Visiting the Hollywood Library

Multnomah County Library, Hollywood Branch

Description

This video of children visiting the Hollywood Library was found in the Multnomah County Archives. Thanks to some sleuthing by a library patron, we believe this was filmed around June 1962. There is a cover of Scientific American visible at the 4:55 mark with a cover from June 1962. This video has no sound.

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Details

Extent

5 minutes 12 seconds

Digital Publisher

Subject.Topic

Subject.Place

Language

Rights & Usage

Rights undetermined (the copyright and related rights status of this work is unknown).

Identifier

Q2vKKpPgvwI

Date.Created

June 9, 2017

Date.Range

Format.Original

Shelf.Location

Held by the Multnomah County Archives.

Source.Collection

Comments

Mystery film

The Volkswagen is no newer than 1961(due to the Taillight & License Plate Light sizes) & the Ford that drives by right to left is a '62. There is no way that this is from as late as 1970 (I graduated from HS in '66 & college in '70) The clothing looks more like "American Graffiti" ("Where were you in the summer of '62?"). Also, by the late '60's, you would probably have seen at least one long haired guy & "hippie-ish" clothing on the older kids.I'm also guessing that school was out for at least that day as a lot of the kids were wearing "flip-flops" (they were called "thong" sandals back then), & I doubt that was appropriate dress in school then. Hope this helps some. Good luck.

Thank you we have updated the date information

Good morning Craig
Thank you for this information. All of these details are appreciated and very helpful. We have updated the description and accompanying date for this video.
Erica
Librarian - Multnomah County Library

Hollywood Branch Library

I don't believe that the possible dating of this film can be at all correct. Based on the cars, clothing, and hairstyles displayed, this film was shot in the early 1960s, not long after the branch opened. I used to regularly attend the children's story times there in the later 1960s, and it appeared almost exactly the same then.

Thank you we have updated the date information

Good morning Pamela
Thank you for this information. We have updated the description and accompanying date for this video.
Erica
Librarian - Multnomah County Library

Date of filming - Hollywood Library

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In regard to the digitized footage of the old Hollywood Library, my determination is that the footage was shot in June 1962. We know it's summer, due to the fashion of many of the patrons, especially the sandals and shorts. The clock shows that it is 2:15 in the afternoon, so school is in session; most likely it is a weekend or summer break.

In watching the video, I recognized the distinctive look of the Scientific American magazine on the rack, right at the 4:55 mark. (It appears earlier as well, but this is the best shot.) I was able to research the SA covers online and the June 1962 cover is a match. Periodicals on the shelf are the only real way to determine the date, as everything else is variable (clothing style, automobiles, book titles, etc.)

https://www.scientificamerican.com/magazine/sa/1962/06-01/

Thank you for the sleuthing!

Good morning Craig,
Thank you for this information. That was some great sleuthing. We have updated the description and accompanying date for this video.
Erica
Librarian - Multnomah County Library

 

Sleuthing

Thanks, Erica. On later inspection, I noticed that one of the magazines to the right is the July 1962 issue of Better Homes and Gardens. Since magazines are typically issued a month before the cover date, this makes me think that it was probably late June 1962. Thanks for the sleuthing opportunity!

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