Reported by Paul Eisloeffel from the Nebraska State Historical Society
These days it's not unusual for a business or community to produce a promotional video, but like most ideas, it isn't new. This Nebraska Film Flashback shows us how they used to do it .
After World War II, educational and promotional film making really jumped into high gear. Nebraska didn't miss out on this trend and cranked out films on everything from the stockyards in the east to the unspoiled vistas of the west. But for a very sophisticated postwar audience, the messages were often wrapped in a simple little plot. And it's these plots that make these films particularly entertaining for us today. Like this one from the "New Pioneers," a film that promoted Nebraska business. [Alumni] "It was nice meeting you fellas at commencement exercises today. It was even nicer of you to invite me to the old frat house for lunch. There's a lot of changes on the campus in the 20 years since I graduated. You know, Jim, I think you're probably puzzled and rightly so a little bit about why I took Fred's part when you fellas were chiding him about wanting to remain in the state and the rest of you engineering graduates are going to seek jobs far beyond Nebraska's borders just as I did many years ago, found fame and fortunate way beyond the more immediate horizons." [Student] "Yes, I was wondering about that." [Alumni] "Well, I think I can explain it to you. If you give me a little bit of time and have a little patience, I will tell you about some of the things that I have seen in my visits here to the state in the past year. I'll confine my remarks particularly to the things I have seen and about which I intend to write an article." [Student] "Sure, go ahead."
And then there's this from a Nebraska Department of Roads film called "Someone Pays the Piper" about a citizen's quest to find out how highway funds are administered. [Doctor] "Mr. Sayers, I'm Dr. Hampton." [Husband] "Doctor, how's my wife? Tell me the truth." [Doctor] "I don't know. She's young, she's strong. We must have hope. But I don't know." [Husband] "There are a great many things I don't know either, Doctor, but I am going to find out about these things. Why did this have to happen? Why to us? Why was that highway broken? I don't know either, Doctor, but I will." [Doctor] "There are many things -- many of the whys that I don't know. I wish that I did. If you find out, will you let me know?" [Husband] "I will, Doctor. Thank you."
For Statewide, I'm Paul Eisloeffel with the Nebraska State Historical Society.