A tour of Los Angeles, San Francisco and other California sites in the early 1950s. Footage from this subject is available for licensing from www.globalimageworks.com
The actor who played Henry (the newlywed husband) was Richard Beedle, William Holden's (William Beedle Jr) younger brother. Disappeared in an aircraft somewhere over Peru in 1964, never found.
This is absolutely SURREAL, nice meals, legroom, wide seats, a cabin that's full of smiling, polite, well dressed, sub 200 pound Americans who've bathed within the last 24 hours, it's like I'm watching something from an alternate parallel universe.
@@96serpendityyouarelostnotm87 Oh shut up. Even blacks were better off back then. I swear, it's like a nonvoluntary tick with some of you. Whenever someone looks back at America's past with any kind of nostalgia no matter how mild, you always bring up "bUT wHaT AbOUt da BlAKs?!".
Manny Akintunde you’re a fool to think “black” people had it it better back then, sure maybe in California, but people were still very open about racism back then.
@@96serpendityyouarelostnotm87 Let's see. Poverty rates were the same as they are now, black families were intact, black neighborhoods were not infested with crime and drugs, black culture had self respect and class. Hmm, not seeing a problem here. Sure, there some restrictions on where blacks go live or work. But with the progress the community made up to that point, one could argue that change in how Americans viewed black was inevitable.
It wasn't all that expensive once the very early years had passed. In the early 1960's I could fly round trip Chicago-New York for less than the New York Central Railroad. This is one of the reasons train travel hit the skids -- only the bus was actually cheaper than flying.
@@Marco-wz3ff Those propliners flew right into the weather as they could not climb above it so pax got air sick. Since it took longer to get to your destination ( slow speed ), it could be a real mess ..
I am 86 and don’t recall flying to be terribly expensive back in the day. I flew thousands of miles in Super Constellations, including atlantic crossings, and enjoyed every minute of it. The most beautiful airliners ever built, in my opinion. Flying was much more fun back in those times. Nowadays I dread flying because of delays, long security lines, and extremely cramped, uncomfortable seating unless you spring for first class. Today’s first class is about what you got in coach class back in the days of prop driven airliners.
You are absolutely right! Thank you for saving me from having to bring that up. It was NOT that expensive! In fact, 55 years ago we were enjoying the cheapest jet travel ever. I, too, traveled frequently. Round trip CHI/LAX was under $200. Round trip LAX/SFO was under $20. on PSA. CHI/CLE was also under $20. on United. In fact, they were cheaper than the New York Central RR almost anywhere on their system. Those are just a few examples.
+Corn Fed If you also told them how much cheaper and faster it is, I'm sure most of them would be quite happy. People tend to forget that travelling was something only the rich could do it. A TWA Flight from NY to LA would cost approximately over $3K and take about 12 hours, today you can get a discount ticket for about $300, or better yet you can book a JetBlue Mint service with lie-flat seats and great food for about $1,200, and be there in 4 hours.
+André Garcia Yes, those were the days when only the rich (and celebrities) gambled on flying through snow, fog or rain and slamming into an unexpected mountain after being driven nearly deaf from roaring propeller motors. However, because airlines competed with ships and trains, the accoutrements of travel--fine dining, china, wine, etc were offered for flyers. The stuff limited to first-class and business-class these days. And, the TSA lines were really short..
Alexander Huzau seriously, everytime i go to Santa Monica, get raped in traffic getting there, and then get raped in traffic in SM, especially trying to leave the parking towers😂
Alexander Huzau The 2020 modern updated version substitutes “hours” for minutes, then adds a line about when you finally get there a ‘friendly’ cop points out with his taser the sign that says the beach is closed due to COVID-19(84) At least he said “Hey You!” That might be as friendly as it gets in modern LA
@@markwiss Yup, I understood. So, which is the verb in the sentence you initially wrote? If a noun, it might have been phrased, "...my father's gush..."; but, the question of the verb. If the action is yours and "heard" is the verb, the object might be considered a noun phrase to retain "gush" as a noun in the possession of you father.
I flew to California from NYC in 1958 - a 4 engine prop plane. I was seven years old. It was an 8 hour flight and we had motor trouble and had to land somewhere in the midwest for repairs. Then we flew into old LAX. I remember all the pools on the descent. I lived in West LA and there were no freeways - all surface streets.
I lived in San Francisco when these two nice people visited. I was just a kid, but I remember a lot of it. We even had a Packard Clipper, just like Richard Carlsons, but ours was a 54 model. My father traveled quite a bit on business and going to the airport was always an adventure. I really liked watching the aircraft from the visitor's balcony, back when there were no restrictions. The TWA Constellation was my favorite prop plane, some years before jets came to town. It was a kick watching them startup.
In 1956 with my 1951 black ford convertible we drove out to LA on our honeymoon and had a ball for a year and came back with more money than i left with because it was much cheaper to live in LA than NYC,at that time!
I too am in the twilight of my life, as someone mentioned. I first flew by myself from Los Angeles to Oakland to visit my older sister one summer when I was 11. That was 1958. I love watching these old films that depict the way life was for many of us who were there! It’s heartwarming to look back and remember what has gone by too fast in this life. Back then it was a great life. Simple, people were much more kind. It was segregated, but I didn’t do it, and I shouldn’t feel any the less happy about my youthful years and the way things were. As corny as this film is, I find it charming.
@Asimzmn You know Less than 1% of those people spend their money on grills and cars right ? You will be surprised if are alive in the next 20 years to see how successful blacks will be .
That ad was life unless you lived on a farm in the midwest in small towns. The ladies still wore hats to church. My uncle lived in suits & ties. Even in his 80’s he wore plaid flannel shirt with top button closed. Life was better & different. Demise of class started with computers and video games and kids drinking more & doing drugs. Liberal parents now.
@@jgrokoest2419 Ads are life? Like movies are historical records and TV is reality? No. Ads are curated depictions of life to portray a desired life, not actual life. This is not a critique of the accuracy of their garments in the ads either. Pull your head out of the nostalgia sand.
Mom and dad bought their first home in 1963 in Monterey.... walking distance to the ocean, 3 bedroom 2 bath and 1/2 acre of land. Cost was a whopping $15,000! Mom said she was terrified of that 20 year mortgage payment, which was just over $100 a month.
Thanks to Congress, that 1963 $15,000 would be $126,000 today. All due to the devaluation of the dollar. But it was still a great investment! In Monterey that property is worth north of a couple million now. And that $100 a month? Today, that would be $837.87.
I wonder what their income was that $100 a month was terrifying. I hope that house is still in your family, as of course, it would be worth millions now. No more middle class.
A Pen in those days was considered classy because they were new and expensive. Ball point pens were invented at the end of the 40's sometime. No one thinks twice about them today because they are so common, but when they were new it was all the rage, no longer did you have to fill up your pen with messy ink. You could carry one in your pocket and for the most part, not have to worry about it leaking, the epitome of modern new technology, it was a big deal to have one!
@@JENDALL714 My dad's younger business partner was a sucker for one of the first ballpoint pens produced in 1949. It cost $100. and immediately began leaking all over his white shirt.
What gets me is how much SF, LA have bridges or buildings still there today from this movie. Santa Anita is the same. The better thing was how incredible LA was (WAS). Even a few years later they were planning for water shortages and transportation issues due to over crowding. Man...the 50's were the best
Notice how clear the air was back then, little to no smog. I will say the smog is less now than 1960s when hordes of people moved to Southern California.
If the people were asked, "How do you think flying will be 60 yrs from now?" I doubt they would said, "Full, see thru X-ray body scans and shoes off before boarding. $25 for first bag, $7 for the blanket, ditto for the pillow. Cramped in seating for max profits." Somethings do get worse with time.
BIRT Edu Flying is nowhere close to getting worse with time. A flight in 1955 from Boston to LA costed $106 which is equal to $930 with inflation today. Today, the same route can be flown for as little as $375. That flight in 1955 would have taken 12 hours to reach its destination vs. only 5-6 hours today. Planes are safer, quieter, larger, more efficient and faster. Flying has gotten dramatically cheaper and the service has gotten better; if you're willing to pay more money for first and business class, you will receive much better service and amenities today than any time in the past.
A single trans-Atlantic ticket on one of these planes cost $400, so about the same as Concorde maybe? Almost no ordinary person flew on a scheduled air service, when there was an alternative method until the 1980s or so.
what happened to America? The future is for evolving into the better not the worse. I wasn't even born in the 50s, 60s, 70s or even the 80s or 90s. And I STILL would do anything to go back in live in those simple times without cell phones and laptops. when people were nice to strangers and u wouldn't have to lock your car door because you live in the ghetto. I wish I had experienced this. I truly do.
+Fred Cox its a good thing that America has declined so much? What the fuck is wrong with you people? You delusional children dont understand that the minorities you love so much are part of the reason America is the way it is today, don't believe me? Go hang out in Detroit, Memphis, or Compton and tell me honestly that you feel safe
Why does everything seem so happy back then? Looking back in times makes me feel like I was looking at another country, this is not the same America I'm used to.
And I can tell you it was like that although there was a ugly dark side, crime, corruption in high places and racism. But it was well hidden. However, most could "tow the party line" because houses, cars etc. etc. was so cheap in LA in the 50's and 60's. Lots of jobs even for teenagers. Things started to turn to shit after Kennedy got blown away. Been all downhill with Viet Nam War, Watergate, Drugs, Gangs, The Bush Dynasty, 9/11 and endless fighting wars. Its all over. "Gone with the Wind"
***** well, actually nowadays I wear shorts and T-shirt on flight and my grandpa tells me I look like a bum! But I can't help it as I live in a tropical country
I rather think it's fun to have an excuse to dress up. Does anyone remember party dresses and suits for children attending birthday parties? Half the experience for me was that pretty party dress! Also, notice the hat the older gentleman has in his lap. My grandfather never left the house without a similar hat.
That's true, but economics and regulation had a lot to do with it. Thee were no cheapo bargain airlines then. Only one or two carriers in some cities (more in the big cities), and tickets cost more then in comparison to the bus or train. Far fewer flights, because modern air traffic control was just getting set up. This all meant it was business people ( mostly men then) who flew or people with a comfortable amount of money. Even when middle class and working class people flew they dressed up so as not to look out of place. Now we have flying cattle cars today with low bred people crammed like sardines in a can. No wonder I hate flying and its not because I'm afraid. It's just such a stressed out hassle. But $7000 in business class to Europe?? Unless you can write it off as a deductible business expense or fly constantly and have all kinds of points to upgrade, how can you?
My mom was a TWA "stew" as she called herself. She has stories of glamour, flight with Clarke Gabel and Tony Bennett - playing cards on the 10 hour flight from SF to NYC! Silver and china..good ol'days now, "can I even get a bag of peanuts?!"
+Susan Elizabeth Morosoli yes I know just flew from New York to Panama in January - 5 hour flight -no entertainment and had to pay for everything but soft drinks. I wouldn't have minded so much if I hadn't just flown from Scotland to NewYork.
Notice the way the man crossed his legs with ease at about 4:02 . This was the equivalent of coach nowadays. Try easily crossing your legs on in most coach seats today.
I've never met a movie star on a flight but I'm sure if I had they would of invited to their home and shown me around Hollywood as well. Those folks just haven't changed a bit.
I bet it was group sex going on behind the scene while they were all using the Benzedrine bought on the airplane menu which was actually meth legally sold in nasal inhalers. Yes really...
Sad. A few years later a TWA Constellation and United DC7 plane ran into each other over the Grand Canyon in cloudy weather which in turn was when we realized we had no real air traffic control in place. It was the birth of air crash investigations as well as the first real thoughts of an ATC system.
So I came back again a year later because of notifications of my last comment, I must say I still love this video and yes I still love this era. It isn’t a teenager phase I had. I’m 27 now and I still love vintage life, videos, culture, photos, and the way America was 🇺🇸
Things were so different then. I wish I could turn the clock back to a day when our cops didn't look like soldiers and flying on an airline wasn't like going to prison. Time have changed... and not for the better.
THM SGR Being subjected to public humiliation, just to board a plane, *IS* like going to prison. Get fondled by a perverted TSA agent or submit to the full-body cancer-inducer... what a choice!
The 1950's was the era in America when a man was a man, and a woman was a woman. Nowadays, so many effeminate men and semi-mascuiinized women. America had changed for the worse, I am afraid.
You obviously have your head up your ass ! It's just nowdays everything's more out in the open + accepted. PS don't forget to use the colored bathroom only.
All these people in the comments saying how great things were, forgetting that this ad is only showing a life that was accessible to privileged upper class people. If you find today’s world such a miserable place, then that is your own fault.
Toby McVinn well said bro sometimes I feel the people that say they wish they lived during these times are most likely racist because it was openly accepted back in those days
The far-leftist politicians and policies that are destroying California are all contrary to the way I have voted, and are, therefore, not my own fault.
Richard drives a Packard. The house that is shown as his is still there in Beverly Hills and still looks the same.. Almost next to the Beverly Hills Hotel. The park where George Michael was arrested at is across the street.
In 1957 (or 1952, when this film was made), you could walk down the street in Los Angeles without seeing or smelling a hobo village or stepping in shit. Yep, I wish it was still that way.
A promotion film, sure; however, in the 1950's air passengers (men, women, children) actually dressed for the occasion (men in suites, ties and women with hats and gloves). In 1957, I flew from Austin, Tx. to NYC on Continental's "Silver Service" flight. Yes, they served us using silver pitchers and cups on silver trays.
Interestingly found this beautiful video in 2019 only three months after my first visit to USA and that’s too beautiful Los Angeles flew from Winnipeg via Calgary ❤️❤️
I can remember curtains on aircraft windows....and dressing up to get on an airplane....my mom dressed me of course....but you dressed up like you were going to church or something
Maybe as late as early 1990's? Why did everyone dress so nice years ago? Might we had been more cultured and family oriented back then when everything was personal, small business oriented, and not so corporate in nature like today?
Speaking of curtains on aircraft windows, my wife and I just flew to Honolulu and back, and everybody in the window seats, I mean EVERYBODY, had the shutters closed on their windows so they could stare at their little phone screens. What a dull lot people have become.
So Dick takes them home and of course films them at very close quarters in the pool. Then he takes them down the beach where he gets his great big telescope out (and he is not checking the shipping routes). What an outstanding video.
Ironically, the actor who played Henry (Richard Beedle) died on a plane crash in Peru 12 years later. Body was never recovered. He was William Holden's younger brother.
This video is a bit overdone , but basically true. This is when life in this great USA was good, simple, people had some sort of "class", discipline, friendly, some sort of normalcy. This is now all gone, its a shame the young people of today will never experience that type of living. The more technologically advanced we got, the less morally and intellectually healthy we became, what a shame.
Shotbyabel A You are wrong, segregation was not, it still is, and it will never go away. So, as I had nothing to do with it, and I am in the twilight of my life, I have more pressing issues to deal with. Seems you have concerns over segregation, so, I strongly suggest you go out and save the world from it, but please leave me alone, I am just a very tired old person who never hated anyone, except politicians.
Abel A, So? And by the way, segregation was limited to a small part of our country, regardless what your liberal teachers have told you during you brainwashing in public schools.
I remember flying on props when I was a little kid. It was exciting watching the engines start up. I remember upon arrival, the pilot would often shut off the two outer engines (on four engined aircraft) taxiing in on only two engines.
A friend of mine is a captain for Continental (then United) -- and he told me that because smoking on planes was legal back then, their system automatically turned over the air in the plane about once every half hour -- and cigarette smoke went immediately up and out! Fast. It wasn't hanging around like smog. BUT NOW -- since it is expensive to recycle the air, and there is NO cigarette smoke, they NEVER turn it over anymore ...which means the germs from people sneezing or coughing get ingested by everyone on board during the course of a flight. True or false? I tend to believe that is true.
I flew from San Diego to Boston alone during that time. About 10 yrs old. Stewardess gave me a set of wings. Showed me the cockpit. After dinner let me sleep up front where there was sort of a lounge with couches. I could look out a small window but it was night. We did get hit by lightening. I even remember my red gaberdine suit at that age. I liked people dressing up. Now even Nordstrom is looking like the level of Pennys. So sad. I still dress up. I get the compliments the rest of the ladies don’t receive in their leggings & tshirts.
Wonderful picture perfect so very entertaining. It was a delight meeting these four lovely people. I hope that they all had a very happy and healthy abundant life and marriage lolx. 😀❤😀❤
2001,, The last year of Howard Hughes airline and these wonderful planes. The beautiful Lockheed Constellation . The First plane I ever flew. From Salt Lake City to Los Angeles in 1961. Folks still dressed as if it was a special occasion. . We have now evolved to " Air Bus ". . . :)
Flew by myself, age 5, 1952 from LA to NY. Two plane changes. Walk out onto the field. In those days, there were even sleeper areas on planes. Yes, people did dress up - and not just in the movies.
I'd be scared to fly in the '50s. Air travel was not nearly as advanced as it is today. Any sort of technical failure could be deadly and was very common during that time.
This must have been filmed sometime in the fall of 1952. TWA L-1049A Star of the Ganges (N6914C) began service on August 27, 1952. Can anyone confirm that car they drive around Beverly Hills is a 1952 Packard convertible? This is all research; I wasn't born until the early 1970s.
Yeah, but now we pay a fraction of the ticket price. You get what you pay for. Maybe they should jack up the prices again to weed out the riff-raff, huh?
Wow...this brought back memories of my first flight on TWA when I was 10 yo. I fell in love with the stewardesses & wanted to be one. It was a beautiful plane & it feels like yesterday...thanks for the memories! xo
Doris Day just passed away at 97 years old. To me she was the fifties, so an era is long gone and that is a shame. Loved the era as a young boy. Now I'm 69 and it's gone by so fast that you don't really know that until you're actually there.
