This film is a compilation of home movies shot in the 1950s during a family’s trip to Panama and the Canal Zone, Kingston in Jamaica, and Havana in Cuba prior to the Cuban Revolution. Some of the sights included in the film are the Havana Zoo, the “El Rancho” Gardens in Panama City, and Castleton Gardens in Jamaica. The journey was made aboard the ocean liner RMS Mauretania towards the end of its service life, before it was scrapped in 1965. RMS Mauretania was launched on 28 July 1938 at the Cammell Laird yard in Birkenhead, England and was completed in May 1939. RMS Mauretania had a similar exterior to the famous RMS Queen Elizabeth ocean liner.
Families walk into a building (00:06). Visitors arrive at “El Rancho” beer garden in Panama City, Panama (00:11). Visitors dine and drink at El Rancho (00:40). Dancing (00:51). A performance of traditional Panamanian dance, outfits, and music (01:06). Views of Panama City (02:13). The Arch of Ferdinand, Ferdinand de Lesseps monument (02:30). Pablo Arosemena statue on Plaza de Francia (02:39). Palacio de las Garzas, the residence of the president of Panama (02:50). Views of Panama City in the 1950s (03:39). Photos are taken of wife and husband on train tracks (03:56). Balboa train station in Panama City (03:57). Passengers exit a train (04:11). Large ships sailing through the Panama Canal (04:16). Husband and wife observe the view from a ship (04:29) alongside other passengers (04:53). Views of Port Kingston (05:00). The ocean liner RMS Mauretania (05:36). Views of Kingston, capital of Jamaica, in the 1950s (05:56). Statue of Queen Victoria in St. William Grant Park, Kingston, Jamaica (06:06). Views of Kingston (06:12). Views of the surrounding mountainous landscapes (06:25). “Castleton Garden” botanical garden welcome sign (06:44). Views of the garden (06:50). A large property (07:58). A road (08:21). Flower beds and trees (09:05). Pink hibiscus flowers (09:35). Garden area with fountains (09:40). Flag of the United Kingdom of Britain (09:45). Gate to Hope Botanical Garden (09:54). Views of the garden (10:04). People bathing in a swimming pool (10:18). Palm Trees (10:39). Large resorts (10:47). A guard (11:51). Tourists shopping on streets in Jamaica (11:58). Local woman carries a full basket on her head (12:15). The Cuban Capitol Building, El Capitolio, in the City of Havana, Cuba (12:26). Faro Castillo del Morro Lighthouse built in 1845 on the ramparts of the Castillo de los Tres Reyes Magos del Morro, an old fortress guarding the harbor of Havana (12:57). Havana’s coastline (13:45). Cars driving along the coastline (14:06). The Museum of the Revolution (Museo de la Revolución) in the Old Havana section of Havana, Cuba (14:20). Bird’s-eye-view of Havana and views of the RMS Mauretania (14:41). El Templete museum (15:29). Views of Havana and residential houses (15:41). “Zoologico” sign (16:52). Views of the zoo garden and its lions, birds, and monkeys (16:59). A game of tennis (17:59).
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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 and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
