in the background, a big Cosmos kids party with Santa giving out toys, women playing limbo. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#470. [Thanksgiving Dinner, Relaxing, 1950s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. A family having Thanksgiving dinner at home, a man carving up the turkey, a woman setting out various dishes, adults and kids hanging out in the living room after dinner. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#471. [“Christmas 1964.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Same family as #484, #486 and #488. Some great outdoor Christmas decorations lit up at night, boys decorating the Christmas tree indoors, boys unwrapping their gifts on Christmas morning, adults hanging out in the living room, indoor Christmas decorations, the boys playing with their cool toys (Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, a train set, a Radio Flyer wagon), grandparents in the kitchen, Santa arrives and hangs out with the boys, more shots of them playing with their new toys. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#475. [“Easter Pictures, March ’67.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. A little girl discovering her Easter basket and a giant dressed-up rabbit plush in the living room, she starts carrying the rabbit around (with a bit of a struggle – it’s as big as she is!), an Easter dinner spread on the dining table, the girl and her mother posing for the camera, then the girl opening her basket (lots of good stuff in there). Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#478. [“Xmas 1957 – Guy and Toys.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. The eponymous Guy (a young boy in an adorable red-and-white striped outfit) playing with his toys on Christmas. He’s got quite the haul, including an all metal Hamilton Army jeep, a Rocket sled, drums, an inflatable Joe Palooka Bop Bag punching bag, a Mickey Mouse record player, an Odd Ogg toy, a train set running around the Christmas tree, boxing mitts, and a jack-in-the-box. Wait until the end to see him dressed in a new cute outfit. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado, updated by DF.
#741. [Wild Work/Christmas Party, 1970s.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Crosslisted on the “Melissa’s Obsession: Work and Social Club Parties” page. Adults exchanging gifts and goofing off at a party held at their workplace. Fun! Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
HM#3. [“Hugo Montenegro Spot. 120 Sec.” for Broadway’s Greatest Hits album, 1977.] 1-inch video. Color. Sound. A television commercial selling Hugo Montenegro’s Broadway’s Greatest Hits album which seems to have been available on for order. See home movies made by Montenegro (#409, #410, and #411) on the “A Short Drive” page. Click here to read more about Hugo Montenegro, who lived out his final years in Palm Springs.
#436. [“Swimming & Xmas 1969, Mardi Gras 1970, Vacation & Xmas 1971, Xmas 1972-1973”.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Home movie opens with title card “1969 Folks Visit to Gretna” and documents a trip to the sea or bay where they see and touch dolphins, fishing off a bridge, playing catch with a German Shepherd in the backyard of their Gretna (La.) home; a new title reads “Christmas Time in Louisiana 1969” celebrating Christmas in their Gretna with grandparents: tree and decorations, opening presents, doing a puzzle; a new title reads “1970 Vacation Colo.” and film proceeds with a summer trip to Colorado where they horseback ride; a new titles reads “1971 Disneyland” and we see the family making their way through the amusement park (including a ride on mules!); the next title says “1971 Xmas, Longview” (Texas ? grandparents’ house?) and the footage captures the decorated tree, relaxing and opening presents; and the last title reads “Christmas For Del, Mickey and Linda, 1972” after which footage captures the decorated tree, opening presents; after a bit of blank footage continues with Christmas 1973 at their grandparents’ home (in Texas?) where they open presents, etc. Despite what the handwritten notes indicate, there doesn’t appear to be Mardi Gras footage on this reel. See also 434 and 435. This film has been digitized and preserved thanks to a generous grant from California Revealed, which was supported at the time by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
#443. [“Boulder (Xmas), etc.,” 1950s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Mytinger Family Home Movies. Crosslisted on the “A Longer Drive” page. Search for more Mytinger Family films throughout the website.
#486. [“Christmas Eve & Day 1965 & Part of New Year’s Eve — Before 12:00 o’clock — with Lou and Friends, Ft. Dix.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Same family as #471, #478, and #488. Boys waking up on Christmas morning, adults and kids opening gifts in the living room, boys playing with new toys (including a miniature piano, a reel-to-reel tape player, and mom’s new sewing machine), adults and kids goofing around in the living room, a toddler playing with a kitten; Lou and friends in uniform (and party hats) hanging out in a family’s living room on New Year’s Eve while on leave for the holiday. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#488. [“Christmas 1962.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Same family as #471, #484 and #486. Shots of outdoor Christmas decorations at night (a little hard to make them out), a pair of boys decorating the Christmas tree indoors, a view of the gifts and a small nativity scene laid out under the tree, the boys unwrapping their gifts including a toy bazooka, adults unwrapping their gifts and goofing around, shots of several kids playing with their toys and on a drum set.
#490. [“Holidays and Ice Skating, 1961.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Adults and kids hanging out at a holiday (maybe Christmas Eve) house party, shots of the festivities, a toddler playing at a kitchen table; adults and kids skating and slipping at a busy ice skating rink. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#496. [Bar Mitzvah Party, ca. 1959.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Toronto family. Possibly made by a George Shiffman. A bar mitzvah party at home: shots of the table decorations, adults and kids hanging out in the living room and at the dining table, boy and his mother cutting the cake, and more shots of the guests hanging out. A boy with an eyepatch poses with a red bike in the front yard of a house, then shots of a shed (or a dog house?) out in a yard under cloudy skies. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#505. [“Judy – Michael, Family at Xmas,” 1950s.] 8mm. Faded color. Silent. A toddler plays with his toys and poses for the camera in the living room on Christmas morning, adults and kids hanging out in the living room and kitchen; women and girls sitting around a living room at a baby shower as gifts are passed around. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#538. [“New Year’s Eve 1971-72, Chuck & Jean.”] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. McCormick family films. Adults drinking and hanging out at a New Year’s Eve party out on an enclosed patio: hugs and kisses at midnight, and one drunk guest goofs around and with the others. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#557. [“Christmas 1973, Our New Home.”] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Russell/Trendt Family films. This couple, one of whom may have retired on Sunset Way in Palm Springs, lovingly record all the newness of a first big holiday in a new home. They recorded for posterity decorating the tree and the walls, and exchanged thoughtful gifts. These images seem to indicate a starter family, a starter home, and a starter Christmas.
Stumpf#16. [“1965-1966 New Year’s Eve Party at Barney & Evelyn’s/April 1966 Party after Firemen’s Ball.”] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Stumpf family films. Adults dressed up drinking, dancing, midnight celebration, “belly dancer.” See more from this family throughout the website.
Stumpf#17. [“New Year’s at Jary’s, ’67.”] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Stumpf family films. Dressed up adults — end of the evening fun; Christmas tree, cards displayed in shape of a tree, people in kitchen, rescuing cat from tree. See more from this family throughout the website.
Stumpf#19. [“New Year’s Eve ’74,” Part 1.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Stumpf family films. Party: group games (race keeping a carrot between the knees). See also Stumpf#18 for end of party. See more from this family throughout the website.
Stumpf#18. [“12/31/1974 New Year’s Party,” Part 2.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Stumpf family films. Folks more casually attired than ten years earlier, group games (a race keeping knees together), folks sitting around, laughing, midnight. See more from this family throughout the website.
#756. [“Square Dance, 12/27/59.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Family from Indio. [Note: the frame rate is a bit off. Consider viewing at a higher speed — use the gear symbol on the player to adjust — until we have time to fix it!] Lots of square dancing and snacking at a party celebrating New Year’s (a bit early); then a group gathered to picnic in a desert canyon (Hidden Valley Trail picnic area in Joshua Tree?) We could only make out one badge, that of Elmer Suski (Japanese dancer) who was an officer with the Indio Chamber Of Commerce and a Lions Club member. This filmmaker was too and lived in Indio, so we’re thinking this event may be their town. Crosslisted on the “Our Region” page.
Stumpf#23. [“Oct. ’73 Music Man (Band Members), #1 Halloween Party.”] Super 8. Color. Silent. Stumpf family films. Teenagers’ costume party, good costumes. See also #24 and more from this family throughout the website.
Stumpf#24. [“Oct. ’73 Music Man (Band Members), #2 Halloween Party.”] Super 8. Color. Silent. Stumpf family films. Continuation of the party in Stumpf#23: bobbing for apples, showing off jerseys, more costumes, looking through 8-track tapes.
#735. [Family Christmas, Outdoor Decor, 1960s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Excellent outdoor holiday decor at these folks’ house, a boy and girl in their pajamas opening gifts by the Christmas tree, the family sitting around the kitchen table having dinner, and a nice shot of the Christmas tree all lit up. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#253. [Family Sits Around Chatting and Watching Cute Toddlers and Babies at Christmas, ca. 1950s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Cute midcentury apartment and even cuter kids.
FB#9. [“Christmas ’56 & New Year’s ’57.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. This 1956-1957 home movie captures generations of the Frank Parkhurst Brackett, Jr., family on Christmas morning opening gifts, having dinner, and receiving guests. Notes from the donor on first appearances of family members in the film: At timecode 0:13 Patricia (Pat) Coulter; at 0:23 Ray Coulter (Pat’s husband, Steve’s dad); at 1:03 Davida seated in the chair, then prepping the turkey; at 1:23 Frank Jr.. Other people are friends, possibly from Technicolor. Search for more Frank Parkhurst Brackett, Jr. Family films throughout the website (FB#4 incl. a family bio). This film has been digitized and preserved thanks to a generous grant from California Revealed, which was supported at the time by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
FB#10. [“Xmas Before & After, Dec. ’57.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. This home movie captures generations of the Brackett family on Christmas 1957 wrapping and opening gifts, and relaxing. Notes from the donor on first appearances of family members in the film: At timecode 0:17 Davida seated in the chair; 0:24 the little girl is Kathy (daughter of Alison); 0:30 Alison; 0:38 Frank Jr.; 0:44 Patricia; 1:01 Patricia’s husband, Ray. Others may be friends from Technicolor, etc. Search for more Frank Parkhurst Brackett, Jr. Family films throughout the website (FB#4 incl. a family bio). This film has been digitized and preserved thanks to a generous grant from California Revealed, which was supported at the time by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
#817. [“Family ’63, ’64, ’65, Kathy Camprell.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Same family as #818. Four kids on Christmas, toy racetrack, Mouse Trap game, walkie talkies, daughters show off gifts of radios, slippers, jewelry, one daughter’s leg cast is decorated in gold for Christmas; displaying an “A” on a school paper, walking and skipping on the driveway in her cast; identical bunnies nibbling carrots, cat interacts with bunnies, youngest daughter with cat, showing off a wrist cast with signature from “Mother”, boy hanging a birdhouse, birthday party, boys play LIFE board game; kids pose outside dressed up; daughters in matching western outfits (pink skirts, vests, white boots, hats) twirling batons, they demonstrate marching, twirling, and perform a routine, mom and baby in matching dresses, surfing/hula birthday cake for oldest daughter, friends around table with similar stylish bobs and bangs hairdos, two daughters packed up for YMCA summer camp, boarding bus to camp; kids on first day of school holding numbers to indicate their grade (3, 6, 8, 9); carving pumpkins. Description by volunteer Rio Maropis.
#778. [A Year of Basement and Outdoor Parties, Holidays + Dinosaurs, mid-1960s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Crosslisted on “A Flight Away” page. A family backyard party and picnic, a boy fishing in a marsh, a wedding reception in a lodge, family in a kitchen, lots of big dinosaur statues on display on truck beds including giant eggs and baby dinos, a big basement birthday dinner with cake and gifts, Christmas morning opening gifts with the family, boy with a train set, basement party for teens or young adults. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
JS#7. [“Cousin Rosie/Joey Decorated the Tree #1,” 1961.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Sczempka family films. Donated by Joseph Sczempka, Jr. See others from this family throughout the site. Family posing for the camera (and one kid who is just not having it), leaving cousin Rosie’s house after visiting, Joey (a young boy) putting ornaments on the Christmas tree. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
JS#8. [“Santa, #2,” 1961.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Sczempka family films. Donated by Joseph Sczempka, Jr. See others from this family throughout the site. Christmastime party for kids: eating cake and ice cream around a table, Santa arriving in the living room to hand out toys and candy canes, dancing with the kids, then more gift opening. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
JS#9. [“Xmas ’61, #3.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Sczempka family films. Donated by Joseph Sczempka, Jr. See others from this family throughout the site. Family Christmas dinner, gift exchanges, and opening gifts. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
JS#30. [Christmases and More, ca. 1967.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Sczempka family films. Donated by Joseph Sczempka, Jr. See others from this family throughout the site. Christmas footage: young boy (the star of this film) opening gifts and getting cool toys (including a The Crusader 101 remote car), handing out gifts to family, showing off other gifts; backyard Easter egg hunt with the boy dressed up in a suit, then posing with his mother; more Christmas footage: boy laying out gifts under the tree, showing off Christmas decorations; family fun out in the yard, playing with pets, and posing; boy’s birthday party at the Knott’s Berry Farm Old MacDonald’s Party Garden: lots of animals and a fun ride; a cute poodle and the family in the backyard on Easter (same one as before); older woman’s birthday; a couple on a porch holding babies; another Christmas: house decor, family opening gifts (including a cool Fort Apache action figure set); family fun in the backyard; more footage of the Knott’s birthday party: opening gifts and shots around the Garden; lots more Christmas footage: family opening gifts, house decorations, showing off gifts under the tree, more gift opening, boy playing with toys. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
JS#31. [“Easter/Christmas, Mid-’60s, Lakewood, CA.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Sczempka family films. Donated by Joseph Sczempka, Jr. See others from this family throughout the site. Easter egg hunt in the backyard, family Christmas in the living room, boys open one gift together, boys’ Easter ceremony at St. Pancratius Parish School in Lakewood, CA, boy posing with nuns and priests, then posing with family in the backyard, shots of the Christmas tree and house decorations, mom and boy posing in front of tree, family opening gifts, boy playing with toys, more shots of the decorations. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
JS#37. [“Connie’s House, 1972, Xmas #1.”] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Sczempka family films. Donated by Joseph Sczempka, Jr. See others from this family throughout the site. Enjoying Christmas dinner, adults having cocktails around the tree, then opening gifts. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
JS#79. [“Xmas Dec. 1971, #2.”] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Sczempka family films. Donated by Joseph Sczempka, Jr. See others from this family throughout the site. Family opening Christmas gifts, shots of the decorations around the house, and exterior shots of the house. Aside: we have the projection table that is received as a gift, or is being used, in this one. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado. (Aside: we have the projection table that is received as a gift, or is being used, in this one.)
JS#98. [“#2, Xmas, Disney Parade,” 1975.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Sczempka family films. Donated by Joseph Sczempka, Jr. See others from this family throughout the site. Joe, Jr. is in this parade. Disneyland Christmas parade footage: dancing reindeer and Santa’s float, dancing snow people and dancing trees, giant America-themed floats, some great wooden nutcracker costumes, a few Disney costume characters. Fascinating. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
JS#99. [#1, Xmas, Disneyland, 1975, AOP (America on Parade).”] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Sczempka family films. Donated by Joseph Sczempka, Jr. See others from this family throughout the site. More Disneyland Christmas parade footage: great costume characters and fun floats, and taken from a good vantage point. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#668. [Stop Motion: Sci-fi Star Wars-Like Narrative, 1980s.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Creative use of close-up, POV, and scratching on the celluloid to tell a fantastical sci-fi/action story. Rocket ‘flying’ over a snowy lawn, a battle between toy soldiers (scratches on the celluloid resemble gunfire); CREDITS: “Produced/Directed by Tom Burns” (on ruled paper); close proximity fireworks that resemble army tanks speeding forward; fireworks at dusk or evening; sparks resemble night sky and stars, or spacecraft flying around; stormtroopers experience a smoky crash in their aircraft; POV flying through branches, leaves; toy tank and toy soldiers battle in the grass; POV flying an X-wing plane with R2-D2 onboard; ‘Underwater’ scene; recreating the Battle of Hoth from Star Wars Ep. V (The Empire Strikes Back); we come face to face with some toy soldiers/action figures; (title card) “The end!”; good DIY special effect.
#690. [“Yosemite 1950, Modesto 1951, Forest Lawn 1951.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Christmas footage: morning with family in pajamas and robes, opening gifts (gifts, gifts, gifts), lots of nice stuff, and turkey dinner with the family; kids playing in the neighborhood, family saying goodbye, oil wells in background. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#699. [Napa Valley Sparkling Wine Promo Film “Life in Napa Valley”, 1980s] 16mm. Color. Sound. A man and woman taste and chat about Napa Valley sparkling wine. Most likely sponsored by Domaine Chandon sparkling wine.
#748. [“12/’59 – 4/’60.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Family from Indio. See others from this family throughout the site. Notes on the can: “With Kneusdorfs (?) & Dad 1960; Sandy’s First formal; Easter 1960; Colorado River, Tom’s 6th Bday Party, Harold’s boat, Xmas 1959, Kitt First Dress.” Family fun on a sand dune in the desert, Sandy (a teen) showing off a nice dress, kid’s Easter egg hunt in the yard, shot of a speedboat, crowd gathering at a house, water skiing at the Colorado River, family in the desert, birthday party for Tom (a young boy), posing in a speedboat in the driveway, Christmas scenes and a turkey on a spigot, playing football in the yard, eating Christmas dinner and opening gifts, family all wearing funny false teeth, family on a desert hike, Kitt (another teen) showing off her nice dress, family relaxing on a blanket in the grass, beach shots. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado and Deserted Films.
#757. [Christmas Eve: Adults Having Fun, Children’s Nativity Procession, Toddlers, early 1960s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Alvarado family (Yucca Valley/West Covina). See others from this family throughout the site. Christmas Eve party, dressed up kids and adults celebrating, drinking, maracas and guitar, little kids in a candle-lit procession to a nativity scene, brief glimpse of Santa, (white out), toddler boy and girl posing in the yard.
#753. [“Rose Parade 1/1/’59, Christmas Tree 12/’58, Firewood Trip 12/’58, Christmas Day 1958.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Family from Indio. See others from this family throughout the site. [Note: the frame rate is a bit off. Consider viewing at a higher speed — use the gear symbol on the player to adjust — until we have time to fix it!] Kids playing with toy guns, a Shepperd’s Restaurant neon sign by a highway, the start of the Pasadena Rose Parade and several floats, family putting up the Christmas tree and decorations, an outdoor picnic near a wooded area, a large pile of wood on a red truck, a visit from Santa at home, family opening gifts, a shot of the tree, family eating dinner. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#774. [“Christmas 1957.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. A toy Santa holding a “1957” sign in front of two girls, a statue of the Virgin Mary and a portrait of a soldier over the mantelpiece, shots of the Christmas tree, man posing next to a new stereo, family posing together, man carving up a turkey in the kitchen, woman showing off clothes she received, family hanging out in the living room. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#783. [Christmas Day: Tree, Goofing, Dinner, and High School Play, ca. 1970s.] Super 8mm. Color. Sound. Family sitting and chatting around the table, then hanging out in the living room by a Christmas tree, a large flock of birds out in the yard, shots of a high school play, teens playing with a puppy in the living room. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#784. [“Xmas Pappy & Santa, ’52.”] 16mm. Color. Silent. Same family as #785. Christmas footage: young children by the tree and a big pile of gifts, a plastic-masked Santa arrives with toys, family opening gifts. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#785. [“Family Yard Darts, Xmas & Dart,” 1950s.] 16mm. Color. Silent. Same family as #784. Family time indoors, Christmas decorations, a toddler opening a gift, a man trying on a new coat. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#801. [“Jeb’s First Day of School,” Christmas, and Amazing Kid’s Birthday Party with Magician, 1971-1972.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Jeb (a little private school boy) posing in his uniform, leaving on a little private school bus, more posing on the sidewalk; Christmas: tree and pile of gifts, house decorations, Jeb inspecting the gifts, a woman trying to give the cat and dog their Christmas stockings, family playing with Jeb’s new toys; Jeb’s birthday party: kids around the table in cute hats, blowing out candles, cutting the cake, opening gifts, performer with a puppet, Jeb in a magician’s outfit doing a series of tricks along with the performer, even conjuring a white rabbit which the kids take turns petting. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#812. [Spray Flocking Christmas Trees, Fashion Show In “Carmel, Clear Lake […]” Fishing, Young Couple, etc., ca. 1961.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Ranch house in Carmel, CA, nestled among cypress trees above the beach, ocean; mule deer grazing on a neatly mowed lawn at dusk; children and woman posing in front of house, dressed for chilly weather; a pet dachshund comes out from the house and runs around; in a backyard, a young woman with a black beehive hairstyle spray flocks a small white Christmas tree; lovely shot of the tree decorated, inside the house; same woman, now joined by a man, continues to spray flock more trees; same young woman models swimwear at what seems to be a poolside fashion show luncheon at a club (unclear where – Morgan Hill, CA area?), rolling dry tan hills in the background; many neatly dressed ladies are in attendance; tables are set on the large cement deck of a swimming pool; an upright piano is even rolled out on the deck, an accompanist plays; guests look on as the young woman walks between their tables, modeling more outfits; shots of a synchronized swimming routine; the young woman and two older ones all dolled up return home. New film: an older man shoots a cat on a sidewalk with an 8mm movie camera, then stops to shoot our camera person; shots of the beach at Carmel, Clear Lake, CA, and surrounding nature, cows in a pasture; directional road signs for Lakeport (6) and Upper Lake (4). A charming windmill home(?) with the lake behind it; man in a fedora sits on a riverbank next to a bridge, fishing and smoking; more lake scenery; fisherman displays recently-caught fish on a line; shots of sun setting behind mountains beyond the lake; the young woman and man from before horsing around in the yard; she accompanies by an older one, both dressed smartly, the younger takes a photo of something using what looks like a Polaroid land camera, garden flowers; older man posing with dachshund in front of some pretty flowers, dog performs a trick. New film: the young man playing darts outside, the young woman horses around for the camera, plays with dachshund in front yard, then with the young man. Shot of Paul Masson Champagne Cellars in Saratoga, CA (designed by architect John Savage Bolles); shot includes sculpture ‘Effervescence of Champagne’ by Gurdon Woods; the younger man and others shoot hoops in the backyard and play with dog; family, neighbors and dogs, one man in a Seiberling Tires (Morgan Hill, CA) tire shop shirt; what looks like the young man’s family members (appear to be 3 generations?) pose together, in pairs, etc.; the young people pose. Description by volunteer Rio Maropis, updated by DF.
#820. [Family Posing, Dogs and Puppies, Visit to Hollywood Garden Center Decked Out For Christmas, early 1960s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Family posing in the yard, shots of dogs and puppies being fed, Christmas decorations at the North Hollywood Garden Center: statues of reindeer, Santa, and a nativity scene. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
#835. [Boy Visiting with Santa, Ladies Being Bawdy with Santa Puppet, Horseback Riding, early 1970s.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Two ladies being bawdy with a couple of Santa puppets while their husbands and children play across the street!
#849. [“#3, 1/’68 – 9/’69.”] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Susan (a toddler, and the star of this film) playing in the backyard, Susan playing in a rocket ship slide at a playground, Susan’s birthday party: toddlers around the table, cake, opening gifts, adults hanging out in the living room; family fun at the beach, Susan playing with a football and riding a tricycle on the sidewalk, holiday footage: “Chanukah December 1968” sign, pile of gifts, stockings over the fireplace, cookies for Santa, Susan showing off toys, family posing; trip to Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts resort: snowy mountainside, sledding, building a snowman; family with a new baby: Susan and baby, nursemaid and baby, waving to camera; another birthday party for Susan: playing pin the tail on the donkey with a clown, cake and kids around the table, clown performance, Susan opening gifts; Susan riding a new tricycle on the sidewalk. Description by Pathways Summer intern (2024) Janeth Delgado.
JS#89. [“1975 Xmas, Lakewood (Hater All?).”] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Sczempka family films. Donated by Joseph Sczempka, Jr. See others from this family throughout the site. Parents and teen sons opening gifts including: leather shoulder bag, shiny silk shirts, sweaters, jackets; everyone is dressed in shirts with big collars; one son wears wonderfully stylish heeled shoes. Dad’s reactions are fun to watch – he also receives a St. Anthony Saints Booster jacket. There There are several St. Anthony Schools in the great Los Angeles area (anyone recognize it?) Description by volunteer Rio Maropis.
#576. [“1947 Rose Parade.”] 8mm. B/W & Color. Silent. Adults posing in various combinations near Christmas tree, Rose Parade-goers, Goodyear blimp with Naval Reserve banner, start of parade at street level color: Bob Hope as Grand Marshal and his wife Dolores on float, parade continues, man posing outside Hall Realty, floats at end of parade route, people picnicking, red clouds at sunset.
#568. [Women Playing Cards, Kids’ Halloween Party, 1940s.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Women playing cards, little girls posing and playing with camera bag, and then kids in great Halloween costumes posing and roughhousing.
#578. [“Banks & Branches, Bank Parties, Part 3/Kids Xmas Party 1956, (Unclear) August 1957.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Women in Edwardian house staff costumes setting up buffet at a big Christmas party in a big hall, man playing the organ, performers on stage — man with a boa who then wraps it around a little girl, then what looks like a tiger, then jugglers, elves giving out gifts and Santa; different scene: man using a plow to clear a lot on a city street.
#581. [“1969 Rosh Hashana at Mother’s, 1970 – Passover, 6/1971 – Family at Mother’s House, 9/1971 – Yom Kippur-Kiddish at Mother’s.”] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Family backyard picnic, posing, toddler girl on toy bike, big family dinner/seder, kids in PJs, backyard fun, posing, picnic.
#587. [“Rose Parade,” 1959.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Nancy Moore films. Good position at street level (looks like Hill and Colorado), great Palm Springs float at the end. Includes Coachella Valley High School marching band, a float or Indio featuring the Date Festival accompanied by “Arab” men on horseback, and a big lovely Palm Springs float. (Oddly, we have two images by other photographers of the Palm Springs float from this exact parade. See below.)
Slide#75. [Palm Springs Float in Rose Parade, 1959.]
Stereo Realist#1. [Palm Springs Float in Rose Bowl Parade, 1959.]
#565. [Cancer Society PSA with Bing Crosby, 1950 + Other Ads from Early 1960s.] 16mm. B/W & Color. Sound. Two Cancer Society PSAs, and other ads include: Alphabets Cereal, Twirl a Cane toy, Alpo dog food, Ivory Soap, Mr. Clean, Maxwell House coffee, and a clip from an odd ad about going back in time.
#572. [“California, Coming Home, Rosalie’s House, Our Cat,” ca. December 1968.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. POV from plane, women having a little party, Christmas decor, cats.
#734. [Family Christmases, Birthdays, ca. 1980 – 1984.] Super 8mm. Color. Sound. Farley family film. Teen girl playing organ in living room: “Silent Night”, “Jingle Bells”, addresses man behind camera, unwrapping presents by tree & chatting, cameraman dad enters room & sits (camera is on a tripod). Teenage girl’s birthday party – opening gifts, another Christmas – opening gifts, teen (Theresa) has short hair now, next year 1983 opening gifts/more family around for teenage girl’s 16th birthday, Xmas – boy rocking out mouthing/singing “I Wanna Rock” by Twisted Sister – girl dancing, dad dances in and goofs, girl joins, horseback riding – silent, teenage girl’s birthday – trick candles (silent), Christmas – daughter playing “First Noel,” brother nearby – pan over to tree/gifts.
#552. [Splits, Spares and Strikes (feat. Miss Tillie Taylor), 1941.] 16mm. B/W. Silent with intertitles. Short instructional film about women bowlers. Somewhat instructional, but also a tad sexist and sizist, but fun.
#598. [“W. Va. Visits New York/Granny Canning Peaches/Peggy & Tommy in Apt. #4/Peggy & Billy in Apt. #4,” ca. 1959.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Crosslisted on our “A Flight Away” page. Title cards: “Tiger Productions Presents,” “408 & 23rd St. The Old Neighborhood,” adults and teens merrymaking at home for Christmas, decorations covering most of the walls and tables are a focus ranging from family portraits, diplomas, photos of celebrities (esp. James Dean), and religious objects, family members blow kisses or kiss their fingers then touch them to the photos, a robotic tiger is introduced (the mascot for Tiger Productions?), the teen who lives there (and most likely the person behind “Tiger Productions) hugs and poses with an Oliver Hardy ventriloquist dummy, a “Washington Irving HS” flag is pinned to one wall, a main teen wears a “Geo. Westinghouse High School” sweatshirt (George Westinghouse Vocational High School in Brooklyn), the family smokes, drinks, dances, watches projected home movie footage, grandmother preserves food in the kitchen, other appearances include a homemade face mug, a twin lens camera, a teen’s film editing table and typewriter, record collection, the Christmas tree and family dog. Description by volunteer Rio Maropis.
#631. [“Santa Kirksey” (Booker, TX, Elementary School), 1970s.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Kirksey Elementary School faculty and staff act silly for their students at a Christmas assembly in the gym, Santa has dark hair, a goatee, and wears a medallion and chains, male teachers/staff wear straw hats and wigs and play bugles with balloons over the mouthpieces, female teachers/staff dance in reindeer antlers. Description by volunteer Rio Maropis.
#616. [Child In Halloween Costume Covered with Cigarette Packs, post-1965.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Small child in a robe and crown costume covered with empty cigarette packs (Kool, Marlboro, Salem, Lucky Strike, Camel, and more), holding their trick-or-treat basket in one hand and a scepter or sign in the other that says “I kicked the habit,” baby siblings sits nearby holding/waving a fire poker. Description by volunteer Rio Maropis.
#632. [“Halloween Party 1958.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. A D.M. Fingerett (Sun Valley, CA) film. Couples take turns showing costumes to the camera (cavepeople, a woman wearing a mantilla (Spanish lace head covering) and dress with a man in a sombrero and serape, and a man in a maid costume, a woman in a fake Plains Indian headdress and dress, and others, guests dance, and cut a themed cake and eat around a table, one caveman shows a certificate to the camera…Description by volunteer Rio Maropis.
#640. [Adult Woman’s Birthday at a Bar with Friends, 1972.] 8mm. Color. Silent. At the bar with friends, a woman blows out candles on her birthday cake, takes shots, friends and bartender pass around Polaroid photos, and the film ends on a funny/risque large format photo or poster of the birthday girl’s face pasted over that of a buxom soft porn actress/model. Description by volunteer Rio Maropis.
#642. [“GFC 7-’68” and Chanukah 1967.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Opening title “Chanukah 1967”, Chanukah celebration at a synagogue (community hall?), attendees are dressed formally (pearl necklaces and velvet were in style), gathered at various tables, eating and drinking, dancing to accordion, kids light candles, boys play with chocolate coins; new title card “GFC Picnic 1968,” attendees tandem biking, kids ride ponies and eat ice cream, cut to the outside of Gibber (a diner?) the outside of a modern apartment building, the playground, kids ride a spinning rounded bench, adults play tennis, shuffleboard, volleyball. Description by volunteer Rio Maropis.
#644. [“House Parties, Girls Dancing, Jack Sunbathing, Xmas at Beginning, 1957-’58.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Two men in a yard addressing the camera, cut to view of a dock, a ship on the horizon and the rocky coastline, cut to a stylish aluminum Christmas tree and gifts displayed in the large window of a home, men dressed up and lounging inside a modernist-decorated home, guests play with a Santa piñata, a shaggy white and black dog runs and stands on hind legs for a treat, woman displays poker chips in a case, Siamese cat in the kitchen, two men carrying a table down the stairs into the room, men assembling – or reassembling the tree (so this might be a compilation of smaller reels out of order), couples/guests gathered for a party, singing, drinking, goofing for the camera, setting up projector to screen 8mm films, snacking, smoking, kissing, dancing, cut to a flowering almond or cherry blossom tree, tulips, Siamese cat comfy on an outdoor chair, man outside with a can of Pearl beer, two more men sun tanning outside with cool drinks. Description by volunteer Rio Maropis.
#641. [Clubwomen Organize Christmas Party for Special Needs Kids, Chattanooga, TN, ca. December 1965.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Crosslisted on our “Melissa’s Obsession: Work and Social Club Parties” page. Clubwomen talk with Santa, set up for a Christmas party, show decorations they are contributing perhaps to a fundraising effort (wreaths, small trees, a handmade sparkly reindeer’s head), set up a book display table, announcements and close-ups of a number of Christmas trees with different decorations, a mannequin dressed up in vaguely Spanish or Roma attire, a monumental “Twelve Days of Christmas” cake decorated with construction paper, outside an inscription above the front door of the building reads “George Thomas Hunter Gallery of Art Chattanooga Art Association” (a former private residence donated in 1951 to become part of the Chattanooga Art Association), then (possibly in a new location?) children in costumes for a nativity play, Santa visits and gives toys to what appear to be special needs children (some still in costume) as the adults look on, children play with gifts, eat cupcakes, women and men too on, chat and have coffee. Description by volunteer Rio Maropis.
#816. [“’59 Masters (and Wives), Zisser ’65 Halloween, 11 min.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Masons partying. Family fishing scenes. A bit of golf practice. Some playing around outside and more fishing. Then a Masons party for which the reel is titled begins…with a hand-painted sign noting “1959 Masters & Wives Halloween Party, West End Hotel, October 29, 1965.” Nice buffet line shots. Attendees are wearing the names of celebrities on their backs. Hard to read most of them, but a few clearly visible… BING CROSBY. Camera seems to want to capture as many of these as possible. Some well-lit dining scenes give way to some stuff happening on-stage, some costumed attendees (mostly fancy hats). Singing, dancing, games. Crosslisted on our “Melissa’s Obsession: Work and Social Club Parties” page.
#673. [“Sept. 1969, Dinah (Shore) & Merv (Griffin) and Mike (Douglas).”] 8mm. Color. Silent. An off-TV recording by Lee Moorer (Dinah Shore’s PA or co-president of her fan club. Still under research.) See also 671, 672, 675, 682. Further description forthcoming.
#675. [“D. (The Danny) Kaye Show & Part (The) Bell Telephone Hour & D.S. (Dinah Shore)/Filmed From TV,” ca. 1964.] 8mm. Color. Silent. An off-TV recording by Lee Moorer (Dinah Shore’s PA or co-president of her fan club. Still under research.) See also 671, 672, 673, 682. Further description forthcoming.
#672. [“(The) Bell Telephone Hour & DS (Dinah Shore) on TV,” ca. 1965.] 8mm. Color. Silent. An off-TV recording by Lee Moorer (Dinah Shore’s PA or co-president of her fan club. Still under research.) See also 671, 673, 675, 682. Further description forthcoming.
#689. [Amateur avant-garde Films with People in Costume, Animation, and Puppets, ca. 1965.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Title card with “1902,” “1904,” “1907,” and “1908” on white clouds with a sphere at center, a woman (or man in drag?) dressed in all green – even the wig, jewelry, and eyebrows – with a tiara, sings expressively in front of a green curtain, title card: “War Ends,” news page title card “War Declared!,” paper kaleidoscope pans over “1917” then “1918”, a man in profile sings or speaks into an old fashioned handheld microphone while holding a script; a girl sings and dances in a Carmen Miranda-inspired costume [black…], quick close-ups of stills of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers framed by construction paper, title card with “The End” over a cityscape; new film after some black: superimposition/stop-motion animation of a trumpet playing with bubbles coming out over a backdrop, double exposure of a glass hand fan over a musical score sheet, close-up of an LP moving around, a cat hand puppet and superimposition of hands clapping over the puppet, more from the puppet, a woman wearing a blonde wig and red dress sings in front of a green curtain, news page title card ‘“Stocks Crash,” photo of a chorus line, one with people in fancy dress (top hats on men), singer Al Jolson’s face superimposed over a New York City cityscape, paper cutouts of the moon, a woman singing in silhouette in front of a midcentury design curtain, woman in red beret, with a cigarette, singing in front of a read curtain, title card “The End” over a cityscape, Al Jolson’s and others’ faces superimposed over cityscape, musical score sheets, a couple quick shots of previous performers, a shot of two drinks in coupe glasses with a lit cigarette between them, and ends on a collage of hands clapping. Description by volunteer Rio Maropis and Deserted Films.
#744. [“Chanukah, 1970.”] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Adorable young sisters pose with baby dolls, person filming zooms in on colorful paper decorations (a banner in both with English and Hebrew, handmade paper menorahs indicating the 6th night of Chanukah), the girls hug, and pose their parents other possible relatives. Description by volunteer Rio Maropis.
#856. [“1959 Xmas Hawaii” Party.] 16mm. Color. Silent. Film opens with a woman reading a large, elaborate and multi-page invitation to a Hawaiian-style Christmas party that was delivered through a mail slot on the door, then the huge catered party at a bar or restaurant, guests dressed in Hawaiian shirts, floral patterns, leis, and straw hats or flowers in their hair, some holiday decor, rattan furniture and tables are decorated with palm fronds, live Hawaiian music and hula dancing, attendees eat, drink, and dance, and Santa shows up to distributes gifts. Description by volunteer Rio Maropis.
WBH#3. [“Xmas ‘59, ‘60, ‘61, ‘63.”] 16mm. Color. Silent. William ‘Bud’ Hayward family films. Further description forthcoming.
#878. [“Bar Mitzvah 1953”, Reel 1.] 16mm. Color. Silent. Marcus Decker family films. Further description forthcoming.
#877. [“Bar Mitzvah 1953”, Reel 2.] 16mm. Color. Silent. Marcus Decker family films. Further description forthcoming.
#863. [Amateur Nursing School Student Film: Clinical Supervision, ca. 1963.] 8mm. Color. Silent. 5-inch. Further description forthcoming.
#869. [“Halloween Kids 1953.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Film by R.C. Gage. Further description forthcoming.
#883. [“December 1971, COCSD Christmas Party, Frank Gallo, Marshall Mcgaughy. Kona Kai.”] 16mm. Color. Silent. COCSD might be Corvette Owners Club of San Diego? If so it might also be Kona Kai Resort in SD. Opened 1953. Further description forthcoming.
885. [“Phaff’s Xmas, ‘61.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Further description forthcoming.
#888. [Christmas/Gifts— Twelve-String Guitar, Mrs. Beasley Doll, etc., December 1969.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Further description forthcoming.
#897. [“Train Under Xmas Tree, 1968.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Further description forthcoming.
#898. [Creepy Santa, Big Group Christmas Morning, ca. 1957.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Further description forthcoming, although dig the matching outfits.
#904. [Japanese/Japanese Americans Opening Christmas Presents, 1968.] Super 8mm. Color. Silent. Further description forthcoming.
#908. [“New Year’s Eve 1955.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Further description forthcoming.
#621. [“Xmas Eve,” ca. 1960.] 8mm. Color. Silent. Gonzales family. Further description forthcoming.
894. [“Book Character – Easter, Easter Egg Hunt (or Tea?) 1962.”] 8mm. Color. Silent. Further description forthcoming.

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