| Description |
1 videodisc : sd., col., b&w ; 4 3/4 in. |
| System Details |
DVD. |
| Note |
Title from disc label. |
| Summary |
Inflation, neurotic parents, angry bosses, sloppy posture, Ronald Reagan, and the Space Needle are just part of the American scene on display in this star-spangled series. Don't miss Rip Van Winle's descendant (Don Ameche) doing some comparison pricing shopping in 1951 and actor Ronald Reagan in an excerpt from The Ultimate weapon ranting on about Chinese communists and certain American lowlifes. |
| Contents |
Legend of Kip Van Winkle (aka. Story of Kip Van Winkle) / Don Ameche (1951) -- Preface to a life (1950) -- Planning your career (1953) -- Discipline, Part 2: Reprimanding (1943) -- Speech: Using your voice (1950) -- Speech: Platform posture and appearance (1949) -- Propaganda techniques (1949) -- The Ultimate weapon [excerpt] (1955) -- Seattle World's Fair (1962). |
| Note |
Legend of Kip Van Winkle (1951, b&w) offers a twist on the famous legend as Kip Van Winkle, Rip's descendant, does some window shopping in his 1939 Hudson Valley town. A lawn mower costs $9.95. A can of paint, $ 2.35. A new shirt $1.85. Content with life, Kip lies down in a field and falls asleep - for 12 years! Waking in 1951 with a big long beard, Kip strolls through that same town appalled at how prices have soared. A lawn mower now costs $15.95! A can of paint, $4.25! A new shirt $4.50! "Your money is worth only one half of what it was twelve years ago," scolds DON AMECHE. "You have been robbed of 50 cents of each of your dollars." Made for the National Association of Manufacturers, this one's an Americana classic! |
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Preface to a Life (1950, b&w), on the other hand, is downright disturbing. Baby Michael is born to a loving couple who live in the picture postcard serenity of Small Town U.S.A. Unfortunately, something is quite wrong just below the surface. Though well meaning, Mom wants Michael to remain forever a child, while Dad wants so much for the kid that whatever he does is not good enough. The result: Michael grows up to be self-loathing, woman-hating, joyless semi-psycho DON MURRAY (Bus Stop)! Produced, no surprise, by the National Institute of Mental Health. Start cutting your wrists now! |
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Planning Your Career (1953, b&w) makes choosing a profession so hilariously complicated that life as a penniless bum seems a far easier alterative. And, hey, anyone recognize the guy at the beginning who says, "Won't you be afraid of the lions and the tigers?" Yup, it's JEFFREY ALLEN twelve years before he became crazed Mayor Buckman of Two Thousand Maniacs! |
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Discipline Part 2: Reprimanding (1943, b&w) will further scare anyone away from the workplace as various office workers are shown getting bawled out and humiliated by a series of Bosses from Hell. You'll notice that "going postal" is not considered a viable response. |
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Speech: Using Your Voice (1950, b&w) and Speech: Platform Posture and Appearance (1949, b&w) are two more Centron shorts about proper public speaking that seem to love showing people doing it wrong. And yeah, HERK HARVEY, director and ghoul of Carnival of Souls, puts in a cameo (as does Carnival's landlady, FRANCES FEIST). |
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Propaganda Techniques (1949, color) has the campaign director of a mayoral race instruct a high school student in the slick art of bending, twisting, and altering the truth. This is immediately followed by still-just-an-ordinary-actor RONALD REAGAN ranting on about Chinese communists and certain lazy American lowlifes in an excerpt from The Ultimate Weapon (1955, b&w). |
| Subject |
United States -- Civilization -- 1945-
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United States -- Social life and customs -- 20th century.
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Popular culture -- United States -- 20th century.
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Inflation (Finance) -- United States.
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Vocational guidance -- United States.
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Labor discipline -- United States.
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Public speaking.
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Century 21 Exposition (1962 : Seattle, Wash.)
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| Added Author |
Ameche, Don.
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Reagan, Ronald, 1911-2004.
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Something Weird Video (Firm)
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| Added Title |
Lifestyles USA Vol. 4 |
| Music No. |
3624 Something Weird Video |
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