Almost Lost Images and Audio

From a silent newsreel issued by the now-defunct and disappeared Castle Films, here are some brief scenes of Native Americans at Glacier National Park, in about 1950, demonstrating the traditional ways of life to the tourists and "dudes" who came to the Park.

Digitized from silent 8mm "home movie" film, here are scenes from Annapolis, Richmond, and Virginia Beach, Virginia, in the 1970s.

From the public domain files of the National Archives, here are scenes of the famous "Bonus Army Riots" in Washington, DC, where former soldiers protested to try and get government help during the Great Depression, but were cleared out by the DC Police and, eventually, US Army troops under General Douglas MacArthur.

"Private Snafu" was the US Army's all purpose idiot in training films during the Second World War, to teach soldiers what NOT to do. In this episode, now in the public domain, Private Snafu encounters booby traps on the battlefield.

Before Gameboy, before Xbox, there were some very elementary electronic games...here's the TV ad for BLIP, a very early, handheld electronic game. (It's read, because the color fades on the old 16mm film that such ads were distributed upon).

From US Army Signal Corps silent films, taken with the permission of the British War Office, here are scenes from the Battle of the Somme, during the First World War.

From silent US Army Signal Corps historical films, here is "The Battle of the North Sea" presented on film. Not a lot of actual battle footage....it's depicted in animated illustration.

Digitized from silent 8mm "home movies," these are scenes from a parade, probably Veterans Day parade, in a New Mexico city, complete with marching units and bands, tanks and anti-aircraft vehicles, the famous "Atomic Cannon," and a flyover by a massive US Air Force bomber.

From the public domain files of the National Archives, this silent film has scenes of French experiments to put guns, including artillery pieces, on their aircraft during World War I. Some attempts were more successful than others.....

From the public domain files of the National Archives, here are scenes showing the American Expeditionary Forces in Siberia, a little-known episode in American military history....how the US attempted to intervene in the Communist Revolution in Russia as peacekeepers....ultimately unsuccessfully.

Subtitled "With the Policemen of the Allies" on the North Sea," here are silent scenes, now in the public domain, demonstrating how British seapower is essential for carrying out the War....that is, World War I. This is Part II of two parts.

Digitized segment from a silent 1952 newsreel issued by the now-defunct and disappeared Castle Films, here are scenes of a number of NATO alliance military aircraft in flight.

Digitized from silent 16mm black and white "home movies," this bit of film shows what appears to be a visit by some American tourists to Morocco in, if the box markings are to be believed, 1921. There are really some remarkable scenes,to include horse cavalry and the city marketplace.

Released in 1916 by the Universal Film Mfg. Co., this one-and-a-half hour silent version of the famous Jules Verne novel was a remarkable piece of filmmaking, especially of what we would today call "special effects." For the first time, scenes were actually shot under the water. Now in the public domain, it still holds up remarkably well.

A silent western-ish movie made in 1921 and issued by Patheoscope, starring Bill Bradbury, Rags and Bob Steele, depicts two brothers enjoying the wild woods, seeing different animals and doing a bit of fishing. Just a fun bit of sport...... One of a series of several short silent films.

Digitized from silent 8mm "home movies," these are scenes taken at the New Mexico State Fairgrounds in 1958 of various equestrian competitions....barrel racing, obstacle jumping, etc.

Digitized from silent 8mm "home movies," here are scenes from the city of St. Augustine, Florida, taken in 1941

From a silent newsreel produced by the now-defunct and vanished Castle Films, here are scenes from the Communist-staged riots in Tokyo, Japan, in 1952.

Digitized from silent 8mm "home movies," here are scenes from Yellowstone National Park, about 1940. Look closely...you might see your grandparents.

Digitized from old silent 8mm "home movies," here are scenes of the Taos Pueblo of New Mexico, taken sometime around 1940. It was and is a popular tourist attraction....but, more importantly, is home to the Taos people who still live in the homes of their ancestors.

From the public domain files of the National Archives, here is reel TWO of many, unfortunately silent scenes of the Armistice Celebrations in US and other cities following World War I, "The War To End All Wars."

From the public domain files of the National Archives, here is the SECOND reel of filmed, but silent, displays of armaments developed by the United States during the years between the First and Second World Wars. Impressive display of artillery, bombs, machine guns, and early tanks.

From the public domain files of the National Archives, here is reel one of many, unfortunately silent scenes of the Armistice Celebrations in US cities following World War I, "The War To End All Wars."

In the 1950s, Max Fleischer made Superman cartoons in Technicolor, of which this is one. Because Paramount didn't pay much attention, they went past copyright renewal, and so are in the public domain. This one is "The Arctic Giant." Superman was created by Jerome Siegel and Joe Shuster.

From the public domain files of the National Archives, here is the first reel of filmed, but silent, displays of armaments developed by the United States during the years between the First and Second World Wars. Impressive display of artillery, bombs, machine guns, and early tanks.