A/V Geeks 16mm Lunch 2-10-2026

Hello everybody. I'm Skip Alzheimer. Welcome to the AV Geeks Lunchtime streaming show where we watch old 16 millimeter films. And we have a guest. Come on. >> Hi. Oh, no. I mean, [laughter and snorts] hi. Longtime lurker, first time visitor. Yim, from Austria. >> From Austria, right? And he's visiting um and I brought out the book that you brought me. Um, yeah. So, he wrote this book and then in here he actually he wrote about the show. >> Yeah. I mean, I did an essay in the book. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And was already a while back. I think about the 2021. >> Yeah. >> Uh some some um lunch screenings. >> Yeah. So, he knows. And so, you're here. Why? Why are you here visiting? I'm here to get some to get my hands on some educational films. I'm looking for I'm writing a book on educational film and comedy. >> Obviously, like first or second thing you do is you ask Skip Alzheimer if you can have a look at his stuff. >> Yeah. So, uh I've been showing some films that he requested on his wish list and today we went through some stacks and we looked for some films. Um, and I showed some yesterday and some of them were funny and some of them were definitely not funny. Um, [laughter] >> well, there's a hit to miss ratio. >> Yeah. Yeah. But, you know, that's kind of not what it's about. Um, but anyway, so this first film I thought would be a great candidate and I've shown this before. Uh this is Ricky Raccoon Saves a Day and this was made by Walter J. Klene uh which was he was based in uh Charlotte, North Carolina which is two hours from here or two and a half hours and uh it's a general safety film but it's definitely got some humor in it. So um and you're investigating humor as a tool. >> Yeah. So intentional humor in um that was used in educational film. There's very different cultures in Germany, Austria versus the US. >> All right. Excellent. So, here's Ricky Raccoon. Enjoy. >> I guess that makes it very Mhm. >> Well, Jackie, what do you think of this nice new house? Would you like to live here? >> Sure, Dad. Say, where are all the kids? >> They'll probably plant down by the schoolyard. It's only a short distance away from here. >> That's great. If you're very careful, you can drive your bike or walk to school from here. >> Swell. I'm going right now. >> Hold it, young man. You'd better stick around here until your father and I have a chance to teach you a few things about walking safety and bicycle safety. We don't want you hurt. >> Oh, Mom. Nothing's going to happen to me. What's so different about that? >> What's that? >> [music] [music] [music] >> The animal comes with the house. Afraid so. Probably strayed from a circus, but he's terrific with kids. And he'll help Jackie get around safely. You're new. >> Not really. I've been around for about 8 years now. I'm Jackie. >> I'm Ricky Raccoon. >> Oh, I thought you were teddy bear who swallowed too many vitamins. >> So, you want to find the other children? Well, you could follow the yellow brick road, but that will lead to another movie. To get to the school, we have to cross that street. >> Great. Let's go, Jackie. Stop. >> Your mother's right. Always cross the street in marked crosswalks or at street corners only. >> And when you get to that spot, walk only with a traffic signal or the direction of a police officer or school patrol. Now, there's no light here, but I see there is a police officer. >> Oh no, it's that crazy bear. >> That's raccoon kid with two C's and two O's. While you're waiting, always stand on the curb, not in the street. Before leaving the curb, be sure the way is clear. Stop. Look both ways. Watch for turning cars. >> When you do start across, walk fast, but don't run. Stay alert for cars, which may suddenly turn into the street. Watch how you walk if the pavement's wet or uneven. Say, what do I do if it's raining? Little guy like me might not see where he's going and run into a wild bear or something. >> How many times I got to tell you, fella? I'm a raccoon with two C's and two O's. If you carry an umbrella, do so in such a way as to keep a clear view like this. Stay alert. Watch out for traffic. >> Well, what if I'm walking across the street and I suddenly see my old pal Larry? I might stop to wave or call to him so we can play ball or eat lunch together. >> No, son. That's not the way to do it. Always walk directly across the street. Don't waste time talking or waving or anything else that'll slow you down. Wait till you're completely across and on the curb. >> Got another problem, Mom. Suppose this bear over here and I are playing ball and the bear hits a good one into the street. That's raccoon, kid. Raccoon. Bear. Bear. Raccoon. You think you got it? >> Yeah. Yeah. [music] That's especially dangerous, Jackie. The National Safety Council says you should stay out of streets or roadways while you're playing. Only after you've made sure it's safe should you go into the street after balls, pets, or anything else. Best thing is to play away from the street. >> Right now, Jackie, you're with your family who are always concerned about you. But be especially careful when you're walking with a group, just as you would by yourself. Watch out for your safety. Don't depend on others. [music] >> [music] >> Stop. Here's a driveway. Always watch for cars backing out. Another intersection, but this one's different. There's a traffic light. >> That's right, son. You know, the red at the top means stop, green for go at the bottom when it's safe. Yellow is a warning. It's that way for cars and for us walkers. Here's a special danger. At many intersections, cars may keep moving past a red light after stopping if they are turning to the right. That means that you, the pedestrian, have to take even greater care. The car should stop for you, but look out. Little people are sometimes hard to see. [music] Jackie, why are you bend over like that? Does your back hurt? >> No, Mom. It's that sign. It says stoop. I'm stooping. >> No, silly. Not stoop. Stop. It's very important to know your street signs, [music] their shapes and meanings. A red sign means stop or not to do something, like not entering a street. A yellow sign is a warning. Black letters on white signs [music] give us information like how fast a car can drive. Orange lets us know about road work ahead. Service signs, like those telling us hospitals and telephones are ahead, are blue. Recreation and scenic areas have brown signs. >> Watch out. Watch out. That's what the diamond shaped sign says to us. It's a warning, like for a bridge out. >> A sign shaped like this, rectangular, gives us traffic information. This kind of rectangular sign contains information on where to go. And do you know what a circle sign tells us? >> Uh, a train bear is coming. >> Nope. A bear on a train, maybe. Railroad crossing signs are circles. [bell] My mommy always said I was a raccoon with one in. >> A school sign is five-sided. It lets you know there's a school up ahead. And here we are, Jackie. At last. But what happens when I go back home and it's dark? >> The best clothes to wear at night are ones that are white or try to carry something white. light in color or something that reflects light or carry a flashlight so people driving cars will see. And when you cross the street, cross where there are street lights so you and the car drivers can see each other. Day or night, if you come up on an area where there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the road. On the left side. >> Don't worry. This looks like a real friendly neighborhood. I could get a ride home with someone. >> Uh, did I say the wrong thing? >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Jackie, [screaming and crying] there are a lot of lonely people who sometimes look for young people like you to be their friend. But some of these people may not be nice. >> They may even try to hurt children. >> So, you must never accept a ride from anyone unless we've already said it's okay. >> Even if he or she offers you candy or says your father or mother said you should ride with them. >> No thanks. >> Wait, look kind of tired. Why don't you get in? >> No thanks. >> Even if they say you said it was okay. >> You know, we wouldn't ask anyone to pick you up without telling you first. You remember that? We'll remember that. Of course, you could drive your bicycle home, Jackie. >> What bicycle? >> No bicycle. >> Those bicycles. >> OH, >> GREAT. LET'S GO. >> Have you checked over your bike, Jackie? >> Just barely, Mr. Bear. >> Well, first get a bike that fits you. Be sure you have your bike in good shape, thoroughly and regularly checked, especially the brakes. Have a horn or a bell, a basket to carry small things, a light on the front and rear, and reflectors all around. Okay. >> Okay. >> You should have your parents permission before you drive your bike in the street. When you do, Jackie, be sure to obey all the traffic signs, signals, and markings. >> Gee, you'd think I was driving a car. Lots of things to think about. >> That's right. Someday you probably will drive a car, Jackie. Driving a bike the right way will make it easier to drive a car. Until then, you're going to be out there on the street with the cars, and they are bigger than you are. So, be certain to drive your bicycle on the right with the traffic and drive in a single file. Remember, walk on the left, bike on the right. Whether you're driving your bike or walking, be sure you go directly to or from home by the designated safe [music] way to go. Don't walk or drive through other people's yards, in wooded areas, or unfamiliar places. >> The National Safety Council says that over half of bike accidents occur at intersections. So, be especially careful here. Cross with care. Get off your bike and walk it across using the crosswalks. Maybe I'll notice my old pal Susie Parker after school waiting for a ride home. So maybe I'll be thoughtful and give her a ride home on the back of my bike. >> Not smart, Jackie boy. That's the way boys and girls hurt themselves. Your bicycle was built to carry only you. While you're riding, use hand signals to let others know when you are turning or stopping. Up like this means you're turning right. Out like this means you're turning left. Down like this shows you're stopping or slowing down. There are other dangers to watch out for while driving your bike. [music] Look out for car doors opening into you or for cars pulling out into traffic in front of you. >> Watch for drain grates, soft shoulders, and other road problems. They could throw you off your bike. So many things to think about. Maybe I just won't go to school after all. Or I could ride a bus or get in a carpool. Right. >> You're important, Jackie. We want you alive and healthy. Even if you're waiting for a bus, there are valuable rules to remember, like waiting on the curb or in a safety zone. Be sure the school bus driver knows if you need to cross the street after getting off the school bus. Walk about 12 ft ahead of the bus and look at the driver. If you can see him, you know you are where he can see you. Then cross the street, always looking both ways before going to the other side. >> Even if the school bus lights are flashing and the stop sign is out. >> Yes, always look both ways to be sure the street is safe before crossing. If you're in a car poolool, get into or out of a car on the curb side. Once in the car, fasten your seat belt. A lot of these rules are just good old common sense, Jackie. Think before you go into the street. Think before you get on your bike. Think. And don't accept a ride with a stranger. What's wrong? >> I just thought of something. I'd better go home. I haven't been home in days, I'll bet. >> Where exactly is home? >> Rupert Riley's rambunctious raccoon rodeo. Come visit me sometime. >> We will. But how will we know? You >> can't miss me. I'm the only bear in the whole act. Oh, wait. All right. So, [laughter] I forgot to turn the microphone on. Uh, so all that stuff of us talking and then I'm sure there's comments like, "Skip, your mic is muted." Skip, your mic is muted. Anyways, so Ricky Raccoon was good. >> Yeah. A for Ricky Raccoon. >> And this next film is on the scanner. It's called Pissed and it's a parody of an 80s management film. >> Can't wait. >> All right, here we go. >> [music] >> This is the shape of your company's future around the country. Around the clock, conglomerates [music] are merging the private sector with the public interest to build a success intensive tomorrow. Now only one thing stands between you and a bold new age of management. Employee dysfunction. Conditioned to become an [music] extension of the workplace. Programmed to follow the trends of the marketplace. The worker unit grows unable to function in unstructured environments. He becomes confused. unresponsive, unproductive. But here in the laboratories of our center for the study of evaluation, research intensive systems analysis has found the answer to unmotivated personnel. P I S T psychological improvement situational [music] training a new exercise program for human resource [music] development. Our first stage is called focal [music] rotational positivistic didactics or fourps. In this exercise, two worker units enter a rhythmint intensive mode while rotating [music] around an invisible but mutually acknowledged central reference point. FORPs renews interpersonal awareness in the workstation while stimulating productivity through a [music] rousing display of team spirit. The second stage [music] of PIST is called reciprocal equalization motion. This mode [music] fuses individual and corporate identities conforming operations management with attitude management. But the most [music] achievement inensive stage is also the simplest metronomic [music] affirmation. It was designed by the head of project PIST, Dr. Mc Cartell. >> Metronomic affirmation won't be fully understood for at least another 20 years. It is both a maximax and a miniaax strategy and that it maximizes the maximum possible input and minimizes the minimum loss of output. It also maximizes the chances of incurring the minimum cost which would classify it as maximian. The exercise quickly regenerates goal oriented aggression, but the beauty of it is that it can be accessed by all units without interruption of their workflow. We are now also testing an equally cost effective exercise which I call primal reflexive pulsation. I believe that primal reflexive pulsation may have been the first direct means to expel early man's deepest, most repressed subconscious anxieties. And for corporate man, it will be the first direct means to optimize the theory X and theory Y management systems. The theory X of course maintains that units basically do not like to work and must be activated by behavior modification. Theory why holds that all units have a natural desire to work and will activate themselves given behavior reinforcement. By interfacing X and Y with PIS, we create a new incentive motivation through affiliation. at work, at play, at home, [music] and on the rise. Psychological improvement situational [music] training is incentive intensive. PIT, [music] a presentation of the Business Brain Trust. business. [music] [music] He Oh, [music] [music] [music] All right, the microphone is on. >> Yeah, [laughter] we're trying it with microphone on this. >> Yes. Um, anyhow, so uh what do you think about that about post? It's it's great like a parody alo one a parody of like the idea of what um yeah what what the yappy mindset is but also of the whole like um management uh uh consultant uh um yeah film language is I mean there's been a this rich history of parodies of educational formats basically since the since I don't know the 1900s. >> Oh nice. So there's so you can write the history of what people think like popular ideas of knowledge are just by looking at the all the parodies of educational formats. >> Oh that's glorious. Yeah. The uh yeah I have so many management films that came out around this time and they were also based on bestselling books and they're all incredibly boring. So, the fact that I have this is I I'll just show this like I don't want to show this, you know, hour-long film where this guy is talking about, you know, management practices and it's just a talking head and it's really boring. I do like the ones that show the foyables of bad management and those tend to be kind of funny and we might watch some of those tomorrow. But, uh, let's see, what do we got next? So, this one's part of a series about communication, and it's called basic reading and writing skills. And we're going to jump back 10 years. So, everything is going to be a little bit different. And the uh audience for this, I think it's kids. Um, enjoy. One second. There a lot of tech problems here. This is uh so you you appeared on a show where there's a lot of tech problems and that is >> I'm a gremlin. >> No, this as anybody who's watched this show knows uh this is a constant problem. Um, and so it's because we're embracing hundred years of technology. >> Sharing our feelings. It's [music] good to relate. >> We need [music] each other [singing] in so many ways. >> [music] >> Communication opens the door. [music] In every relation [singing] there is more. [music] La. [music] [music] Hey. Well, there you are. >> Man, what a ride. >> I almost didn't make it. >> Well, I knew I was in trouble when I woke up late this morning. >> And if I hadn't seen that don't walk sign in time, man, they'd still be scraping me off the street. But I got the message. And the fact is, I got a lot of messages on this trip. And that's what we're going to talk about today. Communication. Communication happens when people exchange ideas, feelings, information, or anything they want to express. >> Noteworthy. >> Take reading and writing. These are two important ways we communicate. >> That's right. >> John, can I have my skateboard? I want to get the message across to everyone that this is my skateboard. So I write it down there. Property of big Al. The message is there, but people have to be able to read it right to know what it says. >> Property of big >> Oh. Al. Property of big L. [applause and cheering] I KNOW YOU guys probably think of reading and writing as something you do mostly in school, but think again. Think how many times you read or write something every day. >> Man, this game is really tough sometimes. It was more fun when the words weren't so hard to spell. >> What are you playing? >> Scrabble. You have to spell the words, but it's not so bad. >> Yeah, he's getting all the easy words. >> Well, you know, spelling can be tough, but it just takes practice and it's important because misspelled words can cause the person reading your message to be very confused. How would you like it if your friends left you notes like this? >> George, you can borrow me big bike today. It's at skull by the playground. Be careful with it. Be careful with it. You got to spell it right. >> It takes a lot of practice to learn to spell right. But if you want people to understand what you write, it's something you got to learn. >> Yeah, but spelling can still be a drag. >> Well, let's say you were writing a letter to your best friend Delia here who had moved away. Wouldn't you want her to know that you miss her and what's happening in the neighborhood? >> Dear Delsia, [music] our class went to the radio station. It was neat. They had two huge antennas there and they gave us all a record. We all >> We all missed you and wished you are here. So do my dog Swamp who miss us. >> I guess I see what you mean. Writing without punctuation is like driving without traffic signals. It can cause accidents. >> Writ me soon. Love Wendy. >> That's embarrassing. [laughter] And the words you choose can make your writing exciting or boring. Which of these stories would you rather read? The man went into the house and looked around. The monster grabbed him and took him away. >> Boring. O >> or would you rather read something like this? The cloaked [music] detective crept silently into the old house. The wind whistled through the attic and the floor creeped under him. Suddenly, in the darkness behind him, he heard heavy breathing. He whirled around to face a horrible sight. The monster lunged for him, grabbing him by his throat, dragged him away. So, you see, you really can make your writing interesting just by the words you choose and the way you put them together. That way, people will want to read it. >> Communication. It's good for monsters, too. >> Now, if someone can't make out what you've written, how can you expect them to get the message? >> Just look at all the problems bad penmanship is causing this person. >> Well, if you're selling cookies, I'll take two chocolate chip ones. >> I'm not selling cookies. I'm selling lemonade at 10 cents a glass. >> Well, how was I supposed to know? You can't read the sign. I'll take two tickets to the football game on Saturday night. >> I'm not selling football tickets and I'm not selling cookies. I'm selling lemonade. >> Well, don't get in a huff. You ought to put up a sign that people can read. >> Make a difference. >> Organizing your thoughts and presenting them clearly make it easy for people to get your message. Take the school election. Sign your name, >> man. Now, this guy has a great platform. Free lunches, one-hour recess, movie of the week. Man, I'd vote for him. But, uh, where's his name? Who is this dude? Looks like he left out the most important information of all. Too bad. He's got great ideas. Make Mary president. Vote Mary Landis for president. Now that lady's got the right idea. Clear, well organized. That's the kind of message that really pays off. Thinks before she [music] writes. That's my kind of communicator. Mary Landis has my vote for sure. So, you see, [music] writing is more than just throwing some ink on a sheet of paper. You've got to avoid bad spelling, bad punctuation, sloppy organization, poor choice of words, and of course, just plain bad penmanship. Wake up. It's not over yet. >> You know, no matter how well something is written, you won't get anywhere unless you can read it. I'm trying to learn a new song, so I have to read this music. If you can't read well, you're really in trouble. I mean, you can barely get around in the world. >> Hey, King Kong's playing at the theater. Let's go see it. It's one of my favorites. >> Okay. All right. I'll look it up in the paper, right? >> No, I'll dial it and listen to the recording. It's much easier than reading it. >> Good evening. This is 71 Theater with a movie for every day of the week. We're located at 2436 Washington Drive, one block west and one block north of Benton Way, right next to the airport and on top of the bowling alley. Tonight and tonight only, except for the next two nights, we have our special low admission price of only $1 if you arrive before 7 p.m. and are complete by any person carrying a beaver under his right arm. Now, in theater number one, we have the classic King Kong playing at 6:30 and 11:00 and the Incredible Bionic Peanut playing at 9:15 and 12:30. The special discount rate does not apply. In theater number two, we have the only >> I think you're right. Let's read the newspaper. >> And it's hard to get information you need, like finding out the recipe for apple pie. And for sure you'll miss out on a lot of fun, like reading books and magazines and stuff. >> German chocolate cake, my favorite. Gee, this recipe sure is hard to read. I'll just take all the ingredients and mix them together. I'm pretty sure it'll come out all right. I guess I should have read the recipe. We need to be able to read even simple things like directions. Watch what happens to someone who can't read too well. >> Yeah. >> Hi, I'm Cindy Cells from the Bravo Vacuum Cleaner Company. Are you the uh man of the house? >> Yeah. What of it? >> Well, I'm here to demonstrate our newest model by cleaning your rug for you. >> I don't need no vacuum. Oh, but I'm sure it's a chore you detest with your present vacuum cleaner. And our model is so easy that all you have to do is simply turn it on. Um um gee, [snorts] something's wrong. Um oh, I know. I'll look in my instruction booklet. Just a moment. Um yes. Number one, plug vacuum in. Oh, I'm so embarrassed. I forgot to do that. Here, I'll just plug it in and it'll be very simple. now. Okay. All right. We're ready to go. Right. Oh. Oh. Oh my goodness. Oh. Oh. Oh. Um. I'm here. Wait. Oh. >> Oh, really? THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED. I'M REALLY SORRY. I'M OH, >> HERE. Don't come back. Here's your instructions. Why don't you read them? You might learn something. Huh? If only I could read better. I could have read these instructions first. >> We read all kinds of things. Clocks, thermometers, even maps. >> Oh, hello. This is Wanda Watch, your wandering reporter. Here today at the City Zoo to cover our most exciting event, the 42nd annual turtle race and egg laying contest. We're on our way there right now. We we we'll be back in a moment. If only I could figure out this map. >> Can't get around. >> Can't get information. Can't enjoy [music] reading. >> You know, it's really important to read well. >> Reading and writing. >> Without reading and writing, I don't know how people would get along. >> I can get along without it. I'm going to be recording star when I grow up. They don't need to read and write. All they have to do is sing and play music. >> Me, too. I'm going to be a famous photographer. All they have to do is go to exciting places and take neat pictures. I can do that. >> And I'm going to race motorcycles. Reading isn't important for that. You just have to be the fastest to win. >> Sure, those are neat jobs, but have you ever thought about what it would be like? I mean, realistically, if you really ended up doing those things. Hey, uh, Speed, you better, uh, read these fuel additive comparison reports and, uh, see which one you want to use in a big race tomorrow. Yeah. And also, uh, fill out this entry form and return to the office right away. Okay. Hey, good luck in a race tomorrow, Champ. All right. >> Uh-oh. >> These pictures are really good. Look, I have a quick assignment I want to try you out on. And if you do well, well, you'll have a full-time job here. But the deadline is in only 3 days. Do you think you can do it? >> I sure do. I'll get on it right away. You won't be disappointed. >> All right. Here's your assignment then. Remember, deadline in 3 days. Oh, and we have a policy here that you must write your own captions with your photographs. Glad to have your work. [applause] >> Great show, Rich. Listen, there's a guy here with an offer to make. I don't >> Hey, Rich. How you doing, buddy? Come on over here. Let me see what you got here. Hey, that was really a great show. No, you're going to go places. You're going to go far. You know what I mean? I happen to bring here a long-term contract. Uh, sign this, baby. How'd you like to play Las Vegas? Huh? >> Wow. Las Vegas big time. You got it. >> Listen, Rich, you better take it home and read it. Uh, think it over. There'll be time tomorrow. >> Hey, listen, Rich. Rich, a chance like this does not come along every day. Sign the baby a lot of clams. You know what I mean? >> Are you kidding? This is my big chance. I'm going to grab it. >> Here you go. >> Hey. Hey, Richie. baby. End of your first week and you were great. Just great. Worth every clam. >> I hate to say I told you so, Rich, but you should have read the contract. [music] >> Yeah, I think I see what you mean. >> Yeah, >> take it from Big Al. You got to know how to read and write or you'll fall on your face in life. >> I guess it can even be exciting. Speaking of exciting, I wonder what happened to our wandering reporter. >> Oh, sir. Sir, could you help me? You see, I'm looking for the 42nd annual turtle race and egg laying contest. >> Lady, you got a map right there in your hand. Why don't you read it? >> Well, you you see, I can't read. Well, >> well, it's right in there. Right in that building over there. >> It is. Oh, could I get in there right away, please? >> Lady, you just can't walk in there. You have to sign your name and address in a book. >> Well, uh, I'd like to, but you see, I can't write well either. You see, I am Wanda Watt. I'm sure you've seen me. Your wandering reporter. >> Lady, it's okay because the turtle race was over an hour ago anyways. >> It was. >> Huh? >> Oh, do do you know who won? >> Excuse me. I got to clean up this bird. >> But wait, my story. Uh, >> poor wandering Wanda. She's just one of a lot of people who haven't learned how to communicate by reading and writing. And look where it got her. Good and lost. But if it's your idea to do a lot of things like write a letter, read a book, tell time, or buy an album, you know what you have to do. If you don't, you >> can't get around, >> can't get information, >> can't enjoy reading, >> and you have to avoid >> bad spelling, bad punctuation, >> sloppy organization, poor word choice, bad pinmanship. >> You got it. And that, my friends, is no jive. Take it from Big Al. Reading and writing, they're the beginning and the end. >> [music] [music] [music] >> That was fun. >> Yeah, it was a little wacky. It was a 70s pacing wackiness. Um I think um and some funny vignettes in there. Um >> very much under the sign of like Sesame Street Electric Company also with the >> Yeah. And that's one of the things we're going to talk about um as far as what are those touchstones where humor changed and how educational films changed. I I certainly have talked about this before in articles where you know a company like Encyclopedia Britannica which was very hubless uh eventually start got like really whacked out in the late 60s and early 70s and had a lot of really crazy things and I talked about that that was related to a new generation of filmmakers who were being influenced by experimental films and also uh drugs and also uh you know educational television. All right. Where can I put this one? All right. This one is made for adults. It's decision for Mike. Enjoy. >> Morning. A time of natural sounds. >> Mike, it's getting late. Breakfast is ready. [music] >> And of course, morning's a time of natural habits. Mike's father has his natural morning cigarette habit. Mike's mother and her natural morning habit. >> Mike better put on a sweater. It's cold today. >> Mike, like everybody, is a mixture of all the sounds and habits that surround him. >> Hurry. >> But Mike, like everybody, can choose what [music] he wants to be. >> So long, guys. >> Okay, Mike. Have a good day. >> Okay. >> Good morning, Mom. >> Good morning. Did you finish your schoolwork? >> I did. Good. >> Mike hasn't caught this habit. Not yet. >> Mom, I won't have time for breakfast. >> Have you got everything? >> Yes, I do. >> Got your money? >> Mike's decided this is his morning to choose. The choice he makes can affect all the rest of Mike's mornings. [music] Morning. Time of more natural sounds. Mike's girlfriend Ellen and her natural morning habit. Yeah, Mike's morning. to face the pressures, to face the facts, to get into his own head, to explore the land inhabited by those people called grown-ups. >> Mike's morning to find out what kind of adult he might become. >> If he starts to smoke, Mike. >> Hey, Mike. Still trying to decide whether to start smoking or not, huh? >> Yep. >> Well, maybe you came to the right place. I think we can help you out. Right, Mike. We'd like to show you some of the things that happen to people who start smoking. Uh people who smoke and the people who try to stop. [music] During World War I, American men began smoking cigarettes. And as the rates of men smoking began to climb up up up, sometime later the incidence of lung cancer in men began to climb up up up. In the 1930s, movies and advertising began to make cigarette smoking glamorous, romantic, adventuresome. Women began to smoke. >> [music] [music] [music] >> Soon the incidents of women smoking began to climb. Climb up up. And now we see the incidence of lung cancer in women climbing up up. [music] What time is it, friend? >> 6:00. >> 6:00. I got 2 hours before the party. I'm all excited. >> You going to go like that? >> No, no, no. This is formal. I'm wearing a tuxedo. >> Oh, no. No tuxedos. >> This is high society. You kidding? >> Tuxedos are out. They're p. >> Oh, come on. Everybody's going to be there dressed up. >> Sophisticated people today go relaxed. They enjoy themselves. Yeah. >> Now, let's see. Um, I'd suggest maybe a jumpsuit. >> Jumpsuit. >> Yeah. On you, I think a jumpsuit. >> Okay. Zip it up. >> Right. Gucci loafers. They're okay. >> Good. >> Little touch of color here. Maybe a a poochie scarf. Poochie and a Gucci. >> Kind of [music] right. Loosely tied. Right. >> Okay. >> Now I'm dressed for society. Huh? >> Something's missing. >> Uh, what? >> Oh, drink. Got a drink in my hand. >> Oh, you got a drink. Really sophisticated. >> Everybody's going to have a drink in there. >> Okay, here I am at the party. How's that? >> Let me see. Strike a pose. >> Okay. >> Hi, Skylar. Hi, Phyllis. >> No, something's missing. >> No. >> Cigarette. >> Well, I don't smoke. >> Oh, you got to smoke. >> Really? >> I mean, you're going to a sophisticated party, right? >> Well, I want to look right. >> There'll be a lot of sophisticates there. >> Okay. >> They'll all be smoking. >> Okay. >> You got to smoke. >> Okay. Here we go. >> Hello, Skyler. Hi, fellas. >> No, you you put the other end in your mouth. That's called filter. Oh, I see. Okay. >> Backwards, right? >> All right. Here I am at a party. Okay. I'm holding this cigarette like this. Hi, Phyllis. Hello, Skyler. >> No, wrong. It's got to be >> Skyler and Phyllis. >> No, it's got to be lit. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize. >> Cigarette. >> I don't really like to do that. >> Do it again. I'll show you what happens. Just do that and I'll show you what happens at a party. >> Hi, Skyler. Hello, Phyllis. I'm here. >> Along. You come to the season old. >> Keep it. Hold it. Let those rich tobacco things go down there and do what they do. >> I don't like it. I don't think I want to be this sophisticated. >> Oh, no. You got to do You got to do it. >> You got to keep smoking. >> That's right. >> Smoke all evening with those people. >> That's right. >> Oh, that's really sophisticated. >> You mean I'll be exclusive if I do that? >> You're right. >> You fit in there with the group, huh? >> With the uh >> That's fantastic. The 400. Here I am with the 400. >> And if you keep on smoking, next year you'll be a member of the 200. >> The 200. >> Keep on smoking and there'll be 100. >> I think I'll try it. >> You may not even have to go out IF YOU KEEP SMOKING. >> That's right. [music] Honey, your mother thought that I should sit down with you and have a very serious talk about something very important. >> Oh, Daddy, [music] I know about boys. >> No, it has nothing to do with boys. This is something much more important. >> I take driver's [music] safety. >> No, it's not the car or driving. Your mother caught you smoking the other day in the bathroom. >> That's very serious. >> Yeah. Well, I opened the window. All the smoke was out. And >> No, it's not that. It's that smoking itself can be very dangerous. Now, many of your schoolmates and and [music] many young ladies today are smoking and it's very dangerous. >> Remember your daddy smoked. I started out smoking when I was very young. >> I know. >> I Yes. I've told you many times. Remember? >> Oh, I remember. Remember [music] when I was smoking like two and three packs a day? >> Oh boy. >> Honey, >> your breath smell terrible, Daddy. >> Not only that, I found out a lot of important things and I stopped. I found out that smoking can cause infyma. >> What's that? >> Well, that's when you can't breathe very well. You can take the air in, but you can't release it. >> Oh. >> I found out that smoking can cause heart trouble. >> Oh. >> And I found out that smoking [music] can cause cancer. >> Oh. >> Oh, that's very serious. >> I know. >> But this is more important. It stunts your growth. Oh, daddy. >> No, [laughter] darling. It's true. It's true. Now, you have to believe, daddy. This is very serious. Now, you believed me when I said it can cause cancer. Did you? >> Yes. >> You believed me when I said it can cause heart trouble. >> Yes. >> And you believe me when I said it can [music] cause emphyma. >> Yes. Now that I know what it is. >> Mhm. Well, then you have to believe your daddy when he says it can stunt your growth. >> Dinner's ready. >> All right, let's go into dinner. >> Okay. Sometimes [music] feels that maybe >> [music] >> Guard, bring in the condemned prisoner. >> Where's the guard? >> He's eating my last meal. >> Would you like to have a blindfold? >> Save it to blow your nose on. >> Do you have a last request? >> Yes. I want to see Paris, France before I die. >> That's impossible. >> Philadelphia will do, >> please. >> Kansas. >> All right. >> Detroit, Pittsburgh? >> All right. >> New York. Do you have a real last request? >> Yes. I want one last cigarette before I die. >> Cigarette? >> That's right. Make it a 100. >> You want to smoke? >> One of those long ones. >> Do you know smoking can be injurious to your health? >> I didn't know that. >> Oh, yes. A surgeon general has proven it. >> It's incredible. >> Statistics show it's very bad for you. >> Why wasn't I told? I've been smoking for years. >> Um, well, I I >> I think you'll think it over. >> Well, can Yeah, give me a minute. >> Consideration. >> Give me a few days. >> Just step out of here. You think it over? >> Oh, thank you very much. No, you saved my life. I'll remember that as long as I live. >> Miss Perkins, >> I'm Mr. Baskin. >> Hello, Mr. Baskin. >> Hello. How are you today? >> I'm so glad to see you. >> Well, I think we've probably uh at last solved your problem here with the computer dating service. >> You know, you've been so worried. You've been coming here for months and months and months, >> months, years almost. >> We've taken all your statistics, fed them into our computer. >> All of them. >> Finally found all of them. >> Finally found a man we think a mate, a match who is just perfect for you. >> Matches me, >> right? Everything in common. He has your same social background, your same religious background, your same educational background. >> Did he go to Binmore? >> Two years. Yes. Didn't graduate, but he went. Now, in addition to that, he likes long walks in the country. Uh he likes pets >> and he's crazy about [music] smoking. >> Oh, >> just like you. Oh my. Isn't that wonderful? I love him already. >> Yes. He's a very heavy smoker. No filters at all. He's been smoking three packs a day. Three packs a day for the last 15 years. >> My my Oh, that's wonderful. Oh, >> at last. >> Oh, my mother's going to be so happy if she would arrive. >> Now then, let's start over. You'll have to find someone, I think, uh, who doesn't smoke or you'll just have to give up. >> Do you smoke? >> No, >> I give up. Do that again. Lefty Williams. >> Right. >> Yes. Don't you recognize me? >> No. Who are you? >> I'm Scott Thorng good Jones. >> Stinky Jones. >> That's right. >> Thank goodness. I've never >> I haven't seen you since grade school. >> That's right. We played ball together in anyway. >> Oh, I'll say. Oh, you were the best pitcher Little League ever had. Oh, you used to sit there on the You were so confident on the bench. You would be smoking away and relaxed and >> I started at 9. >> 9 years old. I remember. Oh, what a fast one. You used to burn that fast one in there. >> I didn't pitch that fast. >> Oh, no. Your cigarettes used to burn them up. Remember? >> Burn them up in there. Yes. >> Lefty. What happened to you? You used to have such a great left arm. >> Well, I still got the left arm, but I can't pitch no more. I dropped out of baseball. I dropped out of high school. I never went on to college. And I'm just here broken down. You mean after little league it was just all downhill? >> That's right. What happened to you, by the way? >> Well, nothing much. I finished high school, went on to college, and went into industry, and now I'm head of my corporation. I never smoked, >> but uh Well, what can I do for you? >> 1350. >> Still a left-h handy, huh? >> Yeah. Could you give me 1350? >> 1350? >> Got to have 1350. >> $13.50. >> That's my habit. I got to have it every day. >> You mean you're drinking? >> No, it isn't drinking. >> Not drinking. You mean it's it's No wonder your arm went bad. It's the hard stuff. >> No, no, it's not that. >> What is it? >> Cigarettes. >> Cigarettes? >> Right. I get 11 packs a day. >> Oh, 11 packs a day. 1350. >> Well, I get them from a machine over here. >> 11 packs a day. >> That's right. 1350 every day. >> You've really got a monkey on your back. >> Yeah. And he smokes two packs a day. >> Oh, yeah. What's his name? >> Smoking. [cough] >> Doesn't make much sense, does it, Mike? No, not really. >> You know how long it takes a cigarette to harm you and you begin to smoke it? The instant you inhale, the chemicals in that smoke start to work on your heart, your lungs, your whole body. If you smoke one half pack a day, you stand five times greater chance of getting lung cancer than a non-smoker. >> Still want to smoke, Mike? >> If you smoke two packs a day, you've got 17 times greater chance of dying of lung cancer than a non-smoker. A 100,000 doctors have given up cigarettes. They know something we ought to know. >> Regular cigarette smoking can shorten your life by years. >> As a rule, the longer you smoke and the more you smoke, the harder it is to quit. So, the time to quit is now or don't start. >> You still want to smoke? >> [music] >> I never really think about the health, you know, problems. I guess that's because I do smoke and I don't want to think about it because I know that it's probably true. >> Well, I don't smoke and I don't really see any sense in spending money [music] for a pack of cigarettes, which I know can hurt my health. >> You know, when you see mothers holding the baby and they've got this, you know, blowing smoke in the baby's face, that's kind of disgusting. I don't smoke myself because I think I would look really stupid if I smoked. [music] Because when I have a cigarette in my hand, the few times that I've tried smoking, I look like a real idiot. >> Nobody can tell anybody like, you know, they can't be told to stop. You know, [music] nobody can do that. >> How about it, Mike? Have you figured out which way you'll go? [music] >> [music] >> That's interesting. So, that's the uh Where am I? Where are we? There we go. Uh yeah, so uh Tom Thomas did uh year 1999 AD for Ford Filco back in the um mid60s. Um and I've shown that film. Um and this one was goofy. Paul Douly was in it uh who plays Wimpy in the movie Popeye >> and it was in a bunch of other things as well. Um, >> yeah, >> I think somebody commented in the comments that u there was he would never say no to a role. He shows up in lots of things. >> Yeah, I had to think whether I mean I've never really like thought about it systematically, but there also seems like from the 60s on there's a real boom of like sketch comedy groups. So there's a different flavor that is very popular. >> Yes. And I have a couple of films uh one of which I will not show on here because people hate it so much. It is it and it's riffing on this TV show Laughin. Do you know Laughin? Okay. So, Laughin was very popular in the late 60s early 70s and the film that I'm talking about is Freeze in which actually has two of the actors from Laughin, Arty Johnson and Judy K. And it is incredibly unfunny. It is like watching the worst excruciating train wreck you could possibly imagine. uh and and because it is so unfunny, I love watching it because it's really bad. But then there's another film that uh was made around that same time that also is obviously riffing off of Laughing and it is funny. It's made by AC Delo. Um so some people were using that as a cue like okay well this is a super uh popular format so we can sell a product based on that. I mean people like Jonathan Winters and John Cle did like had solid careers. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. John Cle does actually right. >> Yeah. He does uh he did management films. He did uh wedding counseling films. He did a lot of stuff. He was you know he was pretty smart. Uh and his stuff is funny. Um Jonathan Wyinners of course uh was in lots of crazy stuff that we have. Uh and it was just over the top. Uh, so it's funny to see how he goes wide in doing whatever it is he's doing and then he kind of goes back in again. It's it's like no, come on. Like let's re Jonathan Winters in a little bit because he is out of control. Uh, so anyways, uh, thanks for joining us for the show. >> Well, thanks for having me. >> Yeah. And thanks guys for, uh, as always dealing with the technical problems, but also uh, tomorrow we'll have another guest on and you might be back. I don't know. We'll see. um >> see who fits into the frame. >> Yeah. Yeah. This is part of it is I could make the frame bigger and I could nudge it over and so maybe I'll do that tomorrow. Um but this is a little claustrophobic for me because I'm in a corner. But that's okay. Anyways, if you like what you saw, hit the thumbs up, hit the like button. Uh you can support us with comments. You can also go to patreon.com. patreon.com over here or go to superthanks, Venmo, yeah, [laughter] etc. But thanks