1950s CUBA & ISLAND OF MARGARITA CARIBBEAN ST. PETERSBURG TRAVELOGUE FILM 53084

World Acquaintance Films presents “Cuban Holiday” - the first of three short travel films that once aired on ABC TV. Filmed in cooperation with the Cuban Tourism Commission, "Cuban Holiday" is a late 1940s black-and-white travelogue that touts Cuba as a popular vacation spot, particularly for US residents, as tranquil scenes from the island are shown. Remains of the Convent of San Francisco in Trinidad in central Cuba (mark 01:28) and other structures including modern hotels are shown as the narrator briefly delves into the town’s history, including the recruitment of men by Hernando Cortes. The film visits cathedrals and homes along the southern coastline, as well as a Atkins Garden, a botanical center maintained by Harvard University (mark 04:20) in Cienfuegos, before heading to the capital city of Havana (mark 05:12). We visit Havana Cathedral (which once held the remains of Christopher Columbus) and a monument in honor of the USS Maine (ACR-1), which sank in Havana Harbor in 1898. There are scenes from luxury hotels and apartment buildings along with roads designed with the idea that “motoring should be a form of recreation” (mark 07:27). Dancers perform a rumba (mark 08:08) and we see celebratory Cuban nightlife and parades before the film ends.
At mark 12:34, this picture continues with “Margarita,” another 1940s-era travel film produced for the the government of Venezuela by the Hamilton Wright Organization. The film opens with beach scenes (mark 13:18) on Margarita Island, the largest island in the Venezuelan state of Nueva Esparta. A map pinpoints Margarita’s location (mark 13:48) as the narrator explains how residents cater to the tourist trade as a woman sews a custom-made hat for visitors. Men collect oysters in the bay (mark 15:20) and visitors are encouraged to dive for pearls, we are told, as a couple frolics in the water. The film takes the viewer to historic old forts (mark 17:18) before again returning to such leisurely pursuits as water skiing or climbing a palm tree for a coconut. Young girls perform native dances and musicians play along starting at mark 22:00 while the narrator explains the significance of some of the numbers.
A third portion of this selection, titled “February Fair,” begins at mark 22:48 at takes the viewer to Florida. Families head to the beach or sail around the waters of St. Petersburg, and we see vast groves of grapefruit and oranges, before heading to the Pinellas County Fair (mark 23:35). Crowds enjoy the Florida sunshine while visiting standard agricultural displays created by “good solid Americans.” There are games on the carnival midway and scenes of kids eating cotton candy and candied apples, as well as Ferris wheels (mark 25:19) and stomach-churning rides before joining the crowd for a thoroughbred demonstration and of course, a blue ribbon competition. The last minute of the film (mark 27:47) touts the safety and security of investing in US Savings Bonds.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@BrassLock]

Interesting how the camera, upbeat music, and a positive narrative can create the _impression_ of happy living under circumstances that were to change swiftly, a few years after this film was made.
Amazing to think that the cars shown in the Cuban film are still being driven around in their 'original' restored condition 60-odd years later by present-day Cubans.

[@TheGreatArchitect777]

Fast foward to now, these two countries are identical.

[@maelgugi]

Back to time when Cuba was ruled by a cruel dictator that did care little for cubans, but before it was conquered by another dictator that didn't care for them neither...

[@glennhertel1165]

okay who's all going to Gasparilla this year in Tampa Florida

[@glennhertel1165]

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