Narrated by Virginia Gregg and Ann Tobin “Woman Speaks Volume 1” highlights women’s achievements in the post-war era. This black-and-white newsreel film is an episode in a larger series by the same name. This particular installment sheds light on women entrepreneurs and scientists from Mrs. Nan Songer to the famous Marie Curie in addition to advancements for women outside of the Western world in India.

With the end of World War II in 1945, veterans were returning home and women laborers were being let go from their war-time jobs. At the same time, magazines and newspapers targeted these women and invited them to become post-war consumers which coincided with the national expansion of television in 1946. Chicago-based film producer H.A. Spanuth was one of the first postwar film-makers to take advantage of television to address women. From 1945-1949, he broadcasted this combination newsreel/ television show Woman Speaks.

Opening credits (0:09). Perhaps Ann Tobin addresses camera (0:33). Cars drive along desolate paths towards Castle Rock (0:40). Quaint commercial street, downtown Castle Rock (0:44). Exterior window of The Record-Journal Pub. Co. (0:53). Publisher of The Record, Miss. Marjorie E. Case, sits amid stacks of letters and other documents (1:00). Montage of Miss. Case using typewriter, Linotype machine (1:05). Miss. Case adjusts forms of letterpress printer, pulls galley proof, feeds papers into perhaps Chandler & Price Co. Automatic Platen (1:25). Mrs. Nan Songer collects spiders from buds of Yucca plant using mason jar in Yucaipa California (2:16). Collection of mason jars sits on shelf, spiders inside (2:25). Mrs. Songer holds specimen close to face, looks at it with magnifying glass (2:31). Three young children approach Mrs. Songer, offer her collected spider specimens in small glass cases (2:42). Silking spiders: Mrs. Songer sits in workshop and places Golden Garden, Green Lake, Black Widow Spiders on piece of Yucca wood (3:04). Mrs. Songer spins lacquer frame as it collects spider silk thread, daughter (Betty Willis) stows them in storage case (3:59). Dressed in show outfit with daisies, Betty Willis leads horse from stable (4:35). Betty, a trick and fancy equestrian rider, does handstands and other tricks from atop palomino horse while running on race track – group of cowgirls look on in amazement (4:47). Betty does tricks, rides fiercely around track at Rodeo, stands filled with spectators (5:15). Cap Gris-Nez (5:51). Gertrude Ederle shakes man’s hand before heading off across the English Channel (5:57). Spectators greet Ederle at the White Cliffs of Dover, help remove her goggles (6:09). Aerial view ticker-tape parade in New York City to welcome and celebrate Gertrude Ederle’s accomplishment (6:12). Gertrude Ederle and then NYC Mayor Jimmie Walker stand on steps of New York City Hall, Ederle presented with flowers (6:18). Amelia Earhart adjusts her aviator hat and goggles (6:32). Earhart stands out of cockpit of Lockheed Model 10 Electra (6:41). Portrait of Amelia Earhart (6:52). Document pinned to bulletin board announcing scholarship through Zonta International: International Organization of Executive Women (7:05). American WWII battleships in a row in ocean (7:28). American WWII Military planes fly in formation over ocean (7:32). Flames envelop screen (8:01). Marie Curie stairs sternly at camera (8:08). Curie in graduation robes perhaps receiving honorary degree from Northwestern University (1921) (8:13). Marie Curie stands with her daughters (Irene, Eve) and Mrs William B. Maloney (Chairman of the Radium Fund Committee) in New York after arriving on the ‘RMS Olympic’ (8:17). Miniature illustrated map of India highlighting Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal (8:25). Young Indian women in aprons mix ingredients in cooking class, part of new domestic science curriculum (8:31). Young woman wearing traditional Indian Sari paints portrait (8:46). Young school-aged girls sit in bench rows for art class (8:55). Woman wearing traditional Indian Sari lectures to room of school-aged girls in logic and public speaking (9:03). Group of young women leave watering hole while carrying pots of water on their heads (9:18). Close-up barefoot feet of dancer with charms around ankle (9:32). Girls dance class (9:49).

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