Created by John Sutherland Studios, this black and white scripted short film titled “The Story of a Main Street Merchant” seeks to commemorate 50 years of quality work by the J.C. Penney Company. It was released in 1954 and features a star-studded cast of the likes of Arthur Franz, Jan Clayton, Ray Collins, Paula Winslow, and James Best among others and the famed Eugene Poddany as music advisor, Frank Woodruff as director, and Ira H. Morgan as cinematographer. The film, which takes place in the year 1952, follows Steve Maywood as he reflects on his journey of joining the J.C. Penney franchise as a hopeful and eager sales clerk and working his way up to manager of a store-front that reaches AA status for its sales accomplishments. The story also includes the other individuals who are instrumental in Steve’s journey like his wife Madge and his first manager all the while underscoring the core values and accomplishments of the J.C. Penney franchise. The official catalog description stated, “The manager of a J. C. Penney Co. store lives up to the principles of honor, integrity, loyalty and service.”
Opening credits (0:07). Typical American suburban home (0:59). Local JCPenney branch manager Steve Maywood sitting in his home office reviewing letter from James Cash Penney, conversation between Steve and Madge (1:03). Steve opens memory scrapbook that details his journey to becoming a JC Penny manager, begins with Western Union Telegram (4:13). Flashback of young Steve telling Madge he wants to become a salesman for JC Penny while she sets up their first home in Clinton, Kansas (4:27). Camera zooms into photo of JCPenney Company storefront in Clinton, Arkansas (9:43). Steve reporting for first day of work having conversation in manager’s office (9:44). Clipping of ad from JCPenney catalogue for Rayon Jacquard Bedspreads (11:49). Scene in Madge and Steve’s home, Steve, Madge, and kids eating breakfast (11:55). Steve walking sales floor of JCPenney while discussing issue with an ad with colleague (13:49). Stacked folded bed sheets on display table (14:30). Steve and manager meeting in office discussing job transfer to become manager (14:42). Scrapbook page detailing the Maywood’s time in Gordon City, Missouri where Steve becomes store manager (16:13). Scene of the Maywoods in their living room, daughter reciting skit about her father’s profession. (16:37). Scrapbook page with images and newspaper clippings about time in Clarksville (18:22). Conversation between Steve and manager while he takes apart his office for retirement (18:34). Scrapbook image of six individual photographic portraits of young men (21:18). Scrapbook page with police report (21:50). Female employee talking with Steve discussing issue with the store (22:00). Trespasser rummaging through store stock (23:36). Discussion between Steve and trespasser (24:20). Steve checking out a parked car (28:18). Police officer confronts Steve for battery of traffic violations on the car (29:12). Video jumps forward in time to Steve in his office admiring the scrapbook (30:00). Store assistant manager Tim, giving motivational speech to Steve’s store’s employees about Christmas sales to become a AA rated store (30:50). Employees walk out to their positions on the sales floor and store doors open (32:56). Town mayor and other customers coming to shop at store (33:44). Madge shopping at the JCPenney store (36:08). Steve and Tim calculating profits from sales (36:31). Salesclerks assisting customers (37:18). Accountant crunching numbers with all store employees gathered around (38:21). After day of record holiday sales Steve gives speech to employees (39:47). Steve, Tim, and Ed talking in Steve’s office (40:51). Madge comes to Steve’s office to congratulate him (41:53). Steve and Madge walk through the empty store (42:06).
James Cash Penney was an American businessman and entrepreneur who founded the J.C. Penney stores in 1902. The first store was opened as the Golden Rule dry-goods store in Kemmerer, Wyoming.
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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, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
