[HOME MOVIE BABY GIRL SARAH FLAGLER GROWS UP AGES 3 WEEKS TO 6 MONTHS]

Here is a black and white home movie shot in 1937 by a New York family, the Flagler’s, of their daughter Sarah. The film follows the baby girl from roughly age three weeks to six months, as she gets diaper changes, plays with small stuffed toys, coddles with various family members, potty trains and learns to crawl. It showcases a closeness among kin and the common inherent desire to record and remember a child’s early years. The economy of the US in 1937 was just beginning to recover from economic hardships brought on by the Great Depression. FDR was re-elected and continued to pursue programs of the New Deal. The Flagler’s were considered a prominent and wealthy family of Duchess County New York with close ties to the horse community especially in Millbrook and Washington Hollow. The film provides a glimpse into the wealthier side of life.

00:00 Little baby Sarah lies on her back (:09) as hands work to change her clothes (:18) and diaper (:31). Daylight shots show Sarah’s mother holding her outside (:52). The mother’s prim curls are cropped close to her cheeks in a bob style cut; extremely popular for the era. She smiles and coddles the infant (1:04). Sarah chews on her fingers inside (1:06). A Mobilgas blimp passes overhead (1:25-1:33). Mobilgas was a product of Socony-Vacumm Oil Company. By the 1930’s, it was a nearly iconic brand. The company began as a single pump operation evolving into elaborate service stations known for their distinctive architecture style. Brands sought more visibility for consumers using eye catching signs and blimps in the automobile age. Sarah lays on a blanket over a plaid couch (1:39). The mother nurses on a wicker chair outside (2:03). A female relative reads (2:04). Another smiles in front of a pencil sharpener (2:06). Sarah gets bottle fed (2:11). Two women walk over the grounds in floral dress (2:24). Happy shots show the father figure playing Sarah’s bottle (2:29). An older child with blonde waves smiles for the camera (2:30). Sarah appears in her crib (2:42). Her mother carries her by a tree (4:17). Other family members appear outside the home (4:26). A young boy pulls a smoke from his mouth (4:29). The mother, two older relatives and Sarah pose in the backyard (4:42). They hold the baby over a dog (5:24). The family’s personal 1935 Ford V8 Deluxe Phaeton sits in the driveway (5:54). Parents hold the child seated in the car (6:00). They pose in front of flower blossoms (6:09). Sarah lays with a teddy bear (6:34). The Grandfather takes the girl (6:46). Interior footage captures funny shots of Sarah in a hat (6:54). Close shots highlight her expressive personality (8:06-8:24). Sarah’s mother prepares the girl’s crib with her favorite toys (8:55-9:26). She entertains her daughter with a doll and dog toy (9:37). Potty training scenes follow; centerpiece to any home film (10:06). Sarah toys with the newspaper (10:23) pulling a section onto the ground (10:42). It concludes with Sarah outside in a crib lined with abacuses. She crawls on the grass outside of the crib (11:48), plays with a Dachshund (12:18), beads of the abacus (12:35) and dangerously chews on a pack of Camel cigarettes (13:33).

Note: The Mobilgas Blimp was a famous advertising airship, particularly in the 1930s and 1940s, featuring the iconic winged Pegasus logo to promote Mobilgas (Mobil Oil's gasoline).