Secret Cinema reprises Films from the Urban Archives:
Secrets from Philadelphia’s Past at Moore
Friday, December 11
8:00 pm
Admission: FREE
Moore College of Art & Design
20th & Race Streets, Philadelphia
(215) 965-4099
Last spring, the Secret Cinema teamed up with Temple University Libraries’ Urban Archives to present the first ever public screening of films held in their unique collection, comprised of the former news and public affairs film libraries of two Philadelphia television stations. Two unique programs were prepared, and both were presented to overflowing crowds in Temple’s Paley Library. However, we received numerous requests to repeat the screening from people unable to get to Temple’s campus in the afternoon.
We are very pleased to announce that Films from the Urban Archives: Secrets from Philadelphia’s Past will have a special reprise screening on Friday, December 11, this time at Moore College of Art & Design in Center City. The Moore program will be a single complete screening starting at 8:00 pm, containing the best and most popular films from the two programs shown last April at Temple.
Admission to this special event is free, sponsored by Temple University Libraries.
The Secret Cinema long ago added to its mission the collecting, documenting and exposing of lesser-known and rarely seen films made in the Philadelphia region. Thus, we were thrilled to help explore treasures from what is surely the city’s largest film archive. The Television Audiovisual Collections of the Urban Archives consists of approximately 14,000 cans of 16mm film from WPVI (formerly WFIL) and KYW. They include both aired and unused news footage, original documentaries and other special programming. The footage dates back to 1947 (when WFIL-TV first went on the air) and continues through the early 1980s.
Highlights will include:
Assignment: 1747 Randolph Street (1966) – A hard-hitting documentary from an ongoing series produced by WFIL-TV, this episode focuses on North Philadelphia’s Ludlow neighborhood — then awash with gangs, graffiti, abandoned homes, and violent crime. While many of these problems may now seem eternal, this close-up view of urban decay not yet taken for granted remains powerful and shocking.
The Electric Factory, news footage (1968?) – This reel of silent, outtake footage from a news report provides an invaluable look inside Philadelphia’s legendary psychedelic rock ballroom, then located in a former tire warehouse at 22nd & Arch Streets. On display are lightshows, see-saws and sliding boards, clothing and face paint vendors, and coffin-like “body racks” for patrons in need of relaxation — the one detail of the old club that was faithfully recreated in the much larger concert venue of the same name that opened in the 1990s. The original Electric Factory, which hosted concerts by Jimi Hendrix, The Mothers of Invention, The Who, and many other legends, closed forever in 1970.
Connie Mack Stadium closing, news footage (1970) – Another reel of outtake footage, showing the final game, fans removing seats, the man who stole home plate, and the final fan-made wreckage of the once proud baseball stadium in the calm of the following day.
The Spirit of Philadelphia: The Unending Renaissance (1966) – “By the end of the second World War, Philadelphia was a sick city.” This documentary takes a hopeful look towards a better future, with looks at the redevelopment of Society Hill, Market East and Penn’s Landing, archival scenes of the building of the Ben Franklin Parkway, and interviews with visionary city planner Ed Bacon.
Broad Street Station closing news footage (1952) – A nostalgic and sad view of the last train to leave Frank Furness’ grand railroad station, with music played on board by the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Plus coverage of the Columbia Avenue riots, very early footage of Move, and much more.
