Reel 2: https://youtu.be/5j5pp1yduHA

This color travelogue style film was shot by Norman Schley in April 1954 and offers a first-hand account of Schley’s trip around Missouri. A skilled filmmaker from Wisconsin, Schley made a series of films under the moniker “Schley Ride” and/or “Picturelogue.” Some of his films aired on television, while others were shown in front of live audiences. This particular account takes viewers along to explore the sites and wonders of Kansas City, Jackson City, Independence, and Excelsior Springs, Missouri. While many of Schley Ride films are silent, this film is fully narrated by Norman Schley who details both the type of shot he is taking with his camera and his opinions about the place he is visiting. This film not only has footage of important historical landmarks across Missouri but gives insight into the commercialization of middle America, where commercial real estate moguls started to majorly transform formerly sleepy towns.

Camera pans downtown Kansas City from an overlook at Penn Valley Park (0:10). Kansas City Union Station (0:22). Camera zooms into Kansas City skyline (0:50). Ruth (perhaps Schley’s wife) walks around World War I Museum and Memorial (1:12). Different angles of the Liberty Memorial Tower (1:15). The Scout, bronze statue in Penn Valley Park, skyline in background (1:56). Kansas City City Hall, city traffic in the foreground (2:46). Different shots from City Hall Plaza (3:19). Exterior of Sears Roebuck and Co. building (3:40). Camera pans tile-adorned building on Country Club Plaza/ Plaza Esplanade (4:02). Plaza Motor Bank (4:45). Red 1954 Packard Model 5431 Convertible drives into Plaza Motor Bank – one of the first drive-through bank deposit systems (4:56). One of the streets of the plaza lined with shops (5:43). Nichols Parkway and 47th Street – Schley talks about Mr. Nichols, a real estate magnate and pioneer of the shopping plaza (5:59). Bugs bunny statue eating a carrot (6:46). Perhaps cherry blossom tree in spring bloom (8:01). Rows of empty seats at Starlight Theatre Kansas City in Swope Park (8:24). Kansas City Zoo: Elephant walks towards camera (9:30). Baby elephant (10:06). Visitors gather and engage with the elephants (11:17). Crowd gathers around sea lion pen (12:07). Ruth feeds dromedary camels (13:19). Zebra (13:33). Lion in a cage (14:02). Municipal Auditorium on Baltimore Avenue (14:05). Shot of traffic and storefronts along Truman Road, formerly 15th Street (14:12). Traffic light and street sign at the intersection of Truman Road and Baltimore Avenue (14:37). Kansas City Power and Light Company Building (14:53). Truman Courthouse/ Jackson County Courthouse in Independence, Missouri (15:04). Harry S. Truman National Historic Site home (15:23). Close up shots of house exterior and lawns built in Gothic, Eclectic Victorian style – Schley notes the home is not in great shape (15:30). Barren tree-lined road on way to Excelsior Springs (18:16). Man washes his car in stream (18:33). Exterior of the Elms Hotel Health Resort (19:02). Store fronts: deli, liquor store, pharmacy, soda fountain (19:45). McCleary Clinic (20:02). Exterior of U.S. Post Office in Excelsior Springs (20:18). Exterior of Hall of Waters (20:55). Different shots of trees in bloom (21:29). Sign for mineral water baths (22:05). Exterior of Excelsior Springs Ball Clinic and Health School (22:22). Exterior of the Federal Reserve Bank building on 10th Street and Grand Avenue (22:37). Door window pane with name of former U.S. President Harry S. Truman (23:05). Missouri State Capitol Building (23:24). Tweedie Footwear Corporation storefront (23:37).

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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