Clip from Universal Newsreel Volume 26, Release 440 (Local ID: UN-UN-26-440-1-4) Please Note: Primary source documents used in this post may contain harmful language. See NARA’s Statement on Potentially Harmful Language. The scenes shown in this 1953 Universal Newsreel footage are some of the first moments pioneering transgender woman Christine Jorgensen would spend in the … Continue reading Christine Jorgensen: America’s First Transgender Celebrity
The Universal Newsreel Collection chronicles some of the most important historical, cultural and sporting events and trends of the early to mid 20th Century. Among the footage of military invasions, coronations, and Olympics it is possible to find footage of lesser known citizens who also made their mark on history. One such story comes from a … Continue reading Spotlight: Learning More About Female Firefighters From Universal News Production Files
Note: This post was originally meant to highlight opening day of MLB baseball for the 2020 season while commemorating the role women play in the sport. While baseball may be on hold during this difficult time, we still wanted to highlight the achievements of women in the sport and hope this post helps get you … Continue reading Spotlight: Universal Newsreel Highlights Female Baseball Players
This post was written by Criss Kovac. Criss is the supervisor of the National Archives Motion Picture Preservation Lab. Ten months after the D-Day invasion, Allied forces were sweeping through western Europe. Germany in April 1945 is often depicted as the Allies capturing scattered Axis soldiers and liberating citizens from the clutches of the Third Reich. Small … Continue reading The Fury of Hell on Wheels: Tank Warfare, April 1945
This week in Universal News, New Orleans celebrates Mardi Gras. Be sure to look closely at 0:40 to catch a glimpse of a Beatles fan surrounded by a gaggle of clowns. http://youtu.be/XVPbXwCMQHg From the release sheet: THE ANNUAL NEW ORLEANS STORY: The charming, old City of New Orleans, forever young in spirit, whoops it up … Continue reading This Week in Universal News: Mardi Gras, 1965
This week in Universal News, designer Marc Bohan makes his debut with the House of Dior. The summer preview featured "less flutter and more shape", with retro 1920s styles. http://youtu.be/wQ7OV167cFQ From the release sheet: HOUSE OF DIOR SUMMER PREVIEW: Preview of the House of Dior's summer, 1961 collection, the sensationally successful showing that marks the … Continue reading This Week in Universal News: Summer Fashion Preview, 1961
This week in Universal News, a woman sports a space-age helmet to protect herself from the London smog. Really, what more is there to say? http://youtu.be/H6oO_msCk98 From the release sheet: SMOG HELMET IS SNUG: A Martian-type head gear startles Londoners. A pretty girl demonstrates and tests the new anti-smog device. A plastic bubble that supplies … Continue reading This Week in Universal News: A London Smog Helmet, 1959
Are you ready to stay in for two weeks to watch the skiing, figure skating, and curling that comprise the 2014 Olympics? To prepare, here's a story about the games held fifty years ago. The 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria opened January 29, 1964 and closed February 9th. http://youtu.be/tMtkJEnN1tE From the release sheet: WINTER … Continue reading This Week in Universal News: The 1964 Winter Olympics
This week's Universal News story dates from 1963 and features a chimpanzee ice skating in Germany. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHMEGatiKPM From the release sheet: SPORTS MONKEY SHINES! THIS CHIMP IS A GAY BLADE: Usually, summer is the whacky season, but this winter things aren't on an even keel in Germany. They've taught a Chimp to Skate and he's … Continue reading This Week in Universal News: Ice Skating Chimpanzee, 1963
This week in Universal News, the New Year is celebrated in the United States and Cuba. 1933 would be the year that Prohibition was repealed, although the festivities evident in this story certainly do not seem lacking. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbDXtoOXjSI&feature=youtu.be From the release sheet: BIG CITIES CELEBRATE AS 1932 PASSES OUT; GAILY WELCOME 1933 Unprecedented whoppee and … Continue reading This Week In Universal News: New Year’s Eve, 1932
