This short film, presented by Breyers Ice Cream and narrated by Lowell Thomas, gives viewers a look at the attractions of historic Philadelphia. The film opens with footage of fireworks bursting in Philadelphia’s night sky on the 4th of July. The film shows Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the city’s skyline (00:48). Viewers see the William Penn statue on the top of City Hall Tower. Next, the film takes viewers to Independence Hall (01:32), where men reenact the signing of the Declaration of Independence; other highlights include the Liberty Bell (03:00) and the Betsy Ross House on Arch Street (where women reenact stitching the American flag). Women sew American flags at the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot (04:04). Outside of the oldest church in Pennsylvania, Gloria Dei Church (04:44)—nicknamed Old Swedes’ Church—people reenact an annual pageant. The film also shows Christ Church, the oldest Episcopal Church in the U.S. Inside this church, a man portrays George Washington praying in a pew. Next, the film visits Valley Forge National Historic Park (05:58), and footage shows the old canons at the battlefield, as well as dogwood trees in full blossom. At the Franklin Institute science museum (06:46), people visit the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial in the building’s rotunda. A man reenacts colonial printing using a printing press identical to the one Franklin used (07:25). The film takes viewers to Girard College (08:37), William Penn’s house, and the house of the first papermaker in the U.S., William Rittenhouse (09:30). There is also footage of Benedict Arnold’s Mount Pleasant mansion (09:55), the Philadelphia Mint where a woman scoops coins into a minting machine, and of the Philadelphia Zoo. Viewers see a parrot, hippopotamus, goats, and several chimpanzees performing in a show. Two chimps sit on a bench eating Breyers ice cream, concluding the film.

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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