HOME MOVIES: 1938 CALIFORNIA

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1938

Format: 16mm

Description: Dating to January 1, 1938, this silent California 16mm home movie shows the Rose Parade, family scenes, a trip to the beach, a visit to a Hollywood movie set and Christmas. It begins with the Rose Parade in Pasadena, shot on Colorado Blvd. near Hudson and Lake, across from the National Cash Register Company building and Crown Furniture Exchange. The theme for this year was "Playland Fantasies." The first float at :12 is for San Francisco's Golden Gate Exhibition which ran from 1939-1940. At :18, a float for North Hollywood followed at :27 by Arcadia's entry, Culver City at :55, Monterey Park followed by South Pasadena at 1:18, Pomona, Glendale at 1:53, Altadena at 2:01 with Santa Claus, Burbank and Sierra Madre, Manhattan Beach's prize winning entry at 2:32, San Fernando at 2:40, South Gate, Eagle Rock, at 3:08 is a Ferdinand the Bull float from Santa Barbara, Lynwood, Busch Gardens at 3:23, Salvation Army, Light and Power Co. 3:44, Market Basket at 4:15, and a Walt Disney float at 4:25. This was Disney’s first Rose Parade float, promoting the company's new feature-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs which was released in February that same year. At 4:43 is a float for Safeway Stores, and Gay's Lion Farm, a local tourist attraction. At 4:53 are shots of the 1938 Rose Bowl football game, the 24th edition of the college football bowl game. The game featured the second-ranked California Golden Bears of the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) against the #4 Alabama Crimson Tide of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), two of the top teams from the 1937 college football season. California prevailed 13-0 in the game (and hasn't won a Rose Bowl since!) At 5:41 is a good, old fashioned snowball fight. At 7:17, summer scenes, a child attempts to push a manual lawnmower. At 7:24, he tries a tricycle and at 7:50, gymnastic rings. At 8:25, the kids cool off with a garden hose. At 8:40 are shots from the shore, it's unclear precisely where, possibly Santa Barbara, Santa Monica or vicinity. The family heads to the beach. At 11:09, low mountains by the beach are visible as well as beach homes. At 12:19 are shots on the set of a Hollywood movie, apparently a Western. The lamp on the edge of frame at 12:28 is marked WB for Warner Brothers. At 13:23, kids play in the backyard on hobby horses and swings. At 13:42 a boy poses in a sailor suit. At 14:05 he makes another appearance in a beret. Then, shots of Christmas Eve with a well decorated tree, opening a few presents including a coat, and at 15:08 a hobby horse.

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