Sponsored and industrial motion picture film collection
About this collection
‘Sponsored film’ defines a variety of motion picture productions funded by businesses, organizations, or governments that dictated the point of view, audience, and intent of the film. Industrial or business films are a sub-genre of sponsored films with content that marketed products and ideas, touted a particular company or industry, trained employees, and explained manufacturing or transactional processes around the creation and sales of products and ideas.
The Sponsored and industrial motion picture film collection at Hagley is an artificial collection compiled by curators that includes single motion picture films or small sets of films acquired via purchase or donation. This collection has not been digitized in its entirety. For more information and a detailed description of the collection, click here to view the finding aid.Image: Still from "Fountain of Happiness" sponsored by the Weber Dental Manufacturing Company, circa 1950.
Short News Parade documentary recounting the life of Britain's King Edward VIII. Using newsreel footage, the film details young Edward's early royal education, romance with American Wallis Simpson, and eventual abdication to become the Duke of Windsor. Includes audio of the King's abdication speech. King George V, Queen Mary of Teck, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt are also seen in the film.
Color version of Milestones of Motoring, a film celebrating the people and organizations in Ohio who helped to advance the motor vehicle industry during the early 20th century. Hosted by Warren Guthrie and featuring musical numbers performed by Rita Farrell, Merv Griffin, and Joe E. Brown. Supervised by Stuart Buchanan.
Film highlights the "Candy Merchant", a vending machine offered by the Rowe Manufacturing Company. Maintenance and operation of the machine is depicted.
Film explains the importance of norms and how they influence employees in the workplace. Hosted by Mike O'Conner of the Supermarket Institute. Film used to teach the SMI/Coca-Cola Normative System Program.
Shots of various parts of Philadelphia including landmarks such as the Liberty Bell and City Hall, as well as a Chinese New Year Parade, the Philadelphia Symphony, The Philadelphia Eagles, rowers on the Schuylkill and the Mummer's Parade.
Short film comparing the capitalist and communist economic systems. Details the theory behind each system, why and how they've been implemented in various countries, and the benefits and drawbacks of both. Includes interviews with citizens of the United States and Yugoslavia. One of the actors is likely a young Bill Paxton.
Film describes how in a collaboration between Western Electric and Bell Telephone, quartz crystals, (covered with a chemical solution) grow, are cut, and then used for telephone use to keep telephone calls crystal clear.
Lucite paint commercial where imaginary painters exit station wagon with homeowner who purchased and is using DuPont Lucite paint. Includes jingle "like having an army of painters on the job".
Commercial explains the need for manmade fibers. Sheep are shown blocking in a group of people on a map of the United States, representing the amount of sheep the country would need if people were dependent on wool and there were no manmade fibers.
