This 1950s film from Sinclair Refining Company highlights the role that Sinclair employees play in their communities. It was apparently made to help promote outreach by franchisees as a good business practice. The film extols the virtues of the station managers who responsibly and ethically manage a complex business with many responsibilities. The movie follows a Sinclair station manager, Frank, who becomes involved in his town’s politics when a debate arises about the high school offering a driver’s training course. Frank thinks this course is a good idea because it will ensure the safety of young drivers. Over the course of the film, Frank’s friends and neighbors talk about how great of a man Frank is and how involved he is in his community. Furthermore, Frank’s experience at Sinclair has prepared him for his responsibilities in town. The film was produced by Atlas Film Corporation and was directed by Albert Kelley. It features John Archer in the role of Frank, the Sinclair station manager.

(01:14) A man, Frank, in a Sinclair jumpsuit mows his lawn. A neighbor comes over to discuss his recent remarks at a school board meeting.

(01:53) There was an argument about a driver training course that led to a discussion about the proposal for a high school parking lot.

(02:54) At the table, a family discusses the proposal for a “drag strip” that could be installed near the high school. It is a special supervised track where drivers can practice their skills.

(03:25) The wife, Hazel, thinks the priority should be safety and driver’s education courses.

(05:12) Frank helps two out-of-town customers at the Sinclair station he runs.

(06:31) Frank sends a mechanic over to a customer experiencing a mechanical issue.

(07:05) Two men at a car dealership argue with Frank of the proposal for a driver’s education class in school. They argue that the driver’s training course would be very costly and not necessarily effective.

(08:03) Frank counter-argues and explains the benefits of driver’s education classes.

(10:49) One man at a grocery store tells Frank that teenagers should not be driving and he disagrees with the drag strip idea.

(11:18) A policeman thinks the drag strip is a great idea; however, he doesn’t think the driver’s training course is a good idea.

(12:05) The members of the PTA fully endorse a fully-equipped driver’s training course.

(15:40) While men discuss Frank’s ideas, one man explains how skilled and qualified Frank is. He goes through all the responsibilities Frank undertakes at the Sinclair station he runs. Frank is personally involved in managing all aspects of the station.

(17:06) One man says that Frank has a “company (Sinclair) that keeps him right up to the minute in all phases of business management.”

(17:15) A car dealer acknowledges that he has underestimated Frank’s abilities.

(17:35) Many people entrust their car to men like Frank at Sinclair stations.

(18:36) Hazel compliments her husband’s judgment and character.

(18:51) Now, everyone in town wants Frank to run for school board.

(19:16) Frank agrees to run for school board.

(20:11) At a house party, a man calls Frank because his car broke down on a road. Frank goes out himself to rescue the stranded driver.

(20:43) “Maybe a lot of us don’t know Frank and all the Franks at the many thousands of service stations all over America, but we do know the job they’re doing in their communities is an important one.”

Motion picture films don’t last forever; many have already been lost or destroyed. For almost two decades, we’ve worked to collect, scan and preserve the world as it was captured on 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies — including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction. If you have endangered films you’d like to have scanned, or wish to donate celluloid to Periscope Film so that we can share them with the world, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us via the weblink below.

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