American Suburbia (2005)

Shows transportation corridors leading into and out of New York City, and efforts at transportation and infrastructure planning.

Illustrates the interdependence of people in a community by showing shared community functions and services. Depicts police and fire protection, health safeguards, and park and recreational facilities. Points out how members of the community are interdependent.

Loving tribute to Saran plastic wrap as an indispensable household accessory. Uses the setting of a young child's birthday party to show how Saran Wrap can be used both for food preservation in the refrigerator and freezer and as an element in creative home and party decorations.

Thoughtfully made advertising sales promo film extolling 1950s suburbanites as citizens and consumers. Shows typical facets of the family life of young couples living in the suburbs. Points out how Redbook Magazine, aimed exclusively at young adults, is of value to them. This is the movie about suburbia as it is widely imagined in pop culture.

This film advocates a better standard of living at affordable prices for all Americans regardless of their status. It maps the country's march towards a more affluent lifestyle and illustrates how this was made possible. the story of a miller and his assistant and their journey to the higher echelons of society by way of shrewd planning and investment.

An engrossing account of the pathetic living conditions that existed in the cities in the '40s, with Philadelphia the erstwhile state and national capital, as an example. It is a wonderful account of how the once beautiful city was transformed by the growth of industry. Slums sprung up binging with them dirt and misery.

This movie was made at a time when the building boom was at its peak, and is an opportunistic attempt at selling asbestos -the new rage in building materials. Though a little lengthy, the film is an exhaustive attempt at extolling the outstanding qualities of asbestos (fireproof, waterproof, weatherproof, enduring, resilient and so on). Sponsor: Asbestos Cement Products Association.

The use of animation makes this film very creative and refreshingly original despite being based on the same old themes - "we need to keep our neighborhoods neat and clean" and "there's nothing you cannot do if you come together".

This is an interesting movie about how Levittown was built and the emphasis builders placed on quantity and speed rather than style, grace and originality of design.

This short illustrates the enterprising nature of the American business and its expansion through time. Hosted by Lowell Thomas.

A film about slum clearance and new housing projects in Philadelphia. Producer: Documentary Film Productions, Inc.

he beauty and functionality of asbestos sidewalls. With a visit to Levittown, N.Y. and an interview with Norman Denny, vice president of materials for Levitt & Sons, builders. An excellent film on Fifties standardized building processes. Year: 1952. Length: 00:17:57. Audio: Mono. Color.

Animated plea for urban renewal connected with 1950s efforts to "redevelop" American city centers. Producer: Transfilm Productions. Year: 1955. Length: 00:13:28. Audio: Mono. Color.

Shows how Ford earthmoving equipment helps the builders of Levittown, Pennsylvania achieve great economies of scale. With excellent images of home and infrastructure building. Producer: Ford Motor Company, Tractor and Implement Division. Year: 1956. Length: 00:09:08. Audio: Mono. Color.

Tour of the area, concentrating on redevelopment and economic activity. Presents a survey of the city of Rochester, N Y, its history, culture and economic advantages. Explains the role of good planning in the city's development. Sponsor: Rochester Gas & Electric. Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization.

Redwood Estates near Santa Cruz, California: Real estate promotional film showing scenes of downtown Los Gatos, California, car arriving at the "estates" and shots of recreational activities available, homes under construction, long shots of the estates and homes, roads, automobiles and large sign for the "Redwood Estates"

Shows that cities' approaches are marred by billboards and neon signs. Intimates that a demanding citizenry can have these unsightly signs removed. Producer: Peter Yung & Lawrence Ravitz. Year: 1965. Length: 00:23:30. Audio: Mono. Color: COLOR.

A pioneering short documentary film from 1939 that contrasts the problems of the contemporary urban environment with the superior social and physical conditions that can be provided in a planned community.

Improvement of living conditions in 1940s New York City through the construction of public housing. Though ultimately a plug for the New York City Housing Authority, this film begins as a "story about a city -- this city."

A study of our increasing urban population. Departing from the usual statistics and the sociological problems which are a result of the cities' growth, we learn that by observing what the workers of the city do, we can find out why the city grew. Producer: Encyclopaedia Britannica Films. Length: 00:09:08. Audio: Mono. Color: BLACK & WHITE.

Building a steel mill from scratch and a city for its workers (Levittown, Pa.). Producer: Jam Handy Organization. Sponsor: U.S. Steel Co. Year: 1953. Length: 00:24:51. Audio: Mono. Color: BLACK & WHITE.

Advocates urban redevelopment and renewal, 1950s-style. Supports many planning strategies which are criticized today: the destruction of "blighted" neighborhoods in the name of progress, autocentric planning and construction, and suburban sprawl. Producer: Baskaw (Frederick J). Sponsor: Chamber of Commerce of the United States.

Home builders decry unplanned suburban sprawl, 1950s-style. Sponsor: Urban Land Institute, National Association of Home Builders. Year: 1959. Length: 00:16:01. Audio: Mono. Color.