This short commercial film by Pan American World Airways titled “61/2 Magic Hours” details the technological marvel that is Pan Am’s new Boeing 707 Jet Clipper which allowed for seamless and fast transatlantic travel between New York, London, and Paris. In 1958, Pan Am inaugurated a new service to London from its Worldport Terminal in New York: Flight 1000. This was the first jet airline service to Europe by Pan Am. Produced by F.D. Kay and written by G.E. Weiler, this film commemorates that flight and the preparations which led up to it. The plane, which could carry up to 150 passengers, had a longer wingspan than the entire distance of the Wright Bros. first flight. The Boeing 707 Jet Clipper ushered in the Jet Age and the easy interchange of people throughout the world – shortening Christopher Columbus’ 2 month journey and Charles Lindbergh’s 33 hour journeys across the Atlantic to “61/2 magic hours”.
Focus and sound level adjustment guide for optimized projection (0:01). Footage of the sky over the Atlantic Ocean (1:04). Exterior of Idlewild Airport, known today as John F Kennedy Airport (2:05). Departures board with Pan Am flight 1000 to London from New York (2:18). Luggage tags for major cities: Beirut, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Rio, London (2:38). Flight simulation of flight from New York to London (3:32). Gathering of weather data (3:41). Model of Worldport Pan Am terminal at Idlewild Airport/ John F Kennedy Airport in Queens, New York (4:22). Boeing 707 Jet Clipper aircraft preparing for take off (5:00). Passengers taking their seats aboard the aircraft (5:57). Take off as seen from the pilot’s cockpit (6:42). Innovations aboard the aircraft (7:25-9:40). Descent into London (9:54). Aerial view of the Palace of Westminster along the River Thames (10:15). Aerial view of St. Paul’s Cathedral (10:25). The Royal Guard of Buckingham Palace performing Trooping the Color ceremony in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday (10:48). Eiffel Tower in Paris (11:56). View of Notre Dame and the Seine (12:04). Sacré Coeur de Montmartre (12:06). The Panthéon (12:09). Various street scenes around Paris (12:22-12:50). Closing credits (13:11).
