AV Geeks 16mm Lunch 5-27-2025

Hello everybody. This is Skip Alzheimer. Welcome to the AB Geeks lunchtime streaming show where we watch old 16mm films. And that was some outtakes from the cornet film about square dancing. um you noticed um it was sometimes upside down, it was reversed, it was all over the place. And so that was all taped together on one big reel. And um so we scanned it and when I scan it and then prep it for doing stuff for stock footage or whatever, I reverse it and flip it and all that stuff. So, this was a quick and dirty version of that where I flipped it because I thought most of the footage was going to be right side up, but I would say that it was probably 50/50. Um, and so when it was right side up and you notice some people were kind of doing things weird, it's cuz it the footage was also backwards. So, that's what that's all about. Um, here's an example of the new AV Geeks mug. It comes in three sizes. You can buy it at the AV Geeks store which is on the YouTube channel. And these are made on demand. And it also has a drawing of me on the other side. And this this is coffee. [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Is this coffee. Well, no. This is coffee. Our story begins here with coffee. Its flavor caught in the closed fist of the bean. Freed then by the grinding mills in an endless cascade brewed into a beverage that is consumed in the hundreds of millions of cupps each day. In this beverage that has become so much a part of our lives. There is a background a tradition that reaches deeply into the culture of many lands. Its beginning under warm tropical sun. The care and attention to which it is treated during its journey from tree to cup. [Music] The many processes it must undergo are all devoted to creating good coffee with its secrets of aroma and body and taste to which the talents of millions of men are devoted during their lifetime. To which tradition rich in the lore of centuries and far away places sets its fine hand to bring these three elements into precise flavor. The tastes of fine coffee extend over a wide range. But for each pallet, there is a flavor that is just right. Around the world, they drink this beverage in its many exotic forms. A dream of Paris expressed in Cafe Olay, a continental favorite. Half coffee and half hot milk. [Music] The canals of Venice and the romance of Capuccino like cafe ole but topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of grated orange peel. The music of old Vienna in a cup. Vianese coffee, often spiced, but always with a drift of whipped [Music] cream. The mystery of Istanbul and the Eastern lands in Turkish coffee. Foam hiding the rich sweet brew. The vigor of Latin American coffees, dark and zesty, served black in tiny cups with plenty of sugar. But always it is coffee. How then do we make the perfect cup of coffee to our taste? Success lies in a single word. Care. Three simple ingredients go into the brewing process. Water, coffee, time. Care will produce a perfect result every time. The beginning is the coffee pot, and there are as many varieties and types as taste will dictate. Yet, each is intended to do the same thing in a different way. To produce perfection in a coffee cup. To make a good cup of coffee, your coffee maker must be clean, free from all remembrances of that last pot of coffee, ready to begin its work on you. Fresh and really clean. Water into a 100,000 pots an hour. Water flows in the coffee making process. Water. Too much or too little? Boiled first or later or not at all? For how long? And yet there is only one correct way. Water, the first element, carefully measured, clean and cold. 3/4 of a measuring cup for each cup of coffee. Then brought to a full [Music] boil. Coffee fresh and again questions what grind percolator drip or fine? How much? Coffee. The second element. [Music] Your favorite blend. The proper grind for your coffee maker. One level CBI measure per cup. This found in many homes is the same as this, a coffee brewing institute approved measure. So whether you use one or the other, the measurement will be the same and it will be [Music] accurate. The boiling water now passes over the coffee and the brewing process begins. The flame is lowered and well watch. The third element is time and it too must be measured accurately. The minutes counted. The flavor will emerge as the process continues. The taste of coffee heightens and increases until all that is good has been extracted. In this method of brewing percolator 6 to 8 minutes over gentle heat and then the liquid is [Music] coffee. From these grounds there remains nothing more to gain but bitterness. No amount of cooking can extract another ounce of good taste. Not another iota of good flavor. In the drip method, the coffee is measured and placed in the pot. The water, carefully pre-measured and brought to a full boil, is poured, still boiling, over the coffee. The time it should take only 4 to 6 minutes. In the vacuum method, the coffee is carefully measured into the top bowl. The water is brought to a full boil before the brewing process is allowed to begin. The time not more than 3 minutes after the water and coffee are in contact. Stir gently during the brewing process and lower the heat. That's all there is. Like all good secrets, its simplicity is its magic. The incomparable goodness of coffee has now been captured in a cup. It has substance, a body to go with its aroma and its taste. When prepared this way, it will be perfect every time. Three magic ingredients. Water, fresh and carefully measured. Coffee, the proper grind. and carefully measured. Time. Carefully measured. A simple recipe for perfect coffee. Perfect coffee. Sending its glow into our lives around the clock. It helps us start the day with warmth and vigor. It is a pleasant spur to the morning's work. It provides the essential part of our pause at noon, indispensable during that unhurried hour in a world that often forgets to stop. In the romance of evening when young dreams glow softly, coffee is always a perfect companion. And after dinner, it is at home in any setting when good taste is important. In the end, it remains a simple thing, easy to attain, well-made and well enjoyed. A good cup of good coffee. Wow. Yeah. Uh, so that came out in ' 61, I think. Um, man, so much to unpack there. Uh first of all uh while I might drink out of a delightful cup like this, uh I actually make it in this or I drink it out of this. Um this is a uh they call it a press now. P R E S E. And this was designed by a friend of mine I went to school with. He did a Kickstarter campaign and I think raised like $185,000. Um and the the deal with it is it's a French it's a French press. Uh, so there's the filter right there. And then so what happens is you put the coffee grounds into here. You put in like 1/4 cup. Then uh you boil water. You pour it in here up to a line. Then you kind of plunge this and let it steep or brew for 3 minutes. And then you press it down. And then what it does is it filters uh the grounds out and then you can drink it. And um yeah, big fan. Uh the reason why is because prior to this uh I had French presses that were glass and I broke like three in a very short succession. Um, the worst of it was one was full and I kind of plunged it and it popped over and so it smashed and there was hot uh coffee grounds and glass all over my counter and kitchen floor and I was like, "Oh, I just wanted some coffee." So, this has done excellent replacement and this makes it as strong as you want. And for me, I like it strong. Strong and black. Strong black and bitter. Um, and so when I go traveling, I often bring this. I bring this and uh some coffee and I brew coffee in my hotel room or at my Airbnb instead of using Kurig, which I don't know, just kind of mediocre. It'll it'll do, but it's not great. All right. Um, so that film was from the Prolinger Archives. And these next two films or next three films uh from the Prolinger archive, we've been helping them get stuff online at their official YouTube channel. Uh so there's new stuff there. Uh some of it is rescans of old stuff, but he's got like 14,000 films that were that I'm trying to help him get online. Uh and it's taking forever cuz he's really working on the metadata, but I'm trying to get him to like put it up there. Put it up there. Anyhow, this one is a is curiosity. Um, the title kind of uh popped out, but I I have not seen this. And this is pretty cool. Um, at least I think it's cool. You might not, but this is Pretty Lady and the Electronic Musicians. Enjoy. [Music] [Music] Once upon a time, there was a very pretty lady. Just a minute, my lady. I thought this was a modern fairy tale. Are you? And what are you doing in my fairy tale? I'm the voice of the grain of truth. Oh, all right. We'll make it a modern fairy tale. Just the other day, there was a pretty lady who was courted by two musicians. They played love songs beneath her window to win her heart. But she said she could never be happy with the man who only made ordinary music. She would give her heart to the man who came up with a new sound. So the two musicians went away to seek a new sound. They both thought and thought about how to create a new sound. Then one of them had an idea. He got some electronic equipment and took it home. There he made an electronic box with two rods poking out of it. When he turned it on, the box generated a [Music] tune. When he moved his hands near the rods, the sound changed. He could play a tune on it. This is the grain of truth speaking. There really is an instrument like that. It was invented around 1920 by a man named Professor Leon Theravan. It's called the Theravin. Here's how it sounds. Moving a hand near one rod changes the sound. [Music] Moving a hand near the other rod makes the sound louder or [Music] softer. Theramin music has been used for stage presentations and there have even been live theramin concerts. Thean music has also been used in motion pictures, including Spellbound, which won an Academy Award for musical [Music] [Applause] scoring. Meanwhile, the other musician took a steel guitar string and stretched it over a sort of microphone, something we call a pickup. Using the pickup, an amplifier, and a loudspeaker, he plucked the string and produced a whole new sound. To explain it simply, when the string vibrated, impulses were produced within the pickup. These impulses were made stronger by the amplifier and the result was heard from the loudspeaker. All he had to do was add five more strings, some metal gimmicks for sliding and plucking, put on a colorful shirt, and he had a Hawaiian guitar. [Music] Two musicians again called upon the pretty [Music] lady. They played their hearts out. and they also blew some fusings. She was not very much impressed, so they went away to try again another day. Meanwhile, the lady got her house rewired for more electrical power. In spite of his rejection by the pretty lady, the Hawaiian guitar man was so pleased with his sounds that he began experimenting with every instrument he could find. Guitars, violins, basses, pianos, saxophones, trumpets, flutes, amplifying the sounds. It's true. Do you know today almost every musical instrument can be modified with electronic devices. Strained instruments can use pickups similar to those used on the Hawaiian guitar. Other instruments can use contact microphones or air microphones to pick up the instrument sounds. and a variety of amplifiers and loudspeakers can be used with these. Meanwhile, his rival tried a different approach. He bought a couple of recorders and a microphone. He went out and recorded just about every sound he heard around him. Wind in the trees, splash of water, man-made sounds, traffic [Applause] sounds, the sounds of the [Music] city. He took all these recordings home with him and began to do things. Some he played slowed down. Some he played speed it up. Some he played forward. Some he played [Applause] backward. First he joined them together and played them in order. [Music] Then he cut them apart and put small pieces of them together in a number of different orders. Pieces of the musically as if they were musical notes. He began to think he had something. He certainly did have something. He had what is called music concrete. Serious composers have been working with it for the past 25 years or so. Back to the pretty lady [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] they back to the sounding board they went. Meanwhile, more electrical power. The second musician now took his amplified instruments and this time began to make strange sounds with them. That's right. Amplifiers and their related equipment can do more than just make sounds louder. They can change them in many ways into some of the sounds heard in current music from the festival to the concert hall. some of the ways. All of this gave the first musician an idea. Why, he thought, couldn't I build a machine which generates the sound as well as amplifying and changing it? I'll invent a machine that produces synthetic sound. I'll call it a sound synthesizer. real modern-day [Music] sound. Because a note can be sustained indefinitely with the sound synthesizer, the composer can control every element of the performance. By recording each part independently of the others on the same piece of tape, which is called multitracking, the composer can hear the work performed without assembling a large group of [Music] musicians. And meanwhile, back at the fairy tale, the two musicians brought their newest inventions to the pretty lady's house and plugged them in. The first musician had the latest model synthesizer. The second had his guitar and his latest amplifier with all sorts of electronic devices. They played their hearts out. But when they were finished, there was no applause, no cheers. In fact, there was no pretty lady. It seems she had run off with the electrician. Oh, well, that's the way the transistor bounces. [Music] [Laughter] [Music] [Music] It's interesting only uh Theramman got a shout out cuz there was definitely less Paul uh and many other um musicians in there and uh it made me very happy to see that you guys were were coming out with different names of who it could potentially be. Um, the other thing they didn't say is that there were women who were uh pioneers in electronic music music. Um, one of the most successful or popular was Adelia Derby who worked for the BBC and uh was one of the people behind the Doctor Who theme. Um, but there were others. um in that early uh electronic music scene that were pretty great. Um yeah, 1972, what a weird thing. like there's so BFA came out with a thing about electronic musicians and um it's good and it it features some some folks that you would recognize but uh to animate it is really and then to kind of you know extract out and generalize is interesting uh flying businessman that's what it's all about doing business from going from point A to point Eat in a plane. [Music] Enjoy. Attention please. Flight 631 for Salt Lake City, Denver, and New York is now boarding at gate number 7. Board flight 631, please. Attention please. Flight 549 from Miami and intermediate cities down to Boston over to El Paso into Chicago out to Portland, Oregon. 9 and 1/2 hours from coast to coast. 4 and 1/2 hours from Jackson, Mississippi to Detroit, Michigan, north, south, east, west. There are 27 scheduled airlines. There are almost 600 airline stops. Every major city, every state in the 48 touched on by the unseen high roads of the sky. The easiest method of travel yet devised by man. America travels the about its business, casual and matter of fact. Businessmen in particular travel the airlines, buying, selling, developing, and organizing. The man with the briefcase weaving the pattern of American business, carrying contracts and plans and specifications, breaking bottlenecks, meeting deadlines. The American businessman transferring from airliner to air taxi, from one airplane to another, flying onto smaller towns to plants and mines and mills. Using the air taxi is the quickest and most efficient means of reaching his destination. Air taxis are convenient. Privately owned and operated, they are comfortable airplanes piloted by experienced and able men. There are more than 1,500 such operators licensed to carry people and property. Air transportation is their business. Ground transportation is also being provided for by many airport operators. Transportation after arrival has been a major problem. No one has realized this more clearly than the men who manage the airports. They're finding ways to meet the problem. One answer is the airport courtesy car. These cars are owned and maintained by the airport. They are furnished at a low charge and as a customer service to out of town people. Business flying is on the increase. So too are the airports providing this courteous service. To the flying businessman, the airport courtesy car is important. It is the last link in his transportation [Music] investment. American business firms have more airplanes and do more flying than any group in the world. Both civil type and military type airplanes have been converted into flying offices. These offices move over the country at speeds of from 150 to 300 m an hour. More territory covered, far less travel time involved, and work goes on during the flight. They go when they wish and where they wish. They do business as usual in the comfort and privacy of the company-owned airplane. [Music] There are aircraft companies that specialize in designing executive airplanes. They are planned with an eye to comfort as well as efficiency as carefully planned for privacy and livability as any home. They are designed to fit the needs of the owner, often with a living room area. Built-in television, planters, large picture windows are popular. [Music] Cabins and vestibules are soundproofed with soundabsorbing material. Tables and furnishings are specially designed. There is often an airto ground telephone. This company vice president flies at 12,000 ft elevation in a corporation-owned Martin B26 conversion. He travels at 300 mph in a soundproof pressurized cabin capable of accommodating 16 people. Since many business flights are made at night, these airplanes are equipped for relaxation as well as [Music] [Music] work. Countless businessmen fly their own airplanes. The majority of airplane owners are over 40 years of age. Banker, salesman, engineer, auto dealer, executive secretary, district distributor, sheep rancher, roller rink operator, machine builder, brace maker, broker, construction engineer, electrical contractor, plumber, doctor, combustion engineer, cattle buyer, retailer, ler, builder, veterinary, salesman, repairman, lawyer, insurance agent. And then there are businessmen every day turning their thoughts to the airplane and learning to fly. This man is a qualified flight instructor. His business is teaching people to fly. He is understanding and courteous. He has a sound knowledge of airplanes and what they can do. It costs less than $100 to learn to fly, less than 500 to become a qualified licensed pilot. There's no age limit on learning to fly. First, the student pilot becomes acquainted with the functional parts of the airplane. He learns to check the airplane and to recognize for himself if it is ready to fly. This simple procedure is line checking. A pilot line checks his aircraft every time he flies. The modern airplane is well designed. Structurally, it is light and flexible and very strong. All aircraft wings are fundamentally the same shape. This shape is the basic air foil. The tail assembly is checked. Once the student is acquainted with the outside of the airplane, instruction inside begins. He sits in the pilot seat, the instructor on his right. His instructor shows him that the wheel works smoothly and accurately. When he knows how to use the brakes and start the airplane, he is taught to taxi the airplane on the ground. He is taught ground courtesies and how to watch for other aircraft. Taxiing develops control which is later used on takeoff and landing. The same day they fly. They stop at the end of the runway. Brakes are set. Gas is checked. The throttle is opened and the engine power is checked on each ignition system individually. The carburetor heat is checked by turning it on and off. The throttle is closed to the idling position. This is the engine check. Now the student sees that the airplane's controls move freely and easily. First the aileron action, then the wheel forward and back for the elevator. Rudder pedals in and out for the rudder fin. Line check, engine check, and control check are performed before every flight. The instructor releases the brakes, opens the throttle, and as the airplane takes off. Dual instruction begins with the rudder, the airplane is kept from turning. After it has gained speed, the elevator is brought up and the airplane takes off. The airplane is equipped with dual controls and the student can easily follow the movements of dirt. He is shown one simple maneuver at a time and then is allowed to practice it. By this method, he learns to fly the airplane exactly where he wants it to go. With less than 5 hours of dual instruction, the average person will handle the airplane in a confident manner. Before a student is allowed to solo, he must be proficient at takeoff and landing. He is taught air courtesy and to fly a good pattern around the airport. He practices many spot landings. By the time he has had 10 hours of dual instruction, he can land and take off with confidence without help or advice from his instructor. Before a student solos, he must know the basic civil air regulations governing air traffic. When the instructor is satisfied that his student knows the simple regulations and that he is capable of flying the airplane alone, he asks him to make three takeoffs and three landings. [Music] On his first solo flight, the student is required to put into use all that he has [Music] learned. He has been taught to watch for other aircraft. He has been taught to make a proper final approach. He knows how to keep the proper air speed. Control wheel forward for more air speed and wheel back for less. As he approaches the runway, he slows down. And as the airplane touches the ground, the control wheel is all the way back. After 40 hours of mixed dual and solo flying, he passes the regulation flight check. He takes a written examination which assures that he understands the basic principles of map reading, weather, and flight. His instructor checks him out in other airplanes. Now, a qualified licensed pilot, the businessman is interested in finding the specific airplane that will meet his needs. His hours in the air while learning to fly and while taking his cross-country flight instruction have been planned to do double duty. Each flight has been a business trip. His travel time has been cut 80%. He knows exactly how airplane ownership will benefit him. American aircraft designers and manufacturers are developing new airplanes. The AOC car, both ground vehicle and airplane, the Hummingbird channel [Music] wing. 90% of all airplane owners pilot their own airplanes. They use executive types such as the Aero Commander, the four or five place 310 Cessna manufactured in Witchah, Kansas. The sixth place Bonanza, also manufactured in Witchah. They use the popular forplace bonanza, the piper super cup, a workhorse of the sky, the callair from Afton, Wyoming, Aronas, Stinsons, Air Coupoops, Luskams, Navons. There are all kinds of airplanes. Their biggest single user is the businessman. The economics of time and travel have made them a vital part of America's [Music] life. It's so convenient. Oh my gosh. the people who I know who uh got their pilot pilot's license, the amount of money that they spend uh and continue to spend, especially if they actually have an airplane, it's outrageous. It is definitely a upper class uh hobby. Um yeah, it's nuts. Find a cheaper hobby. Might I suggest marionetses? And might I suggest ones um telling a classic Iranian folk tales? [Music] Here is a peaceful corner outside the coffee house in a nearby town. The hour is noon and all is calm. [Music] It does not matter what is being said here so long as you understand that it is Hamid the young radical gently explaining his opinions to the people. [Music] [Laughter] You all agree, don't you? You don't believe them, do you? And one more thing. [Laughter] [Music] The big noise is quiet again. Don't laugh, Bhan. A loud voice is necessary to shout the changes coming in our lives. Did you see how intently the people listened? They could not help listening, Hari. But did they believe you? How could they deny me? Since the days of Nasuredin Hocha, people have not confused loudness with truth. Sit down, Hamid. If you think people believe most in the loudest voices, let me tell you the story of how the Hocher was almost ruined by his wife. Never let it be said that Narceradino did not mind his own business. In fact, he even minded it when he was asleep. In one dream, a merchant offered him only 9 L for some wool, but the Hocha was smart enough to hold out for 10. Then, before he could sell his wool, the sound of someone outside interrupted the Hocha's sleep. Even so, Naseredine kept his eyes shut and cried out, "Come back. Come back. I'll settle for the nine. [Music] [Music] But there was to be neither sleep nor pleasant dreams for the hocha that night. His wife had stayed out late again, gossiping with a neighbor. Now she found herself locked out and began begging Naseredine to let her in. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Sad and very angry, the Hocha absolutely refused to open the door. And like so many people who are wrong, the guilty wife turned in rage against the hocha, who disapproved of her late hours and was punishing her. You'll be sorry for treating me like this. I'll throw myself down the well and be done with you once and for all. Do you hear? [Music] [Music] When the wife appeared again, she was inside the house and it was the hocha who was locked out. Now he began pleading to be allowed back into his own home. But his wife answered with a wicked laugh. Now I'll let everyone know about you. I'll tell them you go off every night and leave me alone. With that, the wicked woman began to cry out dreadful tales of the hocher's misdeeds. And the more Nasaredine protested, the louder his wife screamed her falsehoods into the quiet night [Music] air that stays out late. I have to do all the work. He never does any. He leaves me here all alone to slave for him. He's a beast. That's what he is. A hateful beast. You hear? I can't go on like this. I can't. I won't. I won't. While his wife paused to catch her breath, Nasaredine sat wondering how to stop her. But it was too late. In vain, the hocha tried to explain that his wife, as usual, had come home late and then locked him out. But the evidence was all against him. Caught between the loud accusations of his wife and villagers who were always ready to hear the worst about anyone, the Hocha knew that he was ruined. No one would respect him ever again. Then a moment later, the Hocha's worries were over. This shaw belongs to your wife, Hocha. We were so busy gossiping she forgot it when she left my house a little while ago. Now there was no more laughing at the hoer. And as Nazerine watched the sleepy villagers turning away to go back to their beds, he knew they would never again judge the truth of an accusation by how loud it was shouted. [Music] And so to this day, no wise man ever believes The loudest voice is the truest just because it drowns out all others. Can we forget this lesson from Naseradin Hoja? [Music] Um, I don't think pe most people liked Hoa. I think they were ready to believe whatever. Uh, and his wife was probably right with at least some of what she was saying. [Music] Um, also it was crazy at the beginning with uh what was it? Hamid. Uh, it said it didn't matter what he was saying. And so what they did is they took whatever he said and they reversed it and then they would, you know, like have it forward. So whatever he was saying probably was something I don't know, maybe it was something that they were that the U the USIS was like, "No, no, no. That's too heavy-handed. It's too on the nose about um you know what the propaganda we're trying to fight. So let's how do we deal with it?" Oh, why don't we just cut it out and reverse it and then I don't know. I'm really guessing there. I have no idea. But yeah, we have a couple more of these Hojas. I know that some of you do not like Hojo. It's funny like it seems like of the films that we have where there's multiple there's a character and then there's multiple ones. Uh like Wondercat, like Uncle Uncle Smiley, uh some of you like them, some of you really hate them. So, it's like, "Oh, not another blah blah, not another Uncle Smiley, blah blah blah." Um, it's funny. And also the advice of that wise men know that the loudest voice is not the um not the voice to listen to. Doesn't matter with social media. It doesn't matter. Um the loudest voice is the one that gets uh tweeted and shared the most. And um so we're paying for those sins. So, we did not learn the lesson from the wise guy at the coffee shop. Um, thanks so much for joining us today. Very much appreciate your eyeballs. And man, that this is coffee is so good. Uh, makes me want to make another cup on this gray rainy day. Although, I might get the jitters. Um, but um, we appreciate you watching and if you like what you saw, hit the thumbs up, hit the like button, subscribe. Those are the traditional ways to do it without paying uh, for anything except for some mouse clicks or finger clicks. Uh, you can also support us financially by um going to kofi.com/avgeeks or patreon.com/avgeeks or using the superthanks button or um what else can you do? Um, buy stuff and you can also watch other films that we have on our channel because we make pennies of ad revenue from that and that adds up over a period of time. So, that's another great way to support us. Or you can buy some merch. Merch. We make some money, a little bit of money off the merch, too. And that is um the link off the YouTube channel. There's a there's a link there for the store that has a lot of icons. Uh has our our logo on it um and stuff. So, I just spilled some coffee. I don't need to make more coffee. Um anyways, we'll see you tomorrow. Tomorrow, Wednesday. Yeah. Everybody, take care. have a great rest of your day. Hey, if you're in the Raleigh Durham area, uh I'm going to be opening for the Found Footage Festival on uh Saturday. I think it's 8:00 at uh the Rialto. Get your tickets. Um it will be their 20th anniversary. And um so yes, everybody take care. See you tomorrow. Bye.