This brief travelogue film, likely one of the James Fitzpatrick “Travel Talks” series (but the main title is missing on our print), takes viewers to Antwerp, Belgium in the 1930’s. Within the decade of the 1930’s, Antwerp hosted the Exposition International of Colonial Maritime and Art at the 1930’s World’s Fair as well as the Exposition of 1930 in Liege. This was to mark 100 years of independence. Antwerp would also soon become a vital strategic location for the Allied forces in the Second World War.

This film displays culture and notable areas in Antwerp during the 1930’s and prior to the war. It opens with workers rapidly sorting potatoes into sacks (:10) as the popular food commodity was in high demand. The city is viewed from the ground level as pedestrians move over brick ground pushing wooden carts (:19). The people of Belgium were known for employing and working closely with animals. The camera zooms in on the undercarriage of the cart to note a small dog running underneath (:40). The Percheron; a draft horse common to the area, appears moving down the road with tails nearly tucked away (:57). The film notes a popular painting which immortalized the intelligent animals called “The Horse Fair” by Rosa Bonheur (1:16). Antwerp’s Sunday Market is held in ‘Old Antwerp’ (1:27). Stalls are crammed tightly together (1:54). Vendors sell fresh vegetables and live animals (2:00) as traditionally, Belgians did not use cold storage. Puppies bounce in a crate for sale (2:33). Most people of Belgium owned pets. A young girl has a puppy bought for her by her father (2:36). One man has trained an ostrich to carry him in the same way a horse might, though the ostrich is much harder to train (2:44). It drags the cart (2:57) as cyclists follow the strange pair. The Belgian Malinois are popular for use as police dogs (3:04). One is trained with a man posing as a perpetrator in thick protective gear (3:15). The dog let’s go promptly as instructed to do so (3:28). A man and two children feed a giraffe (3:40) at the Antwerp Zoo. This is located in the Centre next to the Antwerpen-Centraal Railway Station. It is the oldest animal park in the country and in the world opened on July 21, 1843. A crowd fills an open air cafe typical of the area (4:01). A server delivers beer to guests (4:11). The rare Okapi animal; also known as the forest zebra, is held at the zoo (3:51). This is one of the rarest animals in the world. The one pictured here was the only one held in captivity during this time period (5:07). A rider attaches a nose bag for feeding his horse (5:34). Equines were still largely used for transportation. A flower market (Grote Markt) is captured nearby (5:52). This market is held at the foot of the Cathedral of Our Lady (6:15). The building is of gothic structure and building began in the 14th century. The camera pans up the structure. The interior is comprised of carvings and paintings including one by Peter Paul Reuben. The belfry of the tower is comprised of forty bells (6:49). The largest weighs eight tons and consecrated 400 years prior by Charles the Fifth. The bell ringer moves up the stairs (7:01). He inspects the bells first (7:23). He approaches an old fashioned keyboard (7:45). Heavy leather finger gloves are put on for protection (7:55). He begins to ring the bells here (8:18). Hammers strike the bells creating noise (8:32). The notes of the bells melodies ring out over the city (8:48) as the film concludes.

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