Travel

21 DVD Box Set

Disc One: Wheels Across Africa (1936)

Brief Synopsis of DVD: The storied history of Africa is rich with culture and beauty.  The Wheels Across Africa travelogue documents an African safari during the 1930's.  An exciting adventure that covers almost the entire map of African geography, this historically important  piece of work offers an inside look at the beautiful landscape of the continent of Africa.  This film does contain some nudity.

Title #1: Wheels Across Africa

Production Date: 1930

Running Time: 48 minutes

Brief Description: The storied history of Africa is rich with culture and beauty.  The Wheels Across Africa travelogue documents an African safari during the 1930's.  An exciting adventure that covers almost the entire map of African geography, this historically important  piece of work offers an inside look at the beautiful landscape of the continent of Africa.  This film does contain some nudity.

Disc Two: Classic Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) Films

Brief Synopsis of DVD: Construction on the Hoover Dam began in 1931 and ended in 1936.  The dam was originally called the Boulder Dam, but Congress passed a bill in 1947 the dam was renamed The Hoover Dam in honor of President Herbert Hoover.   The following films are a wonderful collection of historic documentary film following the construction of the Hoover Dam.  Amazing rare footage of one of the worlds largest hydroelectric dams (726 ft high and 1,244 ft long).

Title #1: Boulder Dam

Production Date: 1931

Running Time: 34 minutes

Brief Description: Three part film that follows the beginning stages of construction of the Hoover Dam.  This is a Silent Film with picture boards.   

Title #2: Boulder Dam

Production Date: 1930's

Running Time: 34 minutes

Brief Description: Amateur Documentary with excellent narration that follow the construction of the Hoover Dam. 

Disc Three: Classic Mardi Gras Films

Brief Synopsis of DVD: This is a terrific compilation of amateur film captured from Mardi Gras  in 1941, during the WWII era. Included is approximately 10 minutes of rare footage from the Parade of Nor and approximately 10 minutes of footage from the Parade of Krewe of Rex. There is no sound with these recordings, as the amateur equipment of the day did not record sound.

This is a great look at how the New Orleans Carnival Week has changed over the last 65 years. See how New Orleans partied right before WWII!

Mardi Gras enthusiasts, Carnival historians, educators around the world and those who love to learn with appreciate this rare documentation of the festival events.

Disc Four: Historic Easter Island Films

Brief Synopsis of DVD: This is an awesome silent color montage of footage from an archeological expedition on Easter Island. Great little travelogue video from the 1960s about the isolated Chilean island in the Pacific Ocean.

Title #1: Easter Island

Production Date: 1960's

Running Time: 10 minutes

Brief Description: Great clear color shots of the moai statues and the numerous shipping boats on the island.

Disc Five: Classic Middle East Films DVD

Brief Synopsis of DVD: This is a special DVD compilation of educational and historic Middle East films from the 1930s, 40s and 50s. Come and watch  a piece of world history, digitized and preserved on DVD for the future. Approximate running time 84 minutes.

Title #1: Desert Venture

Production Date: 1948

Running Time: 28 minutes

Brief Description: Desert Venture may be the greatest oil propaganda film ever made.  This film explains why venture capital in Saudi Arabia is crucial to the fuel America's "nation on wheels." 

Title #2: Iran: Between Two Worlds

Production Date: 1954

Running Time: 14 minutes

Brief Description: Iran is portrayed immediately before the 1953 coup d'etat. This film covers some great aspects of the history of Iran, including art, religion and day-to-day life. There's great historical footage of weaving, silver plate making and food preparation.

Title #3:Screen Traveler: Damascus

Production Date: 1936

Running Time: 11 minutes

Brief Description: This is a 1930s travelogue of Damascus, Palestine and Jerusalem with terrific footage of the markets and streets of these holy cities. Included in the film is footage of the Wailing Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Jaffa Gate, Mount of Olives and more...

Title #4: Labor of Thy Hands

Production Date: 1950s

Running Time: 14 minutes

Brief Description: This 1950s film is aimed toward American audiences, and tries to link the similarities between Israel and the United States. It's an informational piece focusing on how Israel is a democracy, so the ideals of the country match up with those of the US.

Title #5: Amateur Film: Middle East

Production Date: 1933

Running Time: 17 minutes

Brief Description: This movie is a collection of amateur footage taken of Israel (much of it in Bethlehem) during the 1930s. Excellent first-hand historical documentation!

Disc Six: Classic China Films

Brief Synopsis of DVD: This DVD is a compilation of various rare and preserved films and footage collections revolving around Chinese people and culture, including Chinese-Americans. You can't find this special DVD anywhere else, as we compiled it ourselves. With a selection from 1912, 1925, 1940 and 1964, you also get to see a sense of cultural change from one film to the next.

Title #1: Red Chinese Battle Plan

Production Date: 1964

Running Time: 26 minutes

Brief Description: This American propaganda film shows the rise of the communist party in China starting around 1920 and has a lot of material, footage and information about Mao Tse-Tsung. Despite the negative light it casts on the Chinese communist powers, this film has wonderfully valuable documentary of China and its citizens in the early 20th century.

Title #2: Parade Celebrating Chinese Republic

Production Date: 1912

Running Time: 3 minutes

Brief Description: This is a short collection of footage from 1912 San Francisco, where some were celebrating the new Chinese Republic.

Title #3: People of Western China

Production Date: 1940

Running Time: 11 minutes

Brief Description: This film is centered around the life and work of a community in Western China, and shows how advancements in technology and science are both changing and intermixing with many of the ancient ways of China.

Title #4: Chinese Lion Dance: Marysville, California

Production Date: 1925

Running Time: 10 minutes

Brief Description: This is awesome footage from a Chinese New Year Bok Kai festival, with lots of shots of the parade dragon and fireworks. An interesting slice of immigrant life in early 20th century California.

Disc Seven: Vintage Puerto Rico Films

Brief Synopsis of DVD: The beautiful scenery and people of Puerto Rico are showcased in this collection of vintage films about industry, farming, tourism, and the culture of Puerto Rico. 

Topics Include:

Puerto Rican Culture

Agriculture Manufacturing & Tourism in Puerto Rico

Title #1: Democracy At Work In Rural Puerto Rico

Production Date: 1940

Running Time: 20 minutes

Brief Description: Propaganda piece showing how democracy has brough peace and prosperity to Puerto Rico.  Full of scenes of the life and times of Puerto Rican farmers and laborers with excellent footage of agricultural landscapes, hand made products, and the wonderful scenery of Puerto Rico.  

Title #2: Report On Puerto Rico

Production Date: 1955

Running Time: 11 minutes

Brief Description: Another propaganda film about how industry and agriculture are thriving in Puerto Rico and bringing good jobs to the masses.  More great footage of manufacturing, mining, and farming from across the island. 

Disc Eight: Classic Mexican Culture Films

Brief Synopsis of DVD: Mexican & Mexican American culture films featuring footage from Cuernavaca, Mexico; Olvera Street, Los Angles, US; and California, US. 

Title #1: A Street Of Memory

Production Date: 1937

Running Time: 8 minutes

Brief Description: Features the sights and sounds of daily life from Olvera Street in Loa Angeles during the late 30's. 

Title #2: Why Braceros?

Production Date: 1959

Running Time: 18 minutes

Brief Description: Propaganda film about immigrant Mexican laborers, the bracero program, and the impact on California's working class and economy. 

Title #3: Good Friday Through Cuernavaca

Production Date: 1960s

Running Time: 15 minutes

Brief Description: Classic travelogue film through Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Disc Nine: Classic Israel Films

Brief Synopsis of DVD: Incredible film and newsreel footage collection spanning from 1933 - 1957.  Includes footage of The Israeli - Egyptian War, Palestinian refugee camps, Israel in the 30s, and Israeli life and culture. 

Title #1: Five Newsreels

Production Date: 1955 - 1957

Running Time: 5 minutes

Brief Description: Variety of (5) newsreels with footage about Israel, including footage of Israel's war and entry into Egypt and a Tel Aviv protest. 

Title #2: Amateur Footage

Production Date: 1933

Running Time: 16 minutes

Brief Description: Rare film footage of Israel from the early 30's full of street scenes and landmarks, including the wailing wall. 

Title #3: Labor Of Thy Hands

Production Date: 1950

Running Time: 14 minutes

Brief Description: Sponsored by an America Zionist Women's Organization, this propaganda film aims to build support among Americans for Israel by showing all the similarities between the US and Israel.

Title #4: Sands Of Sorrow

Production Date: 1950

Running Time: 28 minutes

Brief Description: Produced by The Council for Relief of Palestinian Arab Refugees, an American organization, this film contains some of the first footage of Palestinian refugees and refugee camps in Israel & The Gaza Strip. 

Disc Ten: Historic Germany Travelogue Film

Permanent Change Of Station-Germany

Brief Synopsis of DVD: This DVD features the film, Permanent Change Of Station-Germany, which is a guide to Germany for prospective Soldiers who may be stationed in Germany. 

Title #1: Permanent Change Of Station-Germany

Production Date: 1980s

Running Time: 20 minutes

Brief Description:  This film is Germany travelogue from the perspective of the U.S. Army.  Features great footage of Germany mixed with information about the amenities the Army offers its soldiers, from education to transportation to art and culture to household appliances. 

Disc Eleven: Historic Guatemala Films

Brief Synopsis of DVD: This compilation opens with a newsreel about military training base in Guatemala, followed by the short feature travelogue documentary, "Menace Of Guatemala."

Title #1: Guatemala Training Base

Production Date: 1961

Running Time: 1 minutes

Brief Description: Newsreel Footage From April 19th, 1961, that discusses the possibility of Cuban Soldiers training in Guatemala. 

Title #2: Menace of Guatemala

Production Date: 1934

Running Time: 9 minutes

Brief Description: Beautiful black and white travelogue about Guatemala, which for some reason is focused on the threat of volcanoes.  Features great footage of Guatemalan culture, people, and places, including weaving, fishing, dress, food preparation, and more. 

Disc Twelve: Classic Caribbean Island Film: Haiti

Brief Synopsis of DVD: Explore the archipelago paradise of Haiti in this colorful Caribbean travelogue combining footage of Haitian culture with lively historical narration. Focusing on the Haitian tradition of democracy, the film presents a tourist's view of the island before the tumultuous and despotic Duvalier regime.

Title #1: Introduction to Haiti

Production Date: 1942

Running Time: 9 minutes

Brief Description: This colorful travelogue through Haiti couples narration about Haitian history with footage of buildings, cityscapes, and Haitian culture. 

Disc Thirteen: Classic Peru Films

Brief Synopsis of DVD: This compilation contains two vintage films about living in Lima, Peru.  The capital of Peru, Lima, is world renowned  for its wonderful people, culture, architecture and  delicious foods.

Title #1: Lima Family

Production Date: 1944

Running Time: 18 minutes

Brief Description: Explores a day in the life of a wealthy Peruvian family that resides in an upper-class neighborhood in Lima.

Title #2: Lima City

Production Date: 1944

Running Time: 15 minutes

Brief Description: In depth look at the capital of Peru, Lima. 

Disc Fourteen: Classic London Films

Brief Synopsis of DVD: This compilation features scenes from old London during the 1920's.  Sites include Big Ben, St. Paul's Cathedral, The Tower Bridge, The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey. 

Title #1: Seeing London

Production Date: 1920

Running Time: 14 minutes

Brief Description: Amazing silent film featuring the sites of London, including Big Ben, St. Paul's Cathedral, The Tower Bridge, The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Fleet Street, Downing Street, St. James Park, Cleopatra's Needle, Bank Of England, A Baseball game, Londoners, and the First Big American store in London. 

Title #2: Stillman Fires Collection: London Fire Services

Production Date: 1928

Running Time: 11 minutes

Brief Description: This vibrant silent collection features London firefighters as they try to put out a fire in downtown London. 

Disc Fifteen: Classic La Paz, Bolivia Films

Brief Synopsis of DVD: This picturesque documentary looks at the capital city of Bolivia, La Paz.  This film brings to life the streets of 1940s La Paz.  With over 250,000 citizens, La Paz is a vibrant city filled with energetic people, a rich culture, delicious food, and a dynamic music traditional.

Title #1:  La Paz

Production Date: 1943

Running Time: 16 minutes

Brief Description: A beautiful look at the city and citizens of La Paz, Bolivia.  This film presents the culture and people of La Paz and then the narration switches to focus on the development of La Paz's natural resources and economy.  Features amazing footage of landscape scenery, streets markets, industrial factories, food preparation, sports, and architecture.   

Disc Sixteen: Classic Chile Films

Brief Synopsis of DVD: This compilation features (3) three films full of the beauty and rich cultural history of Chile.  Topics include The Andes Mountains, Patagonia, housing, farming, agriculture, education, the economy, and daily life in Chile.     

Title #1: Housing in Chile: One Government's Plan to Provide Better Homes

Production Date: 1943

Running Time: 18 minutes

Brief Description: A spectacular film about life, poverty, urban growth and government in Santiago, Chile. This documentary film follows, Emanuel Blanco, a barber and father of three, whose family is forced to live in a slum due to a lack of affordable housing.  The film focuses on housing developments and the importance of affordable housing in developing a healthy and happy working class society.  The Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs and Julien Bryan presented this film, which was the eight in a series of films on Latin America. 

Title #2: South Chile

Production Date: 1945

Running Time: 20 minutes

Brief Description:  This beautiful film features the magic and mystique of The Andes, Patagonia and the mountainous lake district of southern Chile.  Documenting Chile's rich cultural history this film focuses on the agricultural and sheep industry which is vital to Southern Chilean life.  The film also appears to have an obsession with the idea that there is so much uncultivated and unexplored land in Patagonia, seemingly drooling over the possible tourist opportunities.  This film was produced by the Office Of The Coordinator Of Inter-American Affairs directed by Julien Bryan. 

Title #3: Fundo in Chile

Production Date: 1949

Running Time: 20 minutes

Brief Description: "This is a story about the fertile central valley of Chile.  It is a tale of contrasts, of the old life and of the new."  This film documents fundo, or plantation farm culture in Chile, where most land is owned by a small wealthy minority, while being worked by the poor minority.  The film follows two sons, whom recently inherited pieces a fundo from their father.  One son chooses to take an active role in farming and developing his land and largely increases yields. The second son stays with conventional practice of letting the laborers do all the work.  This propaganda film lobbies for a move to smaller farms and more owners to improve the lives of the workers and the production of Chilean farms.  This film was produced by the Office Of The Coordinator Of Inter-American Affairs.

Disc Seventeen: Classic Columbia River Films

 - Rare & historic film transferred to DVD format and preserved for posterity

 - DVD menus and search capabilities

 - 30 Minutes Running Time

Brief Synopsis of DVD:    The largest North American River flowing into the Pacific Ocean, The Columbia River, source waters are in the Canadian Rockies.  Along its path, Columbia will join or pass through the Grand Coulee Dam (the largest concrete structure of its time), The Snake River, The Bonneville Dam, and Portland.  The dams along The Columbia River are used to build reservoirs for irrigation, creating hydroelectric power and controlling water flow.  The Columbia River is also used as a major transportation route for agricultural goods and was the number one source for American salmon fishing during the 1940s. 

Title #1: The Mighty Columbia River

Production Date: 1947

Running Time: 10 minutes

Brief Description: This documentary explores the importance of the Columbia River the economy of the Northwestern United States.  The Columbia River is home to several dams, namely the Grand Coulee Dam and Bonneville Dams.  The film details the rivers importance to the shipping industry and salmon fishing industry, as the river produced a majority of the salmon caught in America at the time.  This film was produced by Coronet and Clifford M Zierer Ph.D. (UCLA Professor of Geography). 

Title #2: Rivers of the Pacific Slope

Production Date: 1947

Running Time: 10 minutes

Brief Description: This film documents The Columbia, Sacramento, San Joaquin and Colorado river systems of the Western United States.  The film discusses the economic importance of rivers to farming and fishing industries as well as major sources of electricity generation. 

Title #3: Hanford Science Forum

Production Date: 1957

Running Time: 9 minutes

Brief Description: A fascinating scientific discussion with Dr. Richard F. Foster, manager of the Aquatic Biology Division at the Hanford plant, about the effects of effluent on aquatic plant and fish life in the Columbia River.  This film was produced by General Electric and The United States Energy Commission in Richland, Washington. 

Disc Eighteen: Classic Iran Film

 - Rare & historic film transferred to DVD format and preserved for posterity

 - DVD menus and search capabilities

 - 14 Minutes Running Time

Brief Synopsis of DVD: This beautiful documentary explores the storied past and the rich cultural history of Iran. The film also discusses the wealth of natural resources and the development of industry in Iran. 

Title #1: Iran: Between Two Worlds

Production Date: 1954

Running Time: 14 minutes

Brief Description: This wonderful travelogue discusses the daily life and history of the citizens of Iran with visits to Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, the Iranian countryside and amazing scenery of The Persian Mountains.  The film also touches on Iranian architecture and the intricate art created by Iranian artists which include, metal smiths, weavers, rug makers, and painters.  Industrial development, economic development and daily life are also explored. 
 

Disc Nineteen: Classic Uruguay Films

 - Rare & historic film transferred to DVD format and preserved for posterity

 - DVD menus and search capabilities

 - 35 Minutes Running Time

Brief Synopsis of DVD: This 2-film compilation is a custom educational tool with hard to find specific topical footage on Uruguayan life in the 1940s.

Title #1: Uruguay

Production Date: 1949

Running Time: 17 minutes

Brief Description: This is a solid educational film about the culture, agriculture and lifestyles of people in Uruguay and includes good vintage footage of the country, its landscape, and its inhabitants.

Title #2:Young Uruguay

Production Date: 1943

Running Time: 19 minutes

Brief Description:  This quaint video from the 1940s shows a slice of life for a young person in Uruguay. It explores many different topics and offers great footage.

Disc Twenty: Classic Venezuela Film

 - Rare & historic film transferred to DVD format and preserved for posterity

 - DVD menus and search capabilities

 - 24 Minutes Running Time

Brief Synopsis of DVD: This rare 16mm Venezuela film is now available on DVD. You can’t find this niche film anywhere else!

Title #1: Assignment: Venezuela

Production Date: 1956

Running Time: 24 minutes

Brief Description:   This film follows an American oil executive and his family as they relocate to Venezuela. What a great historical film about the Venezuelan oil industry in general and how it was built from the ground up. A Sound masters production.

Disc Twenty One: Classic Southwest Films

 - Rare & historic film transferred to DVD format and preserved for posterity

 - DVD menus and search capabilities

 - 54 Minutes Running Time

Brief Synopsis of DVD: This is a special DVD compilation of five great films focusing on the Southwestern United States. Included are two Southwestern Native American films, two Southwest travelogues and a classic fashion film all about Southwestern fashion.

Title #1: The Southwestern US 

Production Date: 1942

Running Time: 10 minutes

Brief Description: This educational film characterizes the lifestyles of the people who live in the southwestern states of the U.S., including their history, farming techniques, and more.

Title #2: The Pueblo Heritage

Production Date: 1950

Running Time: 10 minutes

Brief Description: This is a fantastic film about the history of the Pueblo people. There is wonderful, invaluable footage of Indian jewelry, pottery, weavings and other crafts being produced. There is also footage of a Native American celebration and ceremonial.

Title #3: Navajo Canyon Country

Production Date: 1954

Running Time: 12 minutes

Brief Description: Glorious footage of Navajo Nation country in New Mexico and Arizona abounds in this movie, including great shots of the daily life of the Native Americans inhabiting the area.

Title #4: Fashion Horizons

Production Date: 1940   

Running Time: 19 minutes

Brief Description: An interesting fashion and travelogue film that shows some beautiful women and their clothes as they vacation.

Title #5: Roads to Romance: The Santa Cruz Trail and Land of the Giant Cactus

Production Date: 1950

Running Time: 3 minutes

Brief Description: This quant little travelogue shows a slice of Southwestern life, including first-hand footage of the Santa Cruz Trail and the many reasons to vacation in the great state of Arizona.