Lesser-Known and “Hidden” Newsreels of NARA

You may be familiar with some of the big series of newsreels we hold here at NARA: March of Time, Universal, United News, and War Pictorial News. Recently, as part of an online course about newsreels, I took a deep dive into other newsreels domestic and foreign, which are frequently interfiled in other series. NARA … Continue reading Lesser-Known and “Hidden” Newsreels of NARA

FDR’s “Four Freedoms” Speech

This post was written by Criss Kovac. Criss Kovac is the supervisor of the Motion Picture Preservation Lab. On January 6, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the nation in the 153rd State of the Union Address. Known more popularly as the “Four Freedoms Speech,” he proposed four fundamental freedoms that all people should have … Continue reading FDR’s “Four Freedoms” Speech

This Week in Universal News: The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 1964

Fifty years ago, in what came to be known as the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, North Vietnamese patrol boats attacked the U.S.S. Maddox. The events led to Congress passing the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which allowed the president to increase U.S. involvement in Vietnam without Congressional approval. In this week's Universal newsreel, the story, including … Continue reading This Week in Universal News: The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 1964

A Newsreel Cameraman’s View of D-Day

Jack Lieb went to Europe in 1943 with two movie cameras: He brought his 35mm black and white camera to film war coverage for Hearst's News of the Day newsreels and his 16mm home movie camera to shoot color film to show to his family back home. After the war, Lieb edited the color footage … Continue reading A Newsreel Cameraman’s View of D-Day

This Week in Universal News: Tragedy at the Indianapolis 500, 1960

There was a time when it was legal to set up a tower of scaffolding and charge spectators for a ticket to climb it and watch the Indianapolis 500. That changed in 1960 when a tower holding more than a hundred spectators toppled, killing two and injuring dozens. This week's Universal newsreel features the Indianapolis … Continue reading This Week in Universal News: Tragedy at the Indianapolis 500, 1960

This Week in Universal News: The 64th Running of the Kentucky Derby, 1938

Did you enjoy a mint julep over the weekend in honor of the Kentucky Derby? This week, we look back to the sixty-fourth running of the Kentucky Derby, held on May 7th, 1938. The winner was long-shot Lawrin, the only Kansas-bred horse ever to win the race. Lawrin was buried beside his sire, Inisco, in his … Continue reading This Week in Universal News: The 64th Running of the Kentucky Derby, 1938

This Week in Universal News: NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade, 1967

This week in Universal News, it's "another great day for the Irish" at the New York City St. Patrick's Day parade.  In attendance were Robert Kennedy, Mayor John Lindsay, Governor Nelson Rockefeller, and James Farley, Postmaster General under Franklin D. Roosevelt and one of the first successful Irish Catholic politicians in the United States. http://youtu.be/q_lWSohSReo … Continue reading This Week in Universal News: NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade, 1967

This Week in Universal News: New Cocktail Gadgets, 1935

This week in Universal News, fashionable ladies demonstrate the latest gadgets at the National Wine and Liquor Show in Chicago, including cocktail mittens and a portable keg tap that makes beach picnics a breeze. The soundtrack for this reel no longer exists, but you can read the script below to get a sense of how … Continue reading This Week in Universal News: New Cocktail Gadgets, 1935

Bringing Battle to the Home Front: With the Marines at Tarawa

Who says Oscars are for Hollywood? Did you know that a number of films produced by the United States government were nominated or won Academy Awards? One such film is With the Marines at Tarawa, (Local Identifier: 80-MH-3527) which brought the experience of a major battle to the American public and consequently won the 1945 … Continue reading Bringing Battle to the Home Front: With the Marines at Tarawa

Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center, 1937

This week, we’re excited to provide a sneak peek of a new series on our Media Matters blog. Starting in January, we’ll launch “This Week in Universal News”. Every Monday, archives technician Jim Konicek will feature a story from the National Archives’ Universal Newsreel Collection released that week in history. Today’s post features the iconic … Continue reading Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center, 1937