California: World in a Week

Duration: 1600

Year Published: 1965

Creator: Cate & McGlone Films Hollywood

Complete Record: History and travelogue for the State of California. Opening shots of the riches of California: Flowers, mountains, sea, desert, etc. Chorus (unidentified) sings State song “California” in background. California Missions are introduced relative to Spanish Exploration and the name of “California.” View of Mission Carmel and statue of Father Serra and an Indian. Then gold miners illustrated by a miner in a stream panning for gold (reenactment). Wagons pulled by horses and oxen reenacted in scene of ‘coming cross the plains. California in a Week is a literal title. United Airlines (and air flight in general) allows travel to all California places in a week. Shots follow of plane in sky from La Guardia to SFO. Interior shots of plane with different classes of travel pointed out. Stewardesses move among passengers who are formally dressed. Drink service down aisle is shown as flight happens at 10 miles per minute. Then meal service in first class while we get a shot of Chicago aerial view. Time flies. 50 miles as a passenger fumbles to light cigarette and then smoke. 100 miles as female passengers shown reading magazines. Etc. Passengers shown hooking up to radio channels to listen. Or they can watch a color movie of recent release. These interior cabin shots are good in showing how passengers manage the equipment. Good shots through windows of DC8’s wings and surrounding clouds. Aerial views of crossing the Sierra and then San Francisco. POV shot of airplane coming in for a landing at SFO. Shots inside pilots cabin. Window shot of plane’s flaps coming down. Touchdown SF. Interesting shot of plane engine measured against ground crew. Makes the engine look huge. Then the early SFO station. A few passengers are seen escorted to a very broad red convertible by a Hertz rental agent. Car motors through San Francisco and to Nob Hill hotel. City view. Cable car followed for a bit. POV Cable Car down hill. Balclutha ship explored. Fisherman’s wharf and restaurants shown. Golden Gate Bridge shown from various views including one of the towers. From Sky Room, view of SF. Chinatown shown through a visit to a Chinese newspaper and showing of Chinese character blocks for setting. A Chinese feast in a restaurant set out and Chinese family using chopsticks to choose morsels. Interior shots of Chinese bazaars with wares. Early Chinese New Year’s Parade with shot of firecrackers going off; dragon dancers; etc. POV driving down Grant Avenue at night. Chinese tourism dance in restaurant. Central Valley: Yosemite National Park; Mirror Lake; Big Trees; trail riders; Vernal Falls; etc. Monterey Peninsula: Golf Courses with golfers playing. Monterey State Park. Mission Carmel explored. Driving down Highway 1 with stop at Hearst Castle, then Santa Barbara, Fiesta Parade shown along with aerial views of city. Commuter flight to Los Angeles. Map of Coast. Aerial view of LAX. Debarking plane. LA sites: Aerial views of LA; freeway shots; Wiltshire Boulevard; Brown Derby on Wiltshire Blvd., Beverly Hills; Hollywood: aerial views; Grumman's Chinese Theater; footprints on sidewalk; Television studios shown along with old movie studios and well-known sets for movies; premiere night at famous Hollywood theater; LA Fine Arts Center; Performing Arts Center; Dodger Stadium; Sunset Strip. Marine Land of the Pacific -- views of acts; seals; Bubbles the whale. Farmlands from semiarid desert. Palm Springs aerial and street views; Aerial Tramway from Palm Springs to Sierra Mountain Station. View of directions signs showing the distances to other places in the world. Winter Golf Center of the world. Desert horseback riding and picnickers. San Diego. Mission and aerial view of city. San Diego Zoo shots of visitors and animals. Beaches: La Jolla; Laguna Beach; artists painting. Disneyland 1965. Various views. Good shots of all to do, rides, etc. Tomorrow land; Frontierland; Matterhorn. Adventure land. Enchanted Tiki Land (sponsored by United). Sunbathers; view from boats in harbor.