1950's, Capital Airlines, promo film, Lockheed Constellation and Douglas DC-4 aircraft 

Lockheed's Constellation, still one of the most beautiful aircraft ever designed.

I WAS BORN IN 1944. I REMEMBER THESE PLANES FLYING AROUND THE LATE 40'S THROUGH THE FIFTIES INTO THE SIXTIES GREAT AIRCRAFT AT THAT TIME. GREAT TO BE A KID IN THOSE DAYS.

Amongst other things, a fascinating look at how data flowed then.

This Capital Airlines film provide great insights into how an airline - or many other businesses - were run back in the early 1950's. The human power and amount of paper, handwriting, tickertape, adding machines, telex, and other office machines / procedures are amazing - anyone under 40 would find it mind-boggling if they saw what was required to conduct business in the largely pre-computer / pre-desktop / laptop computer era!!

How times have changed. I miss being on a aeroplane wearing my high heels, hat and gloves. So much more refinement and sophistocation. Just being glamorous.

This guy had the market cornered in narration during the 40's and 50's.

I flew Capital Airlines several times as a child from Albuquerque, NM to Washington D.C. and it was always so much fun being on the "Connie" which was my favorite plane.

The Constellation seems like a very reliable and safe well built aircraft. Everyone happily occupied with work and responsibility, in those days.

My Dad was a Connie FE who flew for Capital in the late 50s and early 60. This even pre-dates him a few years, but thank you.

When my dad first started flying for American he was fortunate enough for this to be his first plane as co pilot or first officer. This was the last prop airliner American operated and my dad was soon off to the 727. I know he was grateful to have the opportunity to fly this aircraft and experience the tail end of this era in aviation, who wouldn't really. After all, as others have mentioned, it is the most graceful and beautiful transport aircraft ever. In my opinion as far as Grace and pure beauty are concerned it's the F4U-1 Corsair and the Connie, no others come close really

In The fall of 1962, I flew a Capital Constellation from Charleston SC to Tripoli Lybia in my first overseas assignment. The flight took over 16 hours with three fuel stops. Came back to the states in 1964 on a 707 in 8 hours, nonstop.

I loved that plane, great design, only dad thing is one of them collided with another plane over the grand canyon, both planes slammed into the canyon, those poor souls🙏

I miss buying "Flight Insurance" that I used to always purchase before boarding my flight. You fill it out, pay the fee and then drop it in a mailbox (postage included) and off you go! I believe my relatives would get $10,000 theoretically, if my plane crashed. How much fun flying used to be!

How many nuts and bolts in those P&W engines? All of 'em! Man, what a conglomeration of parts in those big 'ol engines! Those old aviation engines always remind me of my Harley Davidson engines. What a cool promo film!

The Lockheed Constellation was a very safe aircraft I would have loved to have flown on one. They were retired long before I was born.

I grew up near Asheville, NC. Capital and Piedmont were the airlines that served the Asheville/Hendersonville Airport. With DC-3s and later with Convairs, Viscounts, and YS-11s. Both companies provided excellent service until they were absorbed into larger carriers. Air travel was such a joy and privilege in those days.

in 1957, I flew on an air force C-121 to Libya. I was amazed to see a ship heading into the Mediterranean - a kid who had never been beyond the middle west of USA.

The only memories I have of Capital, is that United bought them and inherited their fleet of Vickers Viscounts. An odd ball airplane in the U S, and it stood out within United's fleet of Boeing's and Douglas'.

“Merely pick-up the telephone and dial a number. It’s that easy to start a flight!” Yep. Computers have made life more difficult, not less.

Imagine having an airline flight being met by a deer today. I flew on a couple of Capital Connie flights in the early 60's. They let out huge clouds of black smoke on start up. New flyers were sure the engines were on fire. You had to balance the meal tray on your lap because there weren't any tray tables. The food was pretty good, and some of it was actually prepared in the galley. Not only were you allowed to smoke, you got as many little 4 packs of smokes that you wanted. My dad used to walk off with 20 packs of them. It was different world back then.

My first flight on a commercial plane was in 1958 --- an Aeronoves De Mexico DC-4 from NYC to Mexico City with several stops along the way. Never got to fly on a Connie but did fly on a Continental Airlines Viscount. Never flew on Capital Airlines -- was a little before my time. Interesting story here, no doubt those were the greatest times for airline travel.

The Constellation was a very comfortable plane.

Late 60's till early 70's I remember flying was a big deal for my mom- she would dress up and always put in a suit. Great times!

Narrator Hugh Beaumont Beaver’s dad

The deer was so sweet and amazing!!!

When flying meant high standards. We go from this, to what is now essentially a public bus in the sky, aka the budget carriers serving vending machine food wrapped and served in all plastic. Can you imagine anyone in this video showing real passengers behaving on flights the way these creatures do today? Night and day difference!

The beautiful, beautiful Connie!

Thanks for another great posting, Dan! My family returned to the U.S. just about the time of United's taking over Capital, so never got to fly it, but remember seeing pictures/ads. for them. (I especially remember full-age, color ads for the Viscounts; I may not have ever flown on Connie, but I did on the Viscounts, one of my favorite planes.) And while all aspects of commercial aviation are touched upon in this film - and all of it interesting - what impresses me the most here is seeing the way people once-upon-a-time dressed up for a flight (my God, the close-ups of those nifty well-polished shoes of those men disembarking, ca. 1.24-1.37). So different from today. Again, Dan, my thanks: this brings back so may wonderful memories.

Capital Airlines was founded in 1926 when Clifford Ball, a car dealer in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, began operating an airmail license between Pittsburgh and Cleveland, Ohio. In 1930, Pittsburgh Aviation Industries Corporation acquired the company and renamed it Pennsylvania Airlines. Six years later, it merged with Central Airlines, another Pittsburgh-based airline founded three years after Clifford Ball began his company. The combined company was called Pennsylvania-Central Airlines back then. It was renamed Capital Airlines in 1947 after it moved to what is now Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia six years earlier, becoming one of its first tenants. To the best of my knowledge, United still maintains a presence at DCA as well at Dulles International Airport (IAD).

So many hands involved in every step. Thank goodness for automation.

I flew on an Eastern Airline Lockheed Electra to Miami from Laguardia and returned on Super G Constellation in 1959. I liked the ride on the Constellation better. I was only13 years old but I still got my little pack of cigarettes with a small book of matches.

I'm captivated by these vintage aviation movie-shorts. I have the utmost respect and admiration for the management and rank & file employees that run a successful airline.

All done without a single barcode.

Now I know why Air travel was so expensive in the earlier days of commercial aviation, so many folks involved with just booking one passenger!

Very good promo film.

As a young teenager my friend and I saved up and took our first flight from Cleveland Hopkins to Detroit Willow Run in a Capital Connie with the round windows. It was very loud and I loved it all. The return was made on a Capital Viscount that was sleek and silent. I even balanced a quarter on the food tray just as in the Viscount ads. Great to see the passengers back then in coat and tie, when now you get slovenry unshaven tattoo laden neanderthals in shorts and flip flops. Was an aviation nut then and still am now. The only decent US airline left now is Alaska Airlines.

Old enough to remember getting a complete, hot meal on a flight. Lucky to get a bag of peanuts now.

I flew a Capitol Airlines Vickers Viscount turbo-prop from Midway to Lansing, MI in 1965. Landed in the middle of a snow storm. The flight crew did a fine job with a 20 KT cross wind and blowing snow across the runway.

A plane that pretty makes people want to fly.

My Dad started with IBM in 1949. In 1953 he left to join Capital Airlines. I should have sued him for lost inheritance. LoL.

Just think, all the equipment used for reservations in 1952, were considered HI TECH, and STATE OF THE ART back then! Now days, it’s considered ancient technology...like the rotary dial telephones!

I dont think some frequent flyers of today would set foot in a vintage propliner

I will never look down on a used car dealer again. Respect, Mr Ball. Great to watch this. Thank you Mr Uscian.

Lockheed Constellation is beautiful. I am amazed how they can construct that shape repeatedly. Is there a jig to shape out the curvy body? For tubular form like today airline is easy. Those shape are hard to fabricate.

Looking very nice.

You can see from this how easy it wasfor an airline back then to go bust...so many things they did themselves , even upholstery.

At the end, a very sad story!

Free smokes!!!??? Why have I been flying Delta all these years?

It's nice to not to hear the word LIKE in this video. I miss the 1950s

Whatever Happened to Capital Airlines, I Never Heard Of This Airline Until Today.

Sad, that the german Lufthansa was not able to restore her Starliner because of the costs.

Jag var på Malta år 1972, vill minnas att jag såg ett sådant plan på flygplatsen.

The ticketing process used to work better back then in comparison with today's computers. Technology made things somewhat better but it made us loose the human touch that airlines provided on those days. Also noticed that food trays were placed on the passenger's lap. Interesting to see that.

I worked for Capital as a mechanic 1956-1961 until the end and the UAL takeover. Was a great airline to work for. However, having to import all their spare parts and engines ate their lunch, especially when Eastern & American started Lockheed Electra service. Too much debt killed them.

I love at 22:50 ... complimentary items such as cigarettes. Smoking was encouraged during flights....not like today. I miss the good ole' days.

Was the tail of the Constellation more for looks? We never really saw that approach again in aviation, have we?

The man says on the video, luxury and confort in people's surroundings as they exit the huge plane. I flew on this airplane way back when. I flew first class. Luxurious yeah at the time, but my then wife continuously complained that we always had to exit thru the rear of the plane. She kept nagging saying " We are first class , why do we always have to deboard the plane in the back of said vessel " ? For she always was complaining in my ear as also saying " we have to go thru the back section walking thru the mere common people who are third class common people and that's unfair " ! So , I asked the stewardess if my wife could go thru the front door to exit the plane for she is above everybody else and wants to be first class. For I'm ok going thru the back . Stewardess says , well I guess we can open the front door to let her out but the blade engines are still going and it will strike her and chop her up into little pieces ! " I said , yes I know open up the front door.

My airplane favorite , 'Connie '

IN the 60's My dad took a group of students to Rome on a Capital Charter. He has slides of the the flight and the plane.

juan terry trippe started up capital airlines

The tray on the passengers knees.... So funny...

I wondered what kind of aircraft that was In the movie invasion USA you see a constellation landing in San Francisco right before a Soviet attack in one scene. I recognized the three tail design from having seen one in that movie

That food looked like chicken pot pie. I’m getting hungry!

23:26 Chicken pot pie in-flight meal. Where do I sign up?

I believe that’s Walter O’Malley at 7:54, owner of the Dodgers back then...God I’m old!

The most beautiful airline at that time, I would give anything to do Be on this plane, in addition,I love the uniforms of these flight attendants and the passengers who knew how dressed in the smartest way. Nothing like today where passengers are dressed in street clothes,

Capital likely would have done well in the current deregulated industry. Capital pioneered bargain fares, redeye fares. The CAB forced them to continue servicing unprofitable lines. Capital overextended itself with the purchase of 60 Viscounts. They would have been better off ordering about half that many. The Viscount did give them a competitive advantage, albeit a brief one. Capital also pioneered the folding tray table -- now a staple on all airliners.

Wow things have changed and yet the same.

A hot food table on your lap combined with the turbulence you'd likely get cruising at 20.000 ft or less...what could possibly go wrong?

One of the best looking piston aircraft ever built .I have a very detailed die cast model of one in TWA trim as liked the aircraft that much .They had style & class back then ,people dressed properly & the stewardess looked smart .Not like the scruffy bunch of misfits you see nowadays herded on to cheap tacky budget airlines ,

Wow at 2:45 into video she's using one of those first touchscreen white back screen monitors I didn't know they had them over 60 years ago. Well their head of their time.🙂 and 6:11 into video makes me wish I was a pencil manufacturer and sharpener salesman. I would make a fortune

I would fly those for the free drinks if I could

The "Air Hostesses" were pretty, female, polite, etc. Today, an airline would be sued for that. I flew alot in the 1950's, being born overseas, and it was calm, polite, dignified. Today, air travel is a big stinking Greyhound Bus with wings and "mystery meat" staff.

Oh! what we did before computers and time efficient business practices. The paper work and dual/triple documentation that was required just to get someone in the air and to their destination...all those people employed in jobs, makes you wonder how the airlines made any profit at all. I know the cost of tickets was expensive then.....but it makes you think.

i was thinking if internet exist in the 50s...

That booking system seemed so complicated and labour intensive.

See? Who needs computers?

Oh how things have changed with airlines and the people today. No more and event to travel by air.

That was more diverse than I thought it would be. Also - did no women in 1950 have either long hair or straight hair? It's like every woman has some sort of curled, short/shortish hair style. Thanks for posting this video.

"Lockheed rides the airways with a thrust of bright propellers and the flash of gleaming wings" The narrator sounds like Hugh Beaumont...(Ward Cleaver, Beaver's dad)

I love Connies so much, I even married a woman named Connie.

This is fantastic aircraft, you can see it on my video here on RU-vid

We had an emergency.landing with capital in july 1975. It left boston had to turn back 1/4 of the way over atlantic and land at laguardia

1957 my dob time go fast2023

I remember flying a Capitol Air Dc 10 to philly in the 80s I know it was a different company all together I wish I could find a video of that airline they were known as the "skysaver" and their livery was red white and blue i believe the fares was reasonable but we still got dinner with our ticket and could check at least 2 bags free!!!

The good old days when passengers were important unlike these days were they are an hinderance with some airlines

Look how beautiful the "flight Hostesses" were!❤️No "fake" ANYTHING then😉... REAL food with REAL silverware! ... WOW! What into all of that work to initiate "hand written/typed" plane tickets! A "TELETYPE?"😳 AMAZING 😉 I'll bet my bottom dollar there were LESS mistakes back then, then there are "today"! People actually used the BRAINS❤️..."COMPIMENTARY" Cigarettes?😳WOW!😁...It was nice to see some REAL Maintenance being done, as well! Much safer to fly back then! I LOVED the Fashion, too❤️💅👔🧥👒🎩💼

What could possibly go wrong?

Flyin now is an endurance. I hate it

Not one support animal to be found.

Meals from a bygone era. 😥

Such a shame that today nobody dresses up to fly. Great having a fat guy next to you in a tank top and shorts with sandals. Of course the main culprit is the price. If flying were as expensive as it was in the 50's it would all be very different. It's just too cheap today.

Google map Auguadilla, Puerto Rico and go to the airport i found one sitting there last week

Golden time when passenger was treated like "president" with all benefits.Delicious FREE food been served with NATURAL SMILE AND BEHEVIOUS.TODAY FLYING IS HOROR for ECONOMY CLASS passengers with TIGHT ,CROWED CABIN AND POOR SERVICE.Airlines RUNNING FOR PROFITS PUSHING AWAY PASSENGERS,CUTTING FOOD AND POOR SERVICE.😥😫😫😫🤚👎👎🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Capital capital - a phrase I remember from a series of staptoe and son were They both are trying to buy a house From an estate agents by putting there old home at old trum lane Shepards bush for sale and trying to move into a middle class area we’re members of the neighbourhood committee convince them by not Buying house by giving them a back Hander this then makes the two father and son get the trousers down Off other people in other neighbourhoods to pocket more Money .😂

Graphic Artist, Boss looks like a pain in the a**.....😂

All these people are dead now, what a hoot.

It seems, from the experiences of and complaints regarding current air travel - and I’m not unsympathetic; I’ve often been tempted to ‘moo’ when moving through a Jetway to an aircraft, fully expecting to see cubes of alfalfa on the seats 😛 - that the Elon Musks and such of the world should make Transporter technology a reality, so that travelers could be directly beamed to their destinations…

clearly nobody at capital airlines got the bright idea that if you want to run an irl point of sale, such as oh eh, all their booking offices displayed, they must have a parking place for the customers... they're all at shitty overpriced locations where the customers cannot park lol. "busiest crossing in the world" yeah that's exactly where you don't want to have your shop. unless your target audience is 'pedestrians' lolol. customers select suppliers on criteria such as 'can i park in front of the door'. not how overpriced their shop may look. :P

The Connie. Most beautiful plane. EVER.