This B&W television episode of YESTERDAY’S NEWSREEL features eight segments of historic highlights, voiced by Tom Hale unless otherwise noted. The first segment “Finlandia” begins with Finland’s independence from the Russian Federation on April 13, 1918 (:44). Baron Carl Gustav Mannerheim reviews his troops in Senaatintori Square (:45-1:07). In Washington, D.C., U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Morgenthau Jr. accepts a check from Finland on its WWI debt (1:40-1:58). In 1939, Russian bombs create panic and destruction (2:07-2:55). Finnish soldiers dressed to blend with snow plan resistance (2:57-3:07). Behind the fortified Mannerheim Line, a cannon fires at Soviet positions (3:08). Snow troops on skis temporarily hold its position (3:24). Resistance is segment-lived as Finland surrenders on March 12, 1940. General Mannerheim shakes hands with his officers (3:42). The second segment is “Society Goes Fancy” (4:07). It opens at the 1936 Beaux-Arts Ball in the Hotel Astor ballroom in New York City (4:16). Mrs. Reginald Vanderbilt (Gloria) is pulled in a cart by Roman soldiers (4:20). A woman is covered in neon lights (4:36). Also attending is burlesque entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee (4:42) and English actors Gertrude Lawrence and John Gielgud (4:47). The third segment is “Personalities” (5:02). It opens December 2, 1928 with novelist Fannie Hurst (5:08) and her dog at a benefit for animal hospitals. Next is Tomas Masaryk (5:26-5:53), first president of Czechoslovakia, being acknowledged by Chicago crowds May 1918 and in Prague March 1940. We next celebrate the July 1931 marriage of Rudy Vallee to Fay Webb (5:55-6:48). The fourth segment is “Egypt’s Pharaoh Unearthed” (6:57). A group of U.S. sailors on segment leave head towards the tomb of King Tutankhamun (7:03). The Great Sphynx of Giza, Egypt, is shown in its 1922 condition (7:08). They are the first Americans to see King Tut’s tomb (7:25), discovered by Howard Carter Wright (7:31) on November 5, 1922, when he unearthed steps leading into it (7:38).
The fifth segment is “World’s Largest Katy” (7:46-8:27), voiced by Roger Owens. It’s 1927 and six costumed women do the “straw hat strut” around this 6’ straw hat, the world’s largest. The sixth segment is “Aviation” (8:28). Inventor Glen Curtiss and his glider are shown in New York in September 1922 (8:35). He begins in the water and is towed by a speedboat at 30 m.p.h. before lifting off; a first in flying (8:36-9:12).The seventh segment is “Fashions of the Day” (9:13), voiced by Sally Anderson. Two women play tennis (9:22) and Wellesley College girls practice archery skills (9:33-9:50) in the 1916 version of the active sports dress. A 1918 woman’s striped golfing outfit is shown for summer (9:51) and two knitted versions for winter (10:04-10:26). A gentleman wearing a plus fours jacket and cap joins them (10:26-10:40). The eighth segment is “Sports” (10:42). It is May 16, 1931 at Churchill Downs for the 57th Kentucky Derby. The horses approach the starting gate (10:57) but delays occur (11:08). The entire race is now shown, with the favorite, Twenty Grand, winning in record time (11:12-12:25).
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