This reel of silent 16mm film consists of color and b&w American home movies shot in the mid-to-late 1940s and through the 1950s or early 1960s. It also contains footage shot during or immediately after WWII by the same (unknown) cameraman. The film presents a several decade slice of American life, including life in suburbia. Some of the more interesting segments are from WWII era, including aerial footage and a flight with a 3-star General, and recreation at a guarded beach on a military base. There is also rare footage of an African American maid posing with a white child (many white baby boomers were raised by Blacks in this era).

The film begins with footage from the 1950s. Grandpa plays with a child (:08). Grandma and other children (:37). The family clowns around and a dog joins in (1:05). Men, women, and children (1:19). Children ride new bicycles, and one falls over and crashes (1:37). Dad rides his kid’s bike (1:54). Children walk and clown with one another (2:01). A toddler wears a “King” paper crown. Grandma and grandpa pose (2:24). Grandpa holds the child while grammy lands a kiss (2:33). A girl bounces a ball (3:30). At (3:57), an African American nurse or maid (3:54). Children wave at the camera (4:03). Children get close to the camera (4:16). A young boy rides a bike, he is wearing dad’s dog tags (4:30). A big picnic or party. Men play horseshoe (4:53). A man smokes and holds up a crab (5:05). A woman helps a young boy eat crab and crack the legs (5:12). Men play cards at a table while a band plays nearby (5:24). A woman waves (5:43). People drinking beer (5:50). A man walks up with a 35mm still camera (6:00). Another man points his 8mm home movie camera at the viewer (6:33). People talk and drink (6:40). People talk, drink, and laugh (7:30). The yard of a 1950s style suburb with a half brick/half wood house (7:55). A little girl walks out of the house (8:38). Two men walk over to a 1959 AMC Rambler American (8:57). More shots of boys on bikes (9:33). Adults with 1960s hair styles and clothes enter a backyard and sit down (9:42). An African American nanny holds a boy and his teddy bear (10:15). Adults and kids play football in the backyard (10:29). A man holds a glass and a cigarette (11:31). A boy punches his brother (11:49). A woman carries a whiskey on the rocks. A man tries to adjust his home movie camera (12:20).

WWII era material starts at about 12:20 with aerial shots. This material could show flying over “the Hump”, over the Himalayas and into China, but it’s also quite possible it shows the Alps. Many destroyed buildings are visible down below. Shadow of the plane (12:55). Mountains and hills (13:32). A-26 Invader airplane comes in for a landing (14:00). More WWII era footage. G.I.s relax on a sandy beach (14:14). Men pose in 1940s swimsuits (14:55). At (15:25) is some sort of USO show with two men at a microphone. A B-17 airplane sits on the ground; a serviceman gets onto it (15:42). What appears to be a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero taxis at the airport. At (16:01) the terminal building is visible. A civilian family, with a serviceman, walk with their luggage bags (16:08). Servicemen clown around and shake one another’s hands, one kisses another “Italian style” (16:27). What appears to be a de-militarized B-17, with its guns removed and tail section sealed up with plexiglass, is ready for take off (16:54). An officer who appears to be a two-star Army general poses with servicemen and officers (17:05). Propellers spin, plane is ready for takeoff (17:58).

More 1950s footage in Michigan. Mackinac Bridge Toll Rates (18:07). Cars head for the tolls (18:23). River and rocky shore (18:29). Barge (18:56). Catching fish from a boat (19:20). Fishing (20:18). A little girl shows off her catch (20:52). Two young girls help a child towards a car (21:11). Children run down a road (22:06). Children in bathing suits at a river (22:12). A dog runs from a young child (22:52). Children get into a dinghy (23:26). Boys point toy machine guns at the camera (23:41). A young boy is in his altar boy attire (25:03). Two young girls stare at the camera (25:35). Two women in gowns (26:29). Winter. A young girl walks down the stairs of a home outside followed by her sister and brother (27:56). Children get into a car (28:24). Two boys on bikes precede a car leaving the driveway (29:17). A woman and her son stare at the camera, the boy wears his father’s officer cap with his rank indicating he was a major (29:36). A car exits a driveway; enters a driveway (30:04). A man with a cigar (30:22). Two children go down a driveway in a soap box derby type car (31:06). A covered bridge (31:13).

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com