A Better Chicago (1937 Original Black & White Film)

Step back to 1937 with this illuminating documentary, *A Better Chicago*, which highlights the transformative Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects in the city during the Great Depression. The film begins with scenes of sewer pipe installation, improving the city’s infrastructure and sanitation. It also showcases the clearing of debris from the lakefront, enhancing the public space and making it more accessible. At the Field Museum, WPA workers are shown reconstructing animal skeletons, preserving natural history for future generations. The film captures the expansion of Chicago's airports, with runways being lengthened and drainage ditches dug to accommodate growing air traffic. In an effort to improve living conditions, slum buildings are razed for new housing projects. The documentary also takes viewers to local parks and the zoo, where WPA projects are enhancing green spaces and recreational areas. Additional scenes include auto accident scenes, cars being checked for defects, and the razing of unsafe grain elevators to ensure public safety. The film also highlights playgrounds and nursery school activities, emphasizing the WPA's dedication to early childhood education and recreation. *A Better Chicago* offers a powerful look at how WPA projects helped improve the city’s infrastructure, public safety, and quality of life for its residents.

Source: National Archives. (1937). *A Better Chicago*. [Video] Retrieved from the National Archives Catalog, https://catalog.archives.gov/id/12359