This fun and nostalgic animated film is presented by the Lionel Corporation (:14) as a way to showcase their wonderful toy trains to the consumer prior to Christmas time. The film features the Suzari Puppets (:32) and the notable child actor Paul O’Keefe (:39). The Suzari puppets first appeared on the ABC television series known as “The Singing Lady”. Ireene Wicker supplied the voices of the popular marionettes. This film features the 1957 Showroom layout also known as the ‘Super O Layout’. The story features two puppets; a reputable professor and a red haired ruffian running from the law while sharing tales of his train voyages with a young boy. The Lionel trains are displayed throughout the film including war equipment such as submarines, helicopters and portable missiles. The film opens with Paul O’Keefe’s character laying on the carpet with his toy train set in black and white footage (:51). He sets his toys in proper setting (1:22) prior to beginning play time and promptly drifts off to sleep. He awakes to find the Professor Herman J. Hotbox standing above him (1:59) within the ‘Wonderful World of Trains’. Hotbox is to narrate the show (2:31) and displays his impatience at having to await the show’s start (2:31). The camera pans over the grounds showing railroads, tunnels and bridges embanked by rolling green pastures and hills (2:38). A police officer awakes Hotbox as he dozes on a park bench (2:51). The officer informs Hotbox he is on the hunt for a disreputable character (3:26). The red headed ruffian appears on scene taunting the old professor (4:19). Both men fall asleep on the park bench (4:52). The red and white pinstriped master of ceremonies welcomes youth to the show as it is about to begin (5:01). Algernon Caboose takes the stand as Professor Hotbox to narrate the show (5:44). Hotbox remains asleep. Algernon calls the young boy to be his assistant (6:09). Trains jut from a tunnel as the show beings (6:22). A freight train rolls over a tiny bridge (6:33). The giraffe trains rolls by as giraffes pop in and out (6:40). Algernon reminisces over his time as gatekeeper in a town called Wet Moccasin (6:53). The replica of an actual US Navy submarine sits atop a Lionel flatbed (7:05). The boy sets off missiles (7:16) at a cargo car of explosives (7:22). A small yellow Navy chopper takes off (7:26). A diesel streamliner zooms by (8:08) followed by a U.S. Navy diesel freight (8:30). The boy launches the submarine (9:19) showcasing how the toy works. The helicopter is set off (10:34). Algernon calls the missile car the ‘magnificent banana car’ (10:54). The police officer returns to the scene (12:22) looking for Algernon. Algie escapes detection (12:27). Two cars head near one another nearing a crash (13:34) and Algernon faints even though they avoid collision. He tells of a story of giraffes loaded onto a freight train (14:09) and of how he had once prevented a train wreck (14:55). An aquarium car rolls by with fish swimming around within (15:08). Algernon begins to tell a story of how he saved trains form a crash (15:58). The railroad maintenance man zips back and forth (16:14). A lumber car unloads lumber (16:30). The general zooms down the track (16:44). Another freight barrels down the same line (17:19). Algernon kicked the switch to separate the tracks at the right moment (17:49). The police officer finally comes face to face with Algernon calling him ‘hero of the wonderful world of trains’ (18:10). The camera pans over a drive in movie off the tracks (18:17). The office represents the owners of the freight line which Algernon had saved from collision. He delivers Algernon a gold medal (19:02). Professor Hotbox finally awakes (19:49) as Algernon takes off (20:38). The officer informs Hotbox the show has ended and that Algernon had narrated the show (21:17). Hotbox melts down (21:25). The film turns back to black and white as the young boy’s mother rouses him from the floor to go to bed (21:52). This film was directed by John Gilmour (22:45).

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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