This film is one of the Yesterday’s Newsreels, an early television series which ran from 1948 to 1950 and was produced using the holdings of the defunct General Newsreel company. The series presented original newsreel footage with a contemporary narrative. This episode begins with the segment “1933 Men Behind the President” (:44) and it shows FDR’s white house staff of 1934. Beginning with the President (:48) among his crew and then to Ed Starling (:58) of the secret service. Following is Francis Robinson, the presidential chauffeur (1:08) and Nick Jarvis, (1:13) the Chief of White House Secret Service Men. Jay May White; the doorman and barber whom had ‘shaved every President since Taft’ (1:23) opens the door for Ike Hoover whom was the chief usher for a quarter of a century (1:31). Inside we see Doc Smithers (1:41) the chief White House stenographer, and Louise Hoffmeister (1:54) the top telephone operator at the White House switchboard, and the White House Secretary and former newsman, Stephan Early (2:24). We will then see some of the members of FDR’s ‘brain trust’ including economist Rexford Tugwell (2:43), whom was the advisor on farm and labor issues in America. Raymond Moley (2:43) was one of the leading members whom assisted in general government policy. Among the earliest members were Adolf Berle (3:03) and longtime friend and advisor along the campaign trail, Louise Howe (3:30). This segment ends with Gus Gennerich (4:04), Roosevelt’s personal body guard. In “75 Year-Old’s Convention” of August 1927 (4:33) displayed are citizens of and over 75 in contests such as knitting and checkers and ending with a dance. The ‘Personalities’ segment is voiced by Tom Hale and Roger Owens (5:37). Admiral Robert Edwin Perry (5:47) was a famed arctic explorer and Naval officer whom reached the North Pole in 1908. These are the last recorded pictures of Perry (6:03) as he passed February of 1920. Next is Irene Langhorne who was the wife of artist Charles Dana Gibson and the original model for the ‘Gibson Girl’ (6:06). The final ‘personality’ is Tris Speaker (6:30) and he played for the Cleveland Indians. Here he is shown at his hometown in cowboy gear.
Tom Hale voices the segment “Tornado Sweeps Thru South” (6:46). In April of 1936, tornadoes and subsequent fires wrecked havoc on six southern states leaving 300 known to be injured and property damage in the millions (7:49). Roger Owens narrates the “1923 Senator Cole Poses for Sculptor” (7:58). The former senator Cornelius Cole, in December of 1923 had just turned 101 years old and is posing for a sculptor in Los Angeles. Tom Hale takes narration for “1923 Aviation” (8:34) in which the Martin bomber plane has been converted to a passenger plane. In the “1920 Fashion of the Day” (9:14) we are instructed posture was most important, and not how you wore it yet “how you stood under it”.
The “1925 Sports” segment will be the final and begins on September 1st, 1925 with the channel swimmer of six years old, Johnny “Freckles” Devine. After having swum the Delaware river, he now dives in the Hudson to reach the Jersey shore. On September 22, 1933; on the steps of New York’s City Hall Mayor O’Brian greets the ‘city hall hero’s’ (10:50). It begins with the former and then current manager Bill Terry introducing the Giants team as they had just won the 1933 pennant.
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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
