This short, color travelogue film by Atlantic Pictures of Richmond, Virginia dates to 1954, and seeks to highlight the scenic and touristic wonders to be enjoyed during a vacation to the holiday isles of St. Petersburg, Florida. Located along the Gulf of Mexico, St. Petersburg’s beaches are known for their white sand and crystal clear waters. Narrated by Arch Harrison, this film follows the story of a family from choosing their holiday destination to all of the places on their vacation itinerary. This is a Jo Frohock Picture that was made especially for television and was shot using Kodak’s Kodachrome film technology. The film features visuals that depict typical 1950s fashion and architecture and includes scenes of hotels that are no longer in business but that were cultural relics for the St. Petersburg area at the time.

Opening credits (0:19). Camera comes into focus on a toy-size replica automobile from 1903 (1:01). Toy-size replica of 1950s orange convertible pulls up (1:10). Cars buzz by on highway enclosed by a forest (1:13). Middle-aged couple sits in their parlor, look at vacation brochures: Colonial Williamsburg, New Orleans, St. Petersburg, Florida (1:27). Camera pans exterior of Tides Hotel & Bath Club (1:44). Woman in a 1950s retro swimsuit pretends to throw around a beach ball while standing in front of a map of Florida (1:55). Woman’s manicured finger points to Belleair Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Redington Beach, Madeira Beach, Sunshine Beach, Treasure Island Beach, Boca Ciega Beach, Sunset Beach, St. Petersburg Beach, Bennett Beach, Belle Vista Beach, Don CeSar Beach, Pass-a-Grille Beach (2:06). Family stops at an outdoor produce stand at Indian Rocks Beach, piles of citrus fruit (2:40). Outdoor courtyard of diners shaded by palm trees (2:52). Gulf Winds Resort (3:03). Family sets up lounge chairs and umbrellas along white sands of St. Petersburg Beach (3:10). Young kids run towards the clear waters (3:17). Woman throws bread crumbs to seagulls on the beach (3:35). Young boy wears a snorkel mask (3:44). Young girl and mother collect wildlife on the shore: baby horseshoe crab, shells, and starfish (3:55). Little girl builds a sandcastle (4:02). Men fish off of a small bridge (4:25). Father and son board chartered deep-sea fishing boat (4:45). Perhaps 1954 Chrysler Windsor Sedan pulls into parking lot (5:02). Sunken Gardens Botanical Gardens, camera pans tropical foliage, close-ups of vibrantly colored tropical flora and fauna (5:04). Fiery tropical iris (6:22). Bird of paradise flower (6:31). Charter boat returns – fish hang from side panels of the boat (6:59). Father and son proudly hold up their catch (7:16). Poolside at Hotel Rellim in Pass-a-Grille (7:23). Young boy and girl run into freshwater pool (7:29). Family sits for lunch of sandwiches and iced teas on outdoor patio (7:50). Kids jump from diving boards (8:02). The Florida Wild Animal and Reptile Ranch (8:17). Close-ups of different animals at the ranch (8:28). Flamingos bathe themselves (8:52). Onlookers gather around alligator pen during feed time (9:02). St. Petersburg’s Festival of States parade: decorative floats and marching bands glide down historical costume glides down parade route lined with flags and onlookers (9:48). Afternoon cocktail social hour for hotel guests by the pool (10:54). Kids play shuffleboard (11:19). Sign for the Water Carnival at Pass-a-Grille Beach (11:38). Aquamaniacs water-ski stunt group performance (11:45). Exterior of church in St. Petersburg (12:41). Adults play game of shuffleboard (13:00). Family time back on the beach (13:35). Family photo from the beach in a photo album (14:12). Emblem for St. Petersburg, Florida (14:24).

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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