This black & white educational film about Texas was adapted from the March of Time. There is no copyright at the beginning or end of the film so the date of the production remains unclear although it is late 1940s or early 1950s since WW2 is mentioned as being past. The film begins with multiple exterior shots of the state of Texas with a narrator commenting on its size. Sheep, railroad, horses – things associated with Texas shown including roadside attractions – Rancher rounds up sheep, bridge, Popeye statue in Crystal City, TX, Worlds largest Watermelon in Weatherford, TX, Uvalde, TX where former vice president of the USA lives (‘Cactus’ Jack Garner) (:19-1:15). Texas Delegates to Congress are shown in Washington, DC (i.e. Senator Connelly, Rep. Rayburn) as are Naval leaders like Chester Nimitz, leaders like Jesse Jones of Houston (1:16-1:40). Multiple shots of wheat/grain, cotton that is bound being loaded onto a ship, vegetables & citrus fruits are crated and getting ready for shipment (1:41-2:29). Mines with a crane. Sulphur, carbon, Mercury are discussed & shown, an experiment with Mercury presented. Helium is up next, exterior shots of warehouses of helium. Petroleum pumps, Texas pipeline, workers working the pipeline, Texas oil pumps (2:29-4:01). Texas map is shown with cities listed, Soldiers are shown at their barracks, Army’s Randolph Field, marching soldiers, Corpus Christi, planes on the airstrip, shipyards on the gulf of Mexico (4:01-5:02). North American Aviation Inc of Texas, workers in the facility, planes (5:03-5:22) Texas book covers (i.e. almanac, Stories of Texas), students in school, teacher teaches, student reads ‘A History of Texas – Revised.’ Sam Houston statue. Students are taught that Texans have lived under 6 flags: Spanish, French, Mexican, Texan, Confederate, & the USA (mini flags shown in classroom). (5:23-5:54) Map showing Spanish reign over Texas. Sign that reads Mission San Jose Founded 1720. History of Texas is discussed, map updated to show Texas has become Republic of Texas. Texas flag moves in the wind, children in classroom listen, Alamo is shown, Davy Crockett bust, San Jacinto Battle statue, Map shows 1845 Texas becoming a part of the USA (5:54-6:49). More history is narrated, USA/Texas flag fly in the breeze, Texas Independence plaque shown, Austin (6:49-7:08). Border Patrol on horses, San Antonio, city shots/life, Trail Drivers play music, people dance (7:09-8:03). Book: Sightseer’s Guide to Houston, skyline of downtown Houston, Rice Institute, Houston seaport, great homes of Houston, women relax and are served by a butler in a shady backyard (8:03-9:00).
Dallas, TX. Cars drive, a police officer directs traffic downtown, woman shows off expensive fur, Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, people explore the artwork. Skyline of Fort Worth. The city owes a lot to Amon Carter, famous publisher. ‘Howdy’ sign in a bar. Men in a bar sing ‘The Eyes of Texas.’ Sign reads: Dallas Passports must be ok’ed before valid. (9:01-10:48) End title: The End (10:49-10:57).
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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
