Highlight Reel: The Cinecraft Productions Collection at the Hagley Library
Articles about Cinecraft from the Hagley Collection News
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HOLLYWOOD AT HAGLEY FILMS
Milestones of Motoring (1954): An industrial musical sponsored by Standard Oil of Ohio introducing the new Boron Supreme gasoline. It depicts key automobile milestones in Ohio history beginning in 1898. The film features actors Rita Farrell, Merv Griffin, and Joe E. Brown, with host Warren Guthrie.
Christmas commercials for Ohio Bell Telephone (1960): A series of six Christmas-themed advertisements featuring Tim Conway and Ernie Anderson. The ads promote Ohio Bell’s color Princess phones, table phones, and wall phones. Produced by Cinecraft Productions in Cleveland, Ohio.
Bowl 'Em Over with G-E Bulbs! (1963): A presentation by the Large Lamp Department at General Electric showcasing the company's fall 1963 television advertising campaign—the first campaign presented in color. Hosted by actor Jim Backus, the film primarily follows animated character Mister Magoo (voiced by Backus) as he bowls his way through humorous situations while promoting GE light bulbs.
FILMS
The Heart of Cleveland (1924): A silent film sponsored by the Cleveland Illuminating Company promoting the expansion of electric services into rural areas. Discovered among thousands of film cans donated by Cinecraft Productions of Cleveland, Ohio, to the Hagley Museum and Library.
The Romance of Iron and Steel (1938): A black-and-white sound film produced for ARMCO, documenting the entire steel production process—from ore mining to final manufacturing.
Industrial Ohio (1939): A documentary showcasing Ohio's major industries, including steel, coal, power, oil, shovels, stone, pottery, paper, publishing, machine tools, rubber, rayon, and shoes. Produced by ESCAR, Inc., and sponsored by Standard Oil Company of Ohio (SOHIO) in partnership with Republic Steel, the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, B.F. Goodrich, and others.
Ohio at Play (1939): A promotional film highlighting Ohio’s recreational attractions, such as the Toledo Zoo, Cedar Point, Indian Lake, and Coney Island in Cincinnati. Features residents enjoying various leisure activities. Produced by ESCAR, Inc. and sponsored by SOHIO.
A Better Way (1941): A film sponsored by the DuPont Company and aimed at the farming industry, promoting DuPont chemistry’s role in creating a source of Vitamin D for poultry feed.
Diesel-Electric D.C. Drive Destroyer Escorts (1943): A U.S. Navy training film for World War II engine and motor room personnel. It explains diesel-electric transmission systems and standard procedures for ship electric propulsion. Produced under the supervision of the Bureau of Aeronautics for the Bureau of Ships.
Crystal Clear (1946): A sponsored educational film for high school home economics classes, detailing the step-by-step glassmaking process at the Fostoria Glass Company.
Thank you, Mr. Chips! (1947): Produced by Cinecraft Productions for the National Potato Chip Institute. Narrated by a character named Mr. Chips, who educates housewife Mrs. Whipple on the history and manufacturing of potato chips, as well as their value as a mealtime addition.
Land of Promise (1955): A film emphasizing Northeast Ohio’s role in the St. Lawrence Seaway and its economic potential. It highlights the region's four ports—Cleveland, Fairport, Ashtabula, and Conneaut—and discusses the area's transportation and industrial advantages.
The Cleveland Corridor (1959): Sponsored by the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, this industrial film promotes an 85-mile stretch of northeast Ohio—from Conneaut to Cleveland—as "the best location in the nation" for industrial development.
Search (1964): Film sponsored by the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company exploring the research and development side of steel production. Hails the scientific experiments and creative thinking that allows Youngstown to manufacture the most cutting edge steel products.
Where's Joe (1972): Produced by Cinecraft Productions, this cautionary film warns American steelworkers about the threat of foreign competition. Sponsored by the United Steelworkers Union and a consortium of U.S. steel companies, including U.S. Steel.
Freewheelin' (1975): A documentary on the 4th Annual National Truck-In, a celebration of vans and van culture hosted by the National Street Van Association in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
PRODUCTIONS FOR TV
Alliance Tenna-Rotor TV commercials (1950 / 1953): A series of six television commercials advertising the Alliance Tenna-Rotor, a rotating antenna for better over-the-air television reception.
Adventures in Sewing | Food is Fun (c. 1950): Clips from two television programs sponsored by the Domestic Sewing Machine Company and The East Ohio Gas Association. Hosted by Louise Winslow, often referred to as the "Martha Stewart" of early daytime TV. Read more about Louise Winslow
Wheel of Life, TV commericial (c. 1950): A commercial featuring William Grover “Papa” Barnard, founder of the Natural Foods Institute (later Vitamix). Promotes the Wheel O' Life and emphasizes health through proper nutrition..
Eat Your Way to Health (1950): Believed to be television’s first-ever infomercial. Papa Barnard prepares juices, smoothies, and other healthful blends live in a studio kitchen, while promoting the Vitamix blender.
Multi-Camera Television Production History (1952): An experimental program produced by Cinecraft Productions demonstrating early multi-camera (three-camera) production techniques. Includes a brief explanation by director K. Elmo Lowe on the advantages of this method over live broadcasting.
Leisy's Light Beer (1952): A TV commercial for Leisy Light beer, featuring scenes from the Leisy brewing facilities in Cleveland. Part of an ad campaign with the tagline, “Leisy’s is first in favor because it's first in flavor.”
Man with a Camera promo (1959): Actor Charles Bronson takes viewers behind the scenes of his TV series Man with a Camera at Desilu Studios. Introduces General Electric’s flash bulb ad campaign and ABC’s fall programming lineup.
General Electric promotional film with the cast of Leave it to Beaver (1960): The cast of Leave It to Beaver (Hugh Beaumont, Jerry Mathers, Barbara Billingsley, and Tony Dow) introduces GE’s new flash bulb ad campaign in a promotional film designed to educate retailers and salespeople.
Ohio Bell mobile telephone communication commercial (1966): Jacquelyn Mayer (Miss Ohio 1962 and Miss America 1963) learns about the emerging mobile phone technology. The ad highlights the ability to make and receive calls from locations such as airplanes, tugboats, and fire trucks. Commercial directed by Julius Potocsny and produced by Cinecraft Productions for Ohio Bell.
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