I found a reel containing 275-feet of developed 8-mm film at a thrift store in Phoenix. Pencil markings on the film canister said: Phoenix 1952. Curious to know what I would find on the reel, I sent it off to a lab to get it digitally scanned.
What was eventually revealed was an (unknown) family's road trip to Phoenix, Arizona in 1952. The beginning of the film provides a clue that it was winter; based on 'slush' I observed along the side of the road somewhere in Louisiana. Thus this trip was a winter family vacation to the sunshine state of Arizona.
The film runs 27-minutes; starting with images from Louisiana, then shots from
Texas via the Alamo, continuing west with a good portion of the images taken at the Coolidge Dam (Arizona). The family finally ends up in Phoenix.
A woman relaxes, as Camelback Mountain looms in the background
(1952 - Phoenix, Arizona)
So what to do with film of unknown origin(?) I will eventually post this film online as a public resource for historical reflection and artistic re-purposing, by those finding interest.
I will examine the film closely to see what part of the film can be used as an 'element' in any of my current or future film projects.
