You cannot really appreciate the film without seeing all three screens. Each screen shows a different image, sometimes the image is panoramic across all three and sometimes they are completely different. Watching just one screen is like watching a movie through a peephole. But the only way to see the whole thing is to see it in Racine, WI at the Johnson's HQ. The film was made by Francis Thompson and Alexander Hammid and won an Oscar for Best Short Documentary in 1966. I'm not sure why it's classified as a "comedy" here on RUclips. It's actually a very moving film, not a tragedy but emotionally uplifting.
Saw this film at the World's Fair...at age 10-11 and it shaped my view of the world forever....influenced who I am today in myriad ways. The three screens and clarity and light were magical....it touched the senses in a unique way never experienced before. I am grateful to have seen it here..and I guess I have to get my ass over to Wisconsin to really give it justice. Thank you for posting it.
"Please remain seated until the gates open to disembark. and thank you for coming to the Jhonson Wax Pavilion at the 1965 Worlds Fair". A moving people wall, to take you up to the theater level. and the multi screen presentation.and then a descent back to ground level. In fact most who went to the J Wax pavilion went to find a place to be seated for fifteen minutes. and that was a welcome thought after walking around the Fair for hours.
My father composed the music for To Be Alive. As others have noted it is much better in its intended, three screen version. ButbI am grateful that it’s available here for all to see.
If your Dad was Gene Forrell he did the score for To the Fair, also by Francis Thompson and I believe several AT&T films such as Wire For Sound, but I need to run that actual film to see of he is the one who did that score. You can see To The Fair and Wire For Sound on RUclips
The Originator and Director of the movie, Francis Thompson, was a 1925 graduate of Titusville High School. It would have been amazing to have seen the 3-screen version of this film. Thanks for making this available to our alumni!
Brings back memories of the great 64-65 NY World's Fair. Long lines to see this wonderful film. Returned often to see it and it was always new and refreshing.
Thanks for posting! I grew up watching "To Be Alive" at the Golden Rondelle in Racine, Wisconsin - but in three screens. Pure magic. Wish it was available in its original format.
Thank you for sharing this film because I was in the S.E. Johnson Wax Pavilion in 1965. I forgot many of the scenes, but I remember the go-cart and scooter-motorcycle scene because the camera angle and speed motion made me feel that I was riding on the road too. I also remember that visuals surrounded me, which was exciting. I agree that you truly need three screens. For some reason I thought it was one large surrounding screen, but I guess I placed the pieces together as one.
I have the hardback book that shows stills from the film with the text. It explains that the original showing was on three screens with small gaps between them.
You cannot really appreciate the film without seeing all three screens. Each screen shows a different image, sometimes the image is panoramic across all three and sometimes they are completely different. Watching just one screen is like watching a movie through a peephole. But the only way to see the whole thing is to see it in Racine, WI at the Johnson's HQ. The film was made by Francis Thompson and Alexander Hammid and won an Oscar for Best Short Documentary in 1966. I'm not sure why it's classified as a "comedy" here on RUclips. It's actually a very moving film, not a tragedy but emotionally uplifting.
Saw this film at the World's Fair...at age 10-11 and it shaped my view of the world forever....influenced who I am today in myriad ways. The three screens and clarity and light were magical....it touched the senses in a unique way never experienced before. I am grateful to have seen it here..and I guess I have to get my ass over to Wisconsin to really give it justice. Thank you for posting it.
"Please remain seated until the gates open to disembark. and thank you for coming to the Jhonson Wax Pavilion at the 1965 Worlds Fair". A moving people wall, to take you up to the theater level. and the multi screen presentation.and then a descent back to ground level. In fact most who went to the J Wax pavilion went to find a place to be seated for fifteen minutes. and that was a welcome thought after walking around the Fair for hours.
Thank you for describing the verbiage and the ascent up and down.
Yes, except as I recall you had to wait on line for an hour before you got to sit down. It was a very popular exhibit.
My father composed the music for To Be Alive. As others have noted it is much better in its intended, three screen version. ButbI am grateful that it’s available here for all to see.
If your Dad was Gene Forrell he did the score for To the Fair, also by Francis Thompson and I believe several AT&T films such as Wire For Sound, but I need to run that actual film to see of he is the one who did that score. You can see To The Fair and Wire For Sound on RUclips
My uncle now 99 yrs of age wrote the film!
That is amazing.
The Originator and Director of the movie, Francis Thompson, was a 1925 graduate of Titusville High School. It would have been amazing to have seen the 3-screen version of this film. Thanks for making this available to our alumni!
I saw this gem years ago in Racine before touring the S.C Johnson Wax headquarters...wonderful to finally see it again. :)
Brings back memories of the great 64-65 NY World's Fair. Long lines to see this wonderful film. Returned often to see it and it was always new and refreshing.
A great sense of our common humanity.
I saw this at the worlds fair when I was 11 year old. I remember the go-cart scenes to this day!!
Thanks for posting! I grew up watching "To Be Alive" at the Golden Rondelle in Racine, Wisconsin - but in three screens. Pure magic. Wish it was available in its original format.
Long live the 1964 New York World’s Fair!
@ 5:57 is my grandparents' town in Italy, Matera. I remember all our excitement when we all saw this film together at the 64/65 World's Fair.
Thank you for sharing this film because I was in the S.E. Johnson Wax Pavilion in 1965. I forgot many of the scenes, but I remember the go-cart and scooter-motorcycle scene because the camera angle and speed motion made me feel that I was riding on the road too. I also remember that visuals surrounded me, which was exciting. I agree that you truly need three screens. For some reason I thought it was one large surrounding screen, but I guess I placed the pieces together as one.
I actually saw this as a kid a few years after the fair at the Menlo Park Shopping mall. Did anyone else get to see it there?
Bravo. Fantastic movie.
I think the film was made by Francis Thompson. At the time, I purchased a hardcover picture book with the short film. It was a big hit at the Fair.
Me, too..
I saw this at the world's fair
I was pleased to finally get to see this, but surprised at the depiction of girls/women. They don’t exist at all until it is time to get married.
Score by Gene Forrell
Is there any 3 screen version of this film?
Yup - very much 1960s, alrighty.
Cinerama or multi-screen projection?
I thought the film was Cinerama also. I did not remember the film being multi-screen.
I have the hardback book that shows stills from the film with the text. It explains that the original showing was on three screens with small gaps between them.
Koyaanisquatsi kinda sorta copies this