Vitaphone Color Parade

The “Vitaphone Color Parade” was a series of documentary film shorts produced by Warner Bros.

Overview

The majority of these one-reel (under 10 minutes) short subjects were produced by Edward Newman of the E. M. Newman Travelogues and co-directed by Ira Genet in New York at the Vitaphone studios, but a few later entries were completed in California. These were directed by Del Frazier with Gordon Hollingshead as producer.

Mechanix Illustrated backed a series that resembled, in part, the Jerry Fairbanks Popular Science (film) series made for rival studio Paramount Pictures. These consisted of individual segments spotlighting technical marvels and took cameras “behind the scenes” to show how popular household items were manufactured.

A few were shot in full Technicolor, but the majority edited in New York utilized the more economical Cinecolor. By 1940, these were replaced by the Sports Parade.

List of titles

List of films by title / major credits (not complete) / release date or copyright date (marked ©) / notes:

TitleMajor creditsRelease dateNotes
Robert Edgren's Miracles of SportRobert W. Edgren (directed); narrator: Rush HughesSeptember 10, 1938
Pow WowLansing Holden (director)October 1, 1938full Technicolor views of Navajo
China Todaynarrator: Dwight WeistOctober 1, 1938
Mechanix Illustrated No. 1narrator: Dwight WeistNovember 5, 1938making paint, food preparation on trains, liquid air preservation.
The Immortal BrushHorace Shepherd (director); narrator: Dwight Weist)November 19, 1938full Technicolor documentaries on British painters, the first featuring Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, Frans Hals, among others. Three of these titles were released in the U.K. earlier on March 19th. [1]
Nature's Mimicsnarrator: Eddie AcuffDecember 8, 1938features chimpanzees, trained birds, seals & a harmonica playing elephant
Mechanix Illustrated No. 2narrator: Jean Paul KingJanuary 7, 1939 (© December 12, 1938)weather forecasting, synthesizing vitamins, television & fire alarms.
Points on PointersDel Frazier (director)January 28, 1939first of a series on dogs
The Master's TouchHorace Shepherd; narrator: Dwight WeistFebruary 18, 1939“Immortal Bush” series, released in U.K. on March 19, 1938
Mechanix Illustrated No. 3narrator: Dwight WeistFebruary 25, 1939natural gas, doll making, face powder & airplane assembly.
The Roaming CameraMarch 25, 1939Hawaiian football, hairstyles & seamanship
Mechanix Illustrated No. 4narrator: Dwight WeistApril 22, 1939bullet making, skeet shooting, gold beating & artificial flowers.
For Your Conveniencenarrator: Dwight WeistMay 20, 1939how to hide “black eyes” with makeup, parachutes, coffee makers & vibrating machines for "girth".
Mechanix Illustrated No. 5narrator: Dwight WeistJune 10, 1939candy, lead pencils, New York police crime lab.
Modern MethodsJuly 15, 1939tide measurements, remote controls in the home, hat & mask making
Mechanix Illustrated No. 6narrator: Dwight WeistAugust 5, 1939precision flying, lie detectors, color photography.
Mechanix Illustrated No. 7narrator: Dwight Weist© August 5, 1939jewelry polishing, chinaware manufacturing, polarized light, production of billboards
Romance in ColorHorace Shepherd; narrator: Dwight Weist© August 19, 1939“Immortal Bush” series, released in U.K. on March 19, 1938
Mechanix Illustrated No. 8 (Series 2-1) narrator: Dwight WeistSeptember 30, 1939gemstones, Polaroid glass & advertising signs.
American Saddle HorsesDel Frazier; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: John DeeringNovember 11, 1939
Mechanix Illustrated No. 9 (Series 2-2)narrator: Dwight WeistDecember 2, 1939making of ice cream sticks, dragline mining in Alaska, New York fireboats & the manufacture of artist's paints
New Horizonsmusic: Howard Jackson; narrator: John DeeringJanuary 6, 1940Alaska travelogue
Mechanix Illustrated No. 10 (Series 2-3)music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Dwight WeistFebruary 7, 1940Alaskan salmon run, liquid silk & electric signs
Men Wantedmusic: Howard Jackson; narrator: John DeeringMarch 23, 1940More about Alaska
Gun Dog Life (Gun Dog's Life)Del Frazier (director); music: Howard Jackson; narrator: John DeeringMay 11, 1940mostly retrievers and spaniels
Mechanix Illustrated No. 11 (Series 2-4)music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Dwight Weist© June 29, 1940aviation, streamlining in design, product testing & fire extinguishing.
Dogs You Seldom SeeDel Frazier (director); music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Knox ManningJuly 6, 1940Profiles less famous breeds like the Saluki and Chinese Crested
The Valleymusic: Howard Jackson; narrator: John Deering© July 20, 1940Alaska's Matanuska Valley
Famous Movie DogsDel Frazier (director); music: Howard Jackson; narrator: John DeeringAugust 17, 1940

See also

Notes

  1. Gifford, Denis British Film Catalogue: Two Volume Set - The Fiction Film/The Non-Fiction Film 2001 Routledge

References

  • Liebman, Roy Vitaphone Films – A Catalogue of the Features and Shorts 2003 McFarland & Company
  • Motion Pictures 1912-1939 Catalog of Copyright Entries 1951 Library of Congress
  • Motion Pictures 1940-1949 Catalog of Copyright Entries 1953 Library of Congress
  • BoxOffice back issue scans
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