Italian VersionThe American Automobile Timeline 1899-1970
The American Automobile 1899-1970
Multimedial Historical Collection
Page 11
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1939-1945
1939: the first true General Motors concept car, the Buick Y-Job is debuted.
In 1939 the industry's first rear turn signals to use flasher are introduced by Buick.
The 1939 Buicks undergo a facelift, this time looking like an Olds, of about '40 vintage. The depressions between the inner fender and the side of the hood of the new Buicks are filled by flowing fenders. Awkward Buick's headlamps still protrudes atop the fenders with a rather small split grille rising up in the center, like that of a dirt track roadster. Optional chrome strips run along the semi-circular rocker panels, doing away with running boards. Again optional, sunroofs hopefully compensates for the now extinct famous Buick's rumble seats. Column shifted Buicks appear for 1939 and that comes togheter with the already popular banjo steering wheels.
At the 1939 New York World's Fair, GM's "Highways and Horizons" exhibit features the "Futurama", a panoramic tour of a cross-section of the country as it might appear in 1960, illustrating the possibilities of future industrial progress.
1939 April 30: N.Y. World's Fair opens. Ford Exposition building gives visitors a ride on "The Road of Tomorrow".
On Oct. the 3rd the first Lincoln Continental is introduced by Ford.
The 1939 Nash offers air conditioning.
1940: the Tacoma-Narrows Bridge collapses into the river in a windy day.
One year later, Pearl Harbour's attack will catapult the Americans into WWII.
Hydra-matic, the industry's first completely automatic shift transmission, is introduced by Detroit GM's Transmission Division (later Hydra-matic Division) on Oldsmobile's 1940 models.
GM produces its 25,000,000th car (Jan. 11, 1940).
In 1940 the German government officially seizes control of Adam Opel AG.
This year William S. Knudsen is appointed Chairman of the U. S. government's new Office of Production Management by President Roosevelt, to lead the wartime industrial mobilization program, a credit to Knudsen's outstanding leadership and knowledge of manufacturing, machine tools and productivity.
1940 GMC Trucks are available in different colors and there are over thirty six models.
In 1941 GM Japan ceases operation.
1941 Mar. 1: Ford builds first General Purpose (G.P., or "jeep") vehicle for U.S. military at Rouge Plant.
With GM's look-alike styling still going strong, ornamentation made Buick stand out in the years before WWII. For example, the 1940 Buick grilles are much fuller with the aid of heavy horizontal bars. 1940 Buick's headlamps receded well into the fenders, but on the 1941 models they are recessed completely. In addition, there's less emphasis on the rise in the grille's center and outside grille molding tapered as it runs down the edge. While everyone else has their new front-opening hoods, Buick's hoods open from either side, from the right side up or the left side up. Buick's windows are bigger, with slanting roof pillars and both are rounded at their edges. Overall room in the 1941 Buick coupe is excessive compared to others of that time. So those coupes have an outstanding contour to their rear decks.
1942 Feb. 1: Will halts civilian car output; Ford shifts to total military production.
During 1942, like all major U.S. industrial companies, Hudson became part of "the Arsenal of Democracy," building aircraft parts and huge engines for naval craft.
All the assembly lines stop producing cars and start turning out bombers, tanks, guns, and grenades.
For the next 3 years, all cars will be basically variations on the 1942 models.
In 1942 GM converts 100% of its production to the war effort.
During World War II, GM delivers more than $12,300,000,000 worth of war material to lead the Allied war effort, including airplanes, airplane engines and parts, trucks, tanks, marine diesels, guns, shells and miscellaneous products. Among these products manufactured by GM for the war effort were the 6X6 army truck (a two-and-a-half ton vehicle that carried both troops and supplies) and the DUKW (nicknamed "the duck"), designed to carry up to 50 men on either land or water.
Taking Ford and the rest of the entire GM line by surprise, Buick unveils a new style for the 1942 model year. New grilles smiles at onlookers and will keep on smiling at them in one form or another until 1954. "Airfoil" fenders embrace the entire length of the new Buicks. Front fenders run back, trailing off in height, into the rear fenders, just above the gravel shield placement. Thick double belted chrome strips run along the bottoms of Buick's fenders with huge bumpers wrapping around the sides of them.
Then the effects of WW II creeps slowly upon Detroit. Cast iron pistons, substituted for aluminum ones, causing the 248 cubic inch Buick to drop from 125 horsepower to 110. but the 320 incher stays at 165 horses.
Buick normal production goes into hybernation in February, when the plants begin turning out Pratt & Whitney aviation engines at a rate of 1000 per month.
During 1943 General Motors acquires all assets of Yellow Truck & Coach, and the GMC Truck & Coach Division is formed.
1943 May 26: Edsel Ford dies at age 49.
A week later, on the first of June, Henry Ford is re-elected Company President.
1944 Jan. 22: Henry Ford II elected Vice President of the Ford Motor Co. On the 10th of April Henry Ford II is elected Executive Vice President.
1945: the second tube of the Lincoln Tunnel is opened to traffic.
Private passenger automobile production is resumed on July 6, midway between victory in Europe and victory in the Pacific.
1945 June 28: the last B-24 Liberator bomber is produced by GM at Willow Run Plant.
During WWII Ford builds 8,600 bombers, 278,000 jeeps and 57,000 aircraft engines.
Chrysler participates in many defense projects, most notably is the production of the 32-ton Sherman M4 tank. Chrysler produces for the war 18,000 Sherman tanks (the main combat vehicle of the U.S. and its Allies in World War II) and approximately 500,000 Dodge trucks. By 1945, Chrysler total more than $3.4 billion in military equipment supplied to the Allied forces.
1945 July 3: Ford resumes production of civilian vehicles.
A couple of atomic bombs dropped over two Japan cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, end WWII in August, 1945.
The Atomic-Era is on.
1945 Sept. 21: Henry Ford II is named Company President of the Ford Motor Co.
At the end of 1945 the new Buick-Oldsmobile-Pontiac Assembly Division is organized by GM.
This year GM del Peru begins assembling trucks and commercial vehicles.
In December 1945, the UAW goes on strike over wage issues in the US.
After the war end, in 1945, Hudson gets another chance to vault towards the top of the United States auto industry. Hudson's management is much more attuned to succeeding in boom times than in retrenching when times grew tough, and the American auto market is poised for unprecedented growth. Public demand for new cars is at its all-time peak, after four war years have completely shut down auto production for civilian use.
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1939-45ChryslerDeSotoDodgePl.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:04:34 Audio/Visual: sound, C Quality: # # #
Producer: Romano-Archives
Slideshow. 1939-45 Chrysler, DeSoto, Dodge cars images.
1939-45FordsLincolnsMercurys.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:01:48 Audio/Visual: sound, C Quality: # # #
Producer: Romano-Archives
Slideshow. 1939-45 Ford, Lincoln, Mercury cars images.
1939-vintage-car-club1.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:18 Audio/Visual: silent, C Quality: # # #
Producer: unknown
Amateur film. Antique cars meeting filmed in color in 1939.
1939-vintage-car-club2.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:24 Audio/Visual: silent, C Quality: # # #
Producer: unknown
Amateur film. Antique cars meeting filmed in color in 1939.
1939-vintage-car-club3.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:05 Audio/Visual: silent, C Quality: # # #
Producer: unknown
Amateur film. Antique cars meeting filmed in color in 1939.
1939-vintage-car-club4.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:29 Audio/Visual: silent, C Quality: # # #
Producer: unknown
Amateur film. Antique cars meeting filmed in color in 1939.
1939-vintage-car-club5.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:22 Audio/Visual: silent, C Quality: # # #
Producer: unknown
Amateur film. Antique cars meeting filmed in color in 1939.
1939TheHarvestOfTHeYears.mp4
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:22 Audio/Visual: S, C Quality: # # # # #
Production Company: Ford Motor Company
Audio/Visual: sound, B&W
Run time: 00:22:08
In this film the many different parts of the Ford company is shown, from it's own manufacture of rubber, coke and steel, to the assembly of the cars.
1939-40GoldenGateIntExpo_2.mpg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:07:55 Audio/Visual: silent, C Quality: # # # #
1939 Golden Gate International Exposition (1939)
Producer: Unknown
Amateur Film
Views of pre-World War II San Francisco and the Golden Gate International Exposition.
Some interesting epoca cars sequences.
1939ChevroletLeaderNews0502.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:08:00 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Sponsor: Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
Promotional newsreels featuring a variety of Chevrolet-centric stories.
Shotlist
Title Card: "Chevrolet Leader News" over montage.
Title Card: "Action!, Flickers Invade School, Actors Cram For Show"
Detroit high school students produce their own newsreel. Photographers at diving meet. CU teenagers purchasing tickets at window; MS line of teens doing same. Men and woman loading camera equipment and suitcases into automobile. Man getting into back seat of car with "suicide doors" (house in BG). CU driver's hand releasing parking brake. Car pulling from curb. Photography shoot being set up at indoor pool; male divers, wearing full swimsuits. VS diving, splashing; boy dives backwards. Photographer directing lighting assistant to step back; assistant drops light and falls into pool.
Title Card: "Scorched!, Lose Death Valley Run, Last Haul for Mules"
Mule team and truck hauling borax through desert.
LS barren desert with low maintain range. VS mule team plodding through desert pulling wagon train. Dump truck with dust blowing from load of borax in bed; truck pulls away. VS truck driving through various rough terrain, desert, across stream, over sandy bank, up steep hill. Dump truck arriving at industrial facility.
Title Card: "Champion!, Tops All Records at 96, Bares Success Secret"
Boy polishing hood of car; men riding in car; man consoling small boy. CU smiling, elderly man; man and boy beside automobile; boy takes rag from hood of car, runs to other side of car and eagerly polishes hood. CU boy's face as he fervently polishes car. 2 men, wearing suits and hats, approach each other in front of office, shake hands and talk; one man gestures o.s. and they approach car; driver enters from passenger side; pats passenger seat. ECU hand adjusting seat knob. Man sliding seat back and forth while smiling. Man turning ignition and tapping pedal. Other man, standing at passenger side, smiles and gets in. CU hand shifting gears on steering wheel. Car pulling away from curb in front of "Munson Land Company." View from inside car being driven. Car stopped in front of "Smith Printing Service; men exit car and one points to building. Older man, wearing dark suit and hat, putting arm around sad boy's shoulder as he sits despondently on curb; man talks to boy, cheering him; boy looks up at man and both smile broadly.
Title Card: "Gulfers!, Motor Fleet Plumbs Bay, Grapples Armored Food"
A day in the life of shrimpers on the bayou. ECU shrimp underwater. 2 men hammering beams beneath boat hull. VS woman repairing fishing nets (outdoors). Boat at pier; man raising flag on boat. Small shack on low stilts in field, many people on porch. Man walks down steps carrying sack. Several people outdoors with fishing poles and netting. 4 boats lined up, flags waving in breeze. Man on boat waves to goodbye to women. VS battered boat cruising in water. CU engine. Boats in water. Men casting net into water. ECU shrimp underwater. VS men pulling up net. CU fish, crabs, and shrimp being dumped from net, flopping on deck. Hands picking at wriggling fish and crabs. ECU pile of shrimp, hand picks one up. ECU hand holding large shrimp. Workers loading bushels of shrimp onto ice boat. CU shrimp being dumped from basket into cargo hold; CU ice being shoveled onto shrimp. VS men on boat exchanging money. Man and boy sorting shrimp on boat with small tools.
Title Card: "$50,000,000!, Coasters Swarm Gate, Trample Seven Seas"
1939 "Pageant of the Pacific" (Golden Gate International Exposition, 1939 - 1940). LS boats on San Francisco Bay (island and city in BG). VS work trucks in front of art deco building; one truck has load of benches. LS row of benches at open air theater. Shrubbery being placed in front of building by landscaper. Gates to fairground being ceremoniously opened, revealing marching band. Uniformed marchers in parade. Crowd surging through gate (fountains flowing in BG). VS towers and ornamental buildings. LS statue of "Goddess of the Fair," with flowing fountain, surrounded by crowds. LS archway and crowd at fairgrounds.
Title Card: "Barker!, Woofs at Safety Class, Directs Traffic Study"
Policeman and dogs in classroom to teach children traffic safety.
Black and white dog hanging out of front passenger window of police car (police officer in driver seat). MS police car door opening. Dog, with front paw on glove compartment, opens it; jumps down. Hand reaches into glove compartment and removes 3 balls. Policeman and 2 jumping dogs beside police car. Policeman and dogs enter building; he bounces ball on floor as dog jumps. Classroom filled with smiling children. Policeman and dogs standing on platform with diagram of street scene behind them. CU dog in front of diagram. Children seated in classroom looking forward intently. CU policeman's hand placing figures of children crossing street on diagram. CU mock-up of traffic light turning yellow. CU 3 balls labeled "Go, Caution and Stop." CU dog, lying on belly, barking; approaches table with balls and takes "go" ball into mouth after indecision; trots o.s. Policeman balancing seated dog in palm of hand; dog looks at camera. Children applauding.
1939heres-looking.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:08:33 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Here's Looking (1939)
Sponsor: Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
Visual perception in animals, humans, and from the driver's seat of a Chevrolet.
1939ny-worldsfair-cars.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:42 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # #
Producer: unknown
Source: web newsgroup.
A look inside the GM pavillion, the Motorama, at NY World Fair in 1939.
Click HERE to watch this video on videoclick.com
1939PrincessAndThePauper.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:09:52 Audio/Visual: sound, C Quality: # # # # #
The Princess and the Pauper (1939)
Sponsor: Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
Nicky Nome, a spinoff from "A Coach for Cinderella" and hero of this cartoon, rescues a treasure-laden pauper from the Valley of Jewels, taking him to the princess on a magic carpet, which transforms itself into a new Chevrolet. Expresses a caricatured view of Arab people, typical of many cartoons of the time.
Beautifully animated and scored; incredibly rich colors.
1939The-1940-new-modelsB.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:36 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # #
Producer: Universal Newsreel
Fine new cars on display at a 1940 auto show.
1939TheTrip.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:48 Audio/Visual: sound, C Quality: # # # # #
The Trip (1939)
Sponsor: Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
Screen ad, in Technicolor, for the 1940 Chevrolet models.
In this 1939 short, a suburban California family gets all dressed up to drive their new 1940 Chevrolet to see grandma and grandpa, who still live on the family farm. Dad’s in a suit and tie, and Mom has on a dressy dress and chic hat. Are they dressed up to go see the grandparents or are they dressed up to ride in their new Chevrolet? They pack their expensive looking luggage in the trunk—“Watch out! That’s grandma’s present!” This family has money to spend. When we think of the 1930’s and families on the road, we’re more likely to think of the Joads’ old Model T in “The Grapes of Wrath” than of this affluent nuclear family. Is this image pure fantasy, or was America truly coming out of the Depression in 1939? The announcer mentions the car’s “utmost economy,” but that’s not the real message of the ad. The Chevrolet symbolizes comfort (the kids asleep in the back seat), glamour, conspicuous consumption and personal mobility. The farm is another affluent place from what we see of it. Grandma and Grandpa sure don’t resemble WPA photographs of dustbowl farmers, although who knows? This family could be “Okies” who migrated to California and made good returning home for a visit. Americans wanted to put the poverty and deprivation of the 30’s behind them and this ad with its conspicuous display of wealth reflects that longing.
Click HERE to watch this video on YouTube
1939-40ny-worldsfair_2.mpg
Available on DVD
Run time: 00:14:04 Audio/Visual: silent, color Quality # # # # #
Amateur movie. Tne 1939-40 New York World's Fair with automobile related sequences.
1939-40ny-worldsfair_3.mpg
Available on DVD
Run time: 00:04:44 Audio/Visual: silent, color Quality # # # # #
Amateur movie. Tne 1939-40 New York World's Fair with automobile related sequences.
1939futurama-Bc.mpg
Available on DVD
Run time: 00:00:33 Audio/Visual: Sound, C/B&W Quality # # #
Producer: unknown
Fragment of an unknown newsreel. Tne 1939-40 New York World's Fair with automobile related sequences.
1939ny-worldsfair_9_3.mpg
Available on DVD
Run time: 00:18:18 Audio/Visual: silent, color Quality # # # # #
Amateur movie. Tne 1939-40 New York World's Fair with automobile related sequences.
1939ny-worldsfair_9_6.mpg
Available on DVD
Run time: 00:21:39 Audio/Visual: silent, color Quality # # # # #
Amateur movie. Tne 1939-40 New York World's Fair with automobile related sequences.
1939ny-worldsfair_9_11.mpg
Available on DVD
Run time: 00:21:30 Audio/Visual: silent, color Quality # # # # #
Amateur movie. Tne 1939-40 New York World's Fair with automobile related sequences.
1939ny-worldsfair_9_15.mpg
Available on DVD
Run time: 00:21:41 Audio/Visual: silent, color Quality # # # # #
Amateur movie. Tne 1939-40 New York World's Fair with automobile related sequences.
1939ny-worldsfair_9_16.mpg
Available on DVD
Run time: 00:20:00 Audio/Visual: silent, color Quality # # # # #
Amateur movie. Tne 1939-40 New York World's Fair with automobile related sequences.
1940ToNewHorizons.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run time: 00:22:59 Audio/Visual: sound, color Quality # # # # #
To New Horizons (1940)
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
Sponsor: GM
Definitive document of pre-World War II futuristic utopian thinking, as envisioned by General Motors. Documents the "Futurama" exhibit in GM's "Highways and Horizons" pavilion at the World's Fair, which looks ahead to the "wonder world of 1960."
1940ACaseOfSpringFever.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:08:15 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
A Case of Spring Fever (1940)
Sponsor: Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
Gilbert Willoughby is punished for voicing Luddite ideas (complaining about pesky springs) by "Coily," an obnoxious, animated spring who subjects him to the hassles of a springless world.
1940automotive-service.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:10:02 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Automotive Service (1940)
Sponsor: Vocational Guidance Films, Inc.
Producer: Holmes (Burton) Films, Inc.
Opportunities for employment servicing America's vast motor fleet.
1940BantamBRC60-Testing.mpg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:16 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # # #
Producer: US Army (?)
Testing of the Bantam BRC 60, in the contest between auto-makes to furnish the US Army the definitive Jeep.
1940AutoLite.mp4
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:22:47 Audio/Visual: Sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Auto-Lite on Parade (1940)
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
This bombastically-narrated 30s film is all about the Electric Auto-Lite Company, which makes things like sparkplugs, batteries, headlights, gages, and bumpers for automobiles, as well as leather goods, pots and pans, and, well, let's just say they make everything under the sun. Most of the film is an ultimate factory tour of every department in every plant. If you like factory footage, then this is your film. The narrator goes on and on about the "men" of Auto-Lite despite the fact that most of the workers seen are women. The real highlight of the film, though, comes at the end, when we get to see a stop-motion animation parade of Auto-Lite products, similar to the one in Aluminum on the March. I'm a real sucker for this sort of thing, and this one doesn't disappoint. It's ends with a marching Auto-Lite guy made of sparkplug boxes, which is, of course, essential. This is definitely an industrial film for collectors, not so much because it's unusual as that it's so characteristic of the genre.
1940caughtMapping.mp4
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:08:53 Audio/Visual:Sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Caught Mapping (1940)
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
This Jam Handy film breezily describes to us the field of cartography, showing us how roadmaps are researched and printed. I personally find this to be pretty interesting, though others might not. The film also has historical value in that it gives us a good idea of how maps were made and the conditions of roads during the 1940s.
1940BehindTheLens.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:08:00 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Behind the Lens (1940)
Sponsor: Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
Scientific and special-purpose cinematography helps reveal what would otherwise be invisible.
1940Chrysler-Brochure.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:03:31 Audio/Visual: sound, C Quality: # # #
Producer: Romano-Archives
Slideshow of the pages of a 1940 Chrysler brochure.
1940KnudsenGMWarProduction.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:28 Audio/Visual: sound, C Quality: # # #
Hihjlights on the beginning of GM WWll production.
1940LetYourselfGo.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:08:37 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Let Yourself Go! (1940)
Sponsor: Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
How architecture, furniture and transportation have been designed to help Americans relax.
1940SomethingForNothing.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:08:48 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Something for Nothing (1940)
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
Sponsor: Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation
Cartoonist Rube Goldberg creates a little animation to explain how fuel is converted to power in the modern automobile engine.
1940tacoma-narrows.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:02:35 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # #
Producer: Castle Films
The fall of the Tacoma-Narrows Bridge in this great camera scoop.
1940TheGirlOnTheMagazineCover.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:08:48 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
The Girl on the Magazine Cover (1940)
Sponsor: Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
How professional models (and new automobiles) are photographed.
1940WhiteMagic.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:07:35 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
White Magic (1940)
Sponsor: Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
The physics, science and applications of light. .
1941DrawingAccount.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:09:11 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Drawing Account (1941)
Sponsor: Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
Behind the scenes in a 1940s animation studio, showing the making of a Chevrolet advertising cartoon.
SHOWS HOW THE ANIMATED CARTOON IS MADE. WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES IN A MODERN STUDIO. JOB OF THE ANIMATOR IN THIS PICTURE IS TO MAKE A DRAWING OF AN AUTOMOBILE ENGINE COME TO LIFE. 'VALVE-IN-HEAD' ENGINE IS USED AS MODERN INSTANCE.
1941InsideInformation.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:07:55 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Inside Information (1941)
Sponsor: Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
How the X-ray works and its use in police work, surgery, industrial engineering and automobile manufacturing.
1941Oldsmobile-AD-1.mpg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:50 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Defense Comes First with Oldsmobile (1941)
Sponsor: Oldsmobile Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Unknown
Theatrical screen ad for one of the last pre-World War II automobiles.
1941Oldsmobile-AD-2.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:49 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Oldsmobile Presents: Motoring's Magic Carpet: Hidra-matic (1941)
Sponsor: Oldsmobile Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Unknown
Theatrical screen ad for one of the last pre-World War II automobiles.
1941Oldsmobile-AD-3.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:50 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Oldsmobile Presents: the B-44 (1941)
Sponsor: Oldsmobile Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Unknown
Theatrical screen ad for one of the last pre-World War II automobiles.
1941Oldsmobile-AD-4.mpg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:49 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # #
Oldsmobile Presents: the Custom 8 Cruiser B-44 (1941)
Sponsor: Oldsmobile Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Unknown
Theatrical screen ad for one of the last pre-World War II automobiles.
1941Oldsmobile-AD-5.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:50 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Oldsmobile Presents: the Dynamic "Seventy" B-44 (1941)
Sponsor: Oldsmobile Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Unknown
Theatrical screen ad for one of the last pre-World War II automobiles.
1941Oldsmobile-AD-6.mpg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:49 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Oldsmobile Presents: the "Sixty" B-44 (1941)
Sponsor: Oldsmobile Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Unknown
Theatrical screen ad for one of the last pre-World War II automobiles.
1941SFCA1941.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:25:08 Audio/Visual: silent, C Quality: # # # # #
San Francisco California (1941)
Producer: unknown
Amateur film. Evocative silent Kodachrome compendium of San Francisco scenes just before the U.S. entered World War II, concentrating on aerials, Chinatown, Market Street, and transportation scenes.
1942GagsAndGals.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:08:26 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Gags & Gals (1942)
Producer: unknown
In this rowdy film made during World War II, women manically sing and dance in a variety of outfits and locales. In “Male Order,” they wear cardboard boxes. In “At Your Service,” they’re dressed as carhops and dance on top of the male customer’s cars. In “Playmates,” they dress as little girls and show their undies. Do we need any more evidence about what a raucous place America was in the forties? Just because the men were away at war was no excuse not to go out and have a good time. This film presents a zany feminine world. In a sense, this reflects the reality of the Home Front during the war, when women were in the workforce and there was a shortage of available men. And is this film really so demeaning to women? In “Male Order,” the only thing Ted Jones asks of his wife is that she be a good dancing partner. He obviously doesn’t need a wife to housework—his house is already as neat as a pin. In “At Your Service,” the men are conveniently stuck in their cars, leaving the women to come and go as they please. And in “Playmates,” the only man we see is dressed like a little boy. None of the men make any real demands of the women. Even the boss we see in the first scene looks like a pushover. The women are free to sing and tap dance to their heart’s content. The only really unhappy woman we see is the housewife in “Playmates” who’s stuck indoors with a baby (a premonition of the fifties). The four girls who have to get back into their cardboard boxes because they didn’t meet Ted’s dancing standards in “Male Order” look pretty glum, too. After all, Ted’s a tidy, well-dressed guy with a nice house who’s a good dancer and is looking for a wife. You don't see that every day.
1942GM-WarProduction2.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:27 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # #
More highlights on the GM WWll production.
1942PackardCustom48588.MOV
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:59 Audio/Visual: silent, C Quality: # # #
Producer: Romano-Archives
A 1942 Packard Custom. Actual footage.
1942TheArmBehindTheArmy.mp4
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:10:22 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
The Arm Behind The Army (1942)
Produced by the U.S. Army
"The success of the Army on the firing line depends upon the success of labor and industry on the production line. And the security of American industry and labor depends upon the success of the American Army. An Axis victory means the enslavement of both labor and industry. The film shows what happened in Vienna, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Holland, and France: cities destroyed, industry taken over by the Nazis, labor conscripted, men, women, and children subjected to terror and starvation. The Axis has tremendous resources, but so have the Allies -- they have the mills of Krupp, we have the mills of Birmingham; they have the Rumanian oil, we have the oil of Oklahoma, Texas, and California. This war is industry's war, labor's war to outproduce the Axis. From the production line to the firing line must come tanks and planes and guns for victory."
This is one of the best films on the war effort, as it makes a positive appeal for unity, both between management and labor, and between civilian war workers and the armed forces. There is an artistic quality in the rhythm and contrasts of the images. Suitable for a variety of applications in school and community.
1942ToMarketToMarket-2.mpg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:04:35 Audio/Visual: Sound, C Quality: # # # #
To Market, To Market - Part 2 (1942)
Sponsor: General Outdoor Advertising Company
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
The proliferation of outdoor advertising billboards through Chicago and the methods of analyzing potential advertising sites. This part, shot in Kodakrome, contains a tour of Chicago's streets showing outdoor advertising.
1943JeepsRollingOutOfTheFctry.mpg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:12 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # # #
Producer: unknown
Jeeps rolling out of the factory.
WWll-Jeep-Testing4545.mpg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:05 Audio/Visual: silent,B&W Quality: # # #
Producer: unknown
A Jeep tested on rough terrain.
1944GeneralMotorsNewsParade.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:17:05 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Sponsor: General Motors Corporation
A news reel which promises News! Facts! People! Plans! (?) but it's really nothing except what the good people at GM are doing for the War.
"Detroit Diesel's 100,000th!". You may think, after watching the first 3 minutes of this clip that the wrong footage has been put in, as it's nothing but d-day invasion stuff. But wait! GM celebrates their hundred thousandth engine by giving it to the army! A ceremony is given, hilighted by a speech by C.F. Kettering, Vice President of GM.
"Detroit Industry Unveils 1944 Models" This is not of cars, of course, but of war machinery, which is unique to say the least. I found it unusual that the film gave credit to the other automakers for their contributions. Great "Auto Show" feel, but with war machinery somewhat creeps you in this day and age...
2500th Wildcat: The Wildcat plane is showcased here, with the 2500'th showcased in a ceremony. Mary Martin christens it, getting champagne all over her dress. She seems to be having a grand time as she throws all the flowers given to her to the audience. Nice moment.
'GM Dealer Wins Coveted 'E' award showcases Monarch Buick (no longer in existence.. I checked) winning the 'E' award from the military for their part in the war effort by opening up a machine shop and making their workers make parts in their spare time.
'Aeroproducts Applauds American Age' basically showcases WW ll fighter aviation ace, Don S. Gentile, son of Italian immigrants, in a visit to their war production plant. Captain Gentile, who looks totally uninterested and chews gum, just goes through the motions here, and that's the way the film ends.
1944highballing-to-victory.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:13:15 Audio/Visual: Sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Highballing to Victory (1944)
Sponsor: U.S. War Department
Producer: U.S. War Department
How motorization and ruber tires won WW ll.
1944The957thDay.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:09:41 Audio/Visual: Sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
The 957th Day (1944)
Production Company: U.S. Office Of War Information
Quite stirring documentary about a typical day in World War II. In this case, the '957th' day. Excerpts from radio transmissons broadcasted that very day add historical value to the movie. Some outstanding footage is shown here and it appears to be footage of the landing at Guam and the take-over of the island, using impressive smoke screens, after an intense artillery barrage from the 5th Fleet and repeated air bombings, on July 21,1944.
These islands were the last major Japanese base in the Pacific and became the launch pad for the Enola Gay. It's not really propaganda, as this documentary is not afraid to show some rather graphic casualties on the US side.
Shots of the new amphibious tanks produced in Detroit.
A rare find!
1945autobiography_of_a_jeep.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:09:33 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Autobiography of a Jeep (1945)
Sponsor: U S Natl Audiovisual Center
Production Company: United Films
Describes the designing of the Jeep to meet military needs of being compact, light weight and maneuverable over rough terrain.
Understandably classic tale of how the Jeep came to be, narrated, well, by the jeep itself. You'll find many great facts not known, like how the Jeep got it's name in the first place, what kind of celebrities got to ride in a jeep, and the many wild tests it had to go through before it was approved by his friend, the soldier. An important film.
This film about every GIs favorite piece of equipment is a lot of fun. For one thing, it's narrated by the Jeep itself. For another, it contains lots of wonderful footage of 40s car designs, jeeps being manufactured, jeeps being exposed to all kinds of abuse and coming through fine, and various celebrities riding around in jeeps. A wonderful piece of World War II nostalgia.
1945gen-mcarthur-packard01.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:15 Audio/Visual: silent, C Quality: # # #
Producer: Romano-Archives
A 1945 Packard, once used by Gen. McArthur at the end of WWll. Actual footage.
1945nice-idea-b.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:22 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # #
Producer: unknown
This idea could still be useful. This guy lifts his auto to put on the spare tire, using the exaust emission to blow a balloon placed under the car.
1945ItsEverybodysWar.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:13:18 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # # # #
It's Everybody's War (1945)
Production Company: U.S. Office Of War Information
This highly regarded documentary by the US government's war information office has been justly regarded as the very best the genre has to offer. Portions of it are frequently shown in current World War II documentaries. It contains a snapshot of small town life on the eve of the war. Colored throughout by a Frank Capra-like humanity, it reminds you why we call them the greatest generation and why, in so many ways, World War II was (to paraphrase Churchill) America's finest hour.
Interesting shots of period roads and cars.
1945VictoryDayCelebrationsAndRiots.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:13:18 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Victory Day Celebrations and Riots (1945)
Producer: unknown
This amateur film was obviously taken just right after the Japanese surrenders. It shows the jubilatious celebrations on the streets of San Francisco and Redwood, California. We first see a flurry of newspaper headlines, then some tickertape flying in the air. We then realize what has just happened. This amateurish footage has not only people hanging out of their cars celebrating but also we see vandalism and looting! In 1941! Everything ends, of course, with a parade. A BIG one, with lots of marching soldiers, bands and amazing floats. Quite a historical document. A must see!
1945ThrillDrivers.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:24 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # #
Excerpt from a 03-15-1945 newsreel.
1940PontiacPridePerformanceSC.mp4
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:16:18 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # #
Pride and Performance (1940)
Sponsor: Pontiac Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
1940 Pontiac theatrical ad.
1942PontiacChiefOfTHeShowSC.mp4
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:14:15 Audio/Visual: sound, Color Quality: # # # #
The Chief of the Show (1942)
Sponsor: Pontiac Division, General Motors Corporation
Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
1940 Pontiac theatrical ad.
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The American Automobile Timeline 1899-1970 - Multimedial Historical Collection (Over 1200 files)
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Last update: June-07-2009
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