Almost Lost Images and Audio

A clip from a WWII-era newsreel produced by "Official Films," a company that often used government-provided films to make short and long documentary films. This segment is about how the Allies opened a "Second Front" in North Africa in 1942. Posted for historical information, discussion and critique.

An outtake from an interview with jazz musician Duke Ellington back in the 1960s...somewhat interrupted by a process server....in a Playboy bunny outfit..... Found on a reel of 16mm film from an estate sale....no attribution available, but probably from a New York TV station. Posted for historical information, discussion and critique.

Outtakes from 1960s TV shows where the actors have flubbed their lines.....Paladin, Gunsmoke, and others....some well-known actors are included. Found on 16mm film from an estate sale, and no attributions are attached, probably compiled by a NY TV station. Posted for historical information and discussion and critique.

The Rosenbergs became infamous for passing the secrets of the US development of the atomic bomb, and they were tried, convicted and executed for treason, surrounded by controversy and protest. Here is one in a series of short documentaries in a series called "Greatest Headlines of the Century" produced by the now defunct Filmrite Associates and Official Films. Posted for historical education, discussion and critique.

Before there ever was MTV and "music videos," there were "Soundies," played from 16mm film in bars and hotels on a coin-operated machine. Here is one Soundie from the years of World War II, featuring a popular song of the day, "Bless Them All." This Soundie is very obviously a wartime morale film....which some would call propaganda...but is certainly typical of its time. Now in the public domain as copyright was never renewed it's now-vanished production company, it is presented here for historical education, discussion and critique.

Before there ever was MTV and "music videos," there were "Soundies," played from 16mm film in bars and hotels on a coin-operated machine. Here is one Soundie from the years of World War II, featuring a popular song of the day, "Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B" (but this is NOT the Andrews Sisters' version). This Soundie is very obviously a wartime morale film....which some would call propaganda...but is certainly typical of its time. Now in the public domain as copyright was never renewed it's now-vanished production company, it is presented here for historical education, discussion and critique.

A wartime-made "Soundie" celebrating the desired (and impending) death of Adolf Hitler and the end of World War II. Before there ever was MTV and "music videos," there were "Soundies," played from 16mm film in bars and hotels on a coin-operated machine. This Soundie is very obviously a wartime morale film....which some would call propaganda...but is certainly typical of its time. Now in the public domain as copyright was never renewed it's now-vanished production company, it is presented here for historical education, discussion and critique.

Digitized from 16mm film produced by the now-defunct "Official Films," that generally made newsreels and documentaries from official government-shot films, here is a segment on The Battle of the Don, between the Nazi regime of Germany and the Soviet Union in 1942. Contains a number of staged shots, but also some actual combat footage. Posted for historical education, discussion and critique.

Before there ever was MTV and "music videos," there were "Soundies," played from 16mm film in bars and hotels on a coin-operated machine. Here is one Soundie from the years of World War II, featuring a man who would be much more famous later on.....William Frawley, who played the "Fred Mertz" character for years on the "I Love Lucy" show. This Soundie is very obviously a wartime morale film....which some would call propaganda...but is certainly typical of its time. Now in the public domain as copyright was never renewed it's now-vanished production company, it is presented here for historical education, discussion and critique.

Before there ever was MTV and "music videos," there were "Soundies," played from 16mm film in bars and hotels on a coin-operated machine. Here is one Soundie from the years of World War II, featuring a fairly amateurish cast and a pretty simplistic song about when the college football players had gone to war. This Soundie is very obviously a wartime morale film....which some would call propaganda...but is certainly typical of its time. Now in the public domain as copyright was never renewed it's now-vanished production company, it is presented here for historical education, discussion and critique.

Clips digitized from a newsreel produced by the now defunct and disappeared "Official Films" that used mainly government-produced footage, these clips are from "News Thrills of 1943" and tell the story of the Allied air attack across the Mediterranean Sea on the oil fields of Ploesti. Contains actual combat footage. Posted for historical education, discussion and critique.

Clip digitized from a newsreel produced by the now defunct and disappeared "Official Films" that used mainly government-produced footage, these clips are from "News Thrills of 1943" and address the surrender of Italy and Allied landings at Salerno and subsequent fighting. Contains actual combat footage. Posted for historical education, discussion and critique.

During the Vietnam War, the US military had units dedicated to rescuing downed pilots....here is government/public domain film of one such rescue in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Purchased at an estate sale, this film was labeled "1972 Indianapolis practice," and appears to be "B roll" taken for a documentary called "The Man With A Wrench." But I can't find any further information than that to give any attribution. Some famous cars and drivers in these scenes that probably haven't been seen since 1972-1sh. Posted for historical information, discussion and critique.

Short clip digitized from a silent documentary on 16mm film produced by the now-defunct and vanished Castle Films, here are some scenes of animals sent into space by early sub-orbital rockets as part of the US space program. Posted for historical education and critique.

Digitized from a documentary made by the now defunct and disappeared Castle Films and so in the public domain, here are scenes from the inauguration of President Eisenhower and Vice President Nixon, from 1953.

Excerpts from a Commander's Briefing Film with silent segments taken on bombing, strafing and damage assessment flights, with other logistics scenes by US Air Force aircraft in the Vietnam War. There was probably a separate audio tape for this, but it was not recorded on the 16mm film, so this is silent. Government films in the public domain, provided here for historical education, discussion and critique.

Excerpts from a Commander's Briefing Film with silent segments taken on bombing, strafing and damage assessment flights, with other logistics scenes by US Air Force aircraft in the Vietnam War. There was probably a separate audio tape for this, but it was not recorded on the 16mm film, so this is silent. Government films in the public domain, provided here for historical education, discussion and critique.

Digitized from silent 16mm film prepared for commanders' briefings, these are clips of air strikes in the Vietnam War, prepared for battle damage assessment. Can't quite identify the type of aircraft involved, but must be in the F-100 series somewhere. Government film and so in the public domain. Provided for historical discussion and critique.

Excerpts from a Commander's Briefing Film with silent segments taken on bombing, strafing and damage assessment flights by US Air Force aircraft in the Vietnam War. Government films in the public domain, provided here for historical education, discussion and critique.

Two clips of silent gun camera footage taken in the Vietnam conflict of MIG aircraft being shot down. Government footage, so in the public domain. Digitized from 16mm film. Watch quick and don't sneeze, or you might miss the hits.

Digitized from the original silent 16mm "home movie" film, these appear to be scenes from Morocco, dated around 1925, as best as I can determine. American tourism was a big thing then, as well as now....these appear to be tourist shots, but they would have been, at the time, quite costly to do. The film was not in the best of shape, so please be patient when you notice a glitch or two in the digitizing.

Short documentary of the events when King George of England passed away in 1952, with the throne going to Queen Elizabeth, a segment of a Castle Films release now in the public domain, digitized from 16mm film. Posted for historical education and critique.

A wartime morale movie made by Warner Brothers and now in the public domain about the US efforts in the Second World War in Italy...pledging that "Italy will be free." Some excellent wartime scenes, though with some propagandistic overtones, as would be expected. Digitized from an original 16mm film. Posted for historical education and critique.

Digitized from what seems to be a short promotional piece by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, when they were located in Culver City, CA, these are stars of the silent screen in the early days of filmmaking in California, now more than 100 years ago. In addition to views of the studios, there are clips of Marion Davies, Lillian Gish, Antonio Moreno, Norma Shearer and others....