“California” is the second episode in the 1940s motion picture series This Land Of Ours, from Carl Dudley Productions. The episode gives viewers an overview of the “Golden State.” California is a diverse state, boasting the nation’s tallest point—Mt. Whitney (01:11)—and the nation’s lowest point—Death Valley (01:23). El Camino Real (01:33) is an old pathway of Hispanic missions that connects San Diego in the south to Sonoma in north. The state’s wild gold rush days are commemorated with a statue of the man who ignited the rush, James W. Marshall (02:02), and placer mining machines continue to mine for gold today. The state’s capital building in Sacramento (02:30) is one of the oldest in the country. The state’s oldest city, however, is San Diego (03:05). North of San Diego is San Francisco, a bustling metropolis with a busy port, cable cars, and the famous Golden Gate Bridge (03:16). Los Angeles (03:54) is one of the most populated cities in the U.S. It is home to world-class institutions of higher education, including UCLA (04:14) and USC (04:21). USC and its LA Memorial Coliseum draw huge crowds each year (04:41) for the annual “Tournament of Roses.” With its diverse climate and geography, California has the natural resources to be self-sustaining if need be. The great Central Valley and its two major rivers, the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers (05:09), provide incredible irrigation and soil conditions to produce all kinds of fruits. Citrus fruits are grown throughout the southern part of state, while Imperial Valley (05:39) has been transformed into rich agriculture environment. Livestock (06:00) is another major industry in the state and source of food. Mining is still common and lucrative, but oil is now the most profitable (06:14). (06:33) The state’s vast water sources provide hydro power, which powers a number of other industries. Industries of all kinds span the state, including shipbuilding (06:53), steel production, synthetic chemicals and plastics production, and building aircraft (07:19). No industry is as well known as entertainment (07:40) and its “Mecca,” Hollywood. To top it all off, much of the state is covered in national parks and forests, with the main highlights including the giant Redwood Forests (08:18), Yosemite National Park (08:28), and Palm Springs.

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