Created from the archives of the General Newsreel Co., “Yesterday’s Newsreel” aired on television in the early 1950s. This episode features the 1933 revolution in Cuba (:39). It opens with a bird’s eye view of Havana and President Gerardo Machado y Morales (:48). Morales had consolidated his power as a popular revolt struck out against him (1:04). Railway cars and buses stood idle as turmoil broke out (1:09) and the military had split allegiances with officers siding with the President and soldiers with the populace. In Miami, the American ambassador Sumner Wells (1:38) sought to mediate. He was unsuccessful and the revolution began in August of 1933 (1:42). Riots in the streets around police on horseback are seen (1:46). The Cuban Air Force flew over head. Street fights still continued (1:55). A piano is dropped from the hotel balcony in which Machado was holed up (2:13). His paymaster’s home was destroyed (2:26) as well as the buses he owned and operated. American warships entered the harbor to protect US interests in Cuba (2:46). After fighting ended and Machado was removed from office, Carlos Manuel de Cespedes y Quesada (3:01) became the next president. Although cheering broke out as he was sworn in, plans were already in action to remove him from office (3:17). Ramon Grau followed, supported by none other than Fulgenico Batista (3:45) who would eventually become a Cuban president himself (3:49). Next, the year is 1920, a look at the race horse Man-O-War (3:53). He was retired in the 1920’s after winning a million dollars in purses and fees (4:13). This stallion also sired other Kentucky Derby winners such as War Admiral and Crusader. Going back in time, a race against Man-O-War and Canada’s Sir Barton is shown which had a purse of $80,000 (4:42). Man-O-War had taken an early lead and ended winning lengths ahead (5:06). In 1918, Hoover was the US’s food administrator and he set up a youth movement in farming called Hoover’s Victory Gardens (5:23). Students are seen lining up to sign up (5:27) and set out to start planting crops all over the country (5:44). For the ‘Personalities’ section we begin with an American comic strip artist (6:08) Billy DeBeck who was the creator of Barney Google and Spark Plug. George McManus follows (6:25) as the creator of Jiggs and Maggie. He was also a notable collector and is seen with some of his many walking sticks (6:30). Shirley Temple is caught on film next to her mother (6:40) after filming movies such as ‘Stand Up and Cheer’. In Paris, in 1931, a massive tidal wave struck (7:06). The Seine River is seen swelling and waters crash as onlookers peer over the banks (7:33). The first flight across the Atlantic by a lighter-than-air ship took place in 1919 on July 6th with the R 34 (7:49). It left Scotland and arrived over Long Island (7:54) yet without radio crews to announce its arrival, the British Major aboard parachutes down (8:07) to set landing preparations. The US Navy swooped in to act as convoy (8:29) and the craft is seen landing over Roosevelt field (8:38). It was the first of its kind to fly over the ocean (8:57). Major Scott who had guided it is pictured (9:07) as well as the US Navy commander who was its guest (9:11). For Fashion in the era, riding outfits (9:38), evening satin dresses, chic cocktail dresses, and pajama outfits are shown (9:59). 1922’s sports stars include a 15-year-old girl whom had set 6 records in one day on the English Channel (10:56). In Paris, a tennis match between French and American stars took place in 1925 (11:21) with the US taking the win. A two-mile foot race follows in 1939 with Glen Cunningham taking the win and this is the final segment of the film (12:17).
The R.33 class of British rigid airships were built for the Royal Naval Air Service during the First World War, but were not completed until after the end of hostilities. The lead ship, R.33, served successfully for ten years. The other airship in the class, R.34, became the first aircraft to make an east to west transatlantic flight and, with the return flight made the first two-way crossing. It was decommissioned two years later.
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