This comical gag film was made in the late 1950’s by someone at Conover-Mast, a New York publisher that specialized in scientific and industrial trade magazines. The film, which shows a day in the life of a couple executives including telephone calls, smoking, drinking, golf and lively evening parties, is somewhat reminiscent of the modern television series “Mad Men”. Conover-Mast Publications was founded in 1928 by Burdette Pond Mast Sr. and Harvey Conover Sr.. The film masks a tragedy, because apparently shortly after it was made, Harvey Conover was lost at sea aboard his personal yacht the Revonoc. Mast continued to run the company after Conover’s death. While the film is quite funny, the business itself was deadly serious, and some speculate that the company promoted CIA cover operations while gathering intelligence internationally.

The film opens with the intersection of East 42nd street and 3rd Avenue in New York City, New York (:14). Well-suited employees step from the Bartholomew Building off east 42nd street (:22). The Conover-Mast Building follows (:38). The office of Conover-Mast appears in bright orange (1:03). CM was known for producing books and technical magazines. It was formed by Burdette Pond Mast Sr. and Harvey Conover Sr. in 1928. The office of B. P. Mast Jr. follows (1:24). Mast appears within rubbing his chin (1:28). He takes up a golf club to blow off steam (1:37). He sinks the ball, smiling for the camera (1:45). Harvey Conover dozes within his office (1:51). Sailboats bob on water (1:57). Boater’s wave to the publishers aboard their yacht (2:20). A blue sloop passes (2:24). Larges stripped tents are set up outside (2:38). Photographs show guests enjoying evening refreshment (2:41). Harvey continues his nap (3:04). Mast enters the office rousing him to answer the landline (3:16). A montage of the two founders and secretaries making outgoing calls from their rotary phones follows (3:37). Conover jams the receiver down (4:01) and marches out (4:05) heading for Scoop off 43rd street (4:09). A Charlie Chaplain short interrupts (4:20). Chaplain marches around as a patron dozes on the counter (4:22). He takes a shot (4:32) and tips over onto his buttocks multiple times. A bar fight erupts (5:40). Conover is tossed from Scoop (5:55). Businessmen stream out of the restaurant (6:05). Conover brings up the rear (6:11). He sips coffee at a business meeting (6:15). Publishing executive smoke and banter (6:30). B&W footage of a food throwing fight interrupts (6:37). Smoke plumes out, coffee is sipped (6:51) and the meeting carries on. A painter with a fake mustache dabs a brush onto a palette (7:11). The camera moves over to his masterpiece: “Women” on the women’s restroom (7:26). Executives head for a golfing retreat (8:03). One of the player’s stands in high weeds (8:24). Sepia toned footage show a man dragging a donkey into the weeds (8:32). Two golfers roll up on an orange golf cart (8:36). Back in the office; an executive smokes and scratches away at paperwork (8:43). Images of models appear (8:50) published in the magazine. A woman smokes in lace stockings on a black chair (9:11). The Office of L. F. Haggerty follows (9:17). He hosts a meeting over stack of paperwork (9:45). A close shot shows the men adding coins to piggy banks (9:51). Haggerty tosses a few coins in his pocket (10:02). The film snaps to a catered evening party (10:08). A man hammers on piano keys (10:17). Conover smiles along with guests (10:33). They play a game with red firemen hats (11:20). Conover gets a hat (11:37). Waiters plate meals for the guests (12:11). Mast spills his plate on himself (12:22). Other party guests help to clean him up (12:30). A business man holds his cat like a small child (12:46). Silver Quill logo (13:11). Black and white photographs show a formal party (13:18). Mast is pictured (13:26). A Laurel and Hardy movie featuring Ben Turpin interrupts (13:48). Pies are flung to every guest (14:35) including to the police (15:38). Another board meeting (16:48). Photographs appear of men and women on pleasure boats (17:13). The 1964 issue of Science and Technology follows (17:25). A barista delivers a “coffee break” (18:15). The cart passes showing bottles of Beefeater and Seagram’s V.O (18:20). Women dance barefoot (18:38). The band blows a tune (20:18). Magazine issues appear in a mound (22:13). Another board meeting (22:13) precedes a golfing outing (24:00). A CM Production (24:26).

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