Released by Ziv TV productions and airing on the Ziv Network in the early 1950s, “Yesterday’s Newsreels” were created using the holdings of the General Newsreel Co. The series comprised of newsreel footage combined with modern narration. This episode begins with a look at Benito Mussolini, the Italian dictator and founder of the Italian Fascist party. Tom Hale delivers the story of Mussolini (:27). Mussolini’s supporters fill the Piazza del Plebiscito (:38) in October of 1930. A massive cutout of Benito’s head (:43) rises from the crowd as they celebrate the eight anniversary of the fascist takeover. Benito delivers a curt smile (:48). He appears (1:05) in the 1920’s. The country was entrenched in debt. Italian soldiers march through the streets (1:20). He burns privately owned securities (1:48). An aerial shot of St. Peter’s Square (1:54) follows. Mussolini signs the Lateran Treaty in 1929 (1:57) thus forming the independent city of the Vatican. His car drives through (2:09). An assassin attempts to hit Benito (2:28). He addresses supporters following the failed attempt (2:34). Violet Green; the Irish assassin fires a shot clipping the dictators nose. He appears again before supporters with a bandage on his nose (2:44). Edda Mussolini marries Galezzo Ciano (3:00). Benito stands with the newlyweds (3:16). The Italian air fleet drops bombs in practice drills (3:40). A bridge explodes (3:51). Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935 (4:13). Italian forces drive through primitive streets of the country (4:26) upon conquest. Troops stand at Addis Ababa (4:31) as it falls to the Italians. The Fascist Italian flag waves atop the capital building (4:37). King Victor Emmanuel (4:44) is pictured in Rome as Italy celebrates their new role as an empire nation. Showgirls stand on stage at the Shubert Theater in 1919 (5:07). The Shubert is a Broadway theater at 225 West 44th Street in Midtown Manhattan. The girls perform “Magic Melody” with a score by Sigmund Romberg (5:07). Showgirls twirl under heavy headdress and flowing gowns (5:26). Bertie Beaumont dances onto stage (6:05). Celebrity personalities of 1921 include American stage actor, Milton Sills (6:16). Canadian screen and stage actress, Marie Dressler (6:31) chats with notable cartoonist, Rube Goldberg (6:32). Eddie Quillan of the 1931 comedy “The Big Shot” laughs for the camera (6:44). A fire erupts in Nashua, New Hampshire in 1930 leaving 1,000 homeless (7:08). Flames spring from the covered railroad bridge (7:14). High winds take the fire over Merrimack River (7:19). The Mount Wilson observatory (7:58) is situated on a peak in the San Gabriel Mountains near Pasadena California. The observatory is pictured just after the close of WW1 as foreign scientists arrived in California (8:05). The camera pans up the 40 inch telescope (8:13). A professor snaps photographs (8:28). The first photograph taken is of the Andromeda Nebula (8:41). The film goes to 1934 Corning, New York to witness the creation of a 200 inch lens (8:53). The lens was completed in December of 1935 (9:00). It’s loaded onto a railroad car in 1936 for a five month journey to Palomar in California (9:13). The rail car moves off (9:20). A massive C7 appears inflated with helium in Norfolk, Virginia (9:33) in 1921. Navy Commander Landsdowne stands with the helium expert (9:42). The craft heads for Washington (9:53). It navigates the Washington monument (9:58). Aerial footage from the craft shows the White House (10:06) and the Lincoln Memorial (10:09) below. Sally Anderson delivers fashion of the day (10:17). Young women parade in one piece bathing suits of the 1920’s in Luna Park of Coney Island (10:26). The Sky Chaser entices riders (10:36). A young girl holds a silver set as her trophy (10:56). Tom Hale delivers sports heroes of the 1930’s (11:02). The 1933 Belmont Futurity Stakes appear (11:13). Crowds jam the stands for the notable thoroughbred race. Horses take off across the dirt (11:19). J. H Whitney’s horse Singing Wood takes the lead (11:26). Sir Thomas gives her a run for the money (11:31). Singing wood heads for the winners circle (11:55).

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