Comments on: 12 Vintage Instructional Films Worth Watching

By: Leia

Leia — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 02:05:27 +0000

The film on being thrifty is my all-time favorite and I watched both the self-reliance and the “What to Do on a Date” videos…they’re on my favorites list along with the thrifty one. I have to admit that my parents were well-informed with these films while they were in school during the early ’60s (Dad turned 66 in January and Mom turns 66 on May 25th.) I’m glad that The Art of Manliness and some Youtube channels have found the merit in watching these, even though times have drastically changed since then, both social-wise and economic-wise.

By: Nick Savides

Nick Savides — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 03:41:32 +0000

I watched all the videos and the AoM one on YouTube. As a filmmaker, I found it refreshing to see that other filmmakers in the past took an interest in improving society.

That idea has sadly gone out of fashion, but seeing the deteriorating state of our civilization, it is an idea that I hope returns to prominence. Thank you Brett and Kate for doing your part to help with that. Cheers!

By: Jagmeet Singh Hanspal

Jagmeet Singh Hanspal — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:26:41 +0000

+1 to John (above) for the link to the videos… Here is one specific to Coronet: http://archive.org/details/coronet_instructional_videos

By: tye

tye — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 06:16:19 +0000

http://youtu.be/K4JhruinbWc
Best explanation I have found.

By: St. Vital Kid

St. Vital Kid — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 21:23:59 +0000

I instruct adult students in a variety of subjects related to broadcasting. In a two week introduction to broadcast sales, I always start by showing “Selling as a Career”, which is a Coronet production from 1953.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZVs_2Lswfg
While the clothes, cars and technology are quaint, the manner in which the sporting goods salesman featured in the film builds rapport and nurtures relationships with his clients is still entirely relevant to what our course teaches about how commission selling and customer service are supposed to work.

By: John

John — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 07:12:38 +0000

60 thousand free films, including many of the Coronet training films like the ones above, can be found in the Prelinger Archives.
http://archive.org/details/prelinger

By: Andrew T

Andrew T — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 14:47:55 +0000

There’s a subtle message at the end of the self reliance video; if you look in the back ground the french reads “Help yourself, the sky will help you”

By: Mike C.

Mike C. — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 04:50:05 +0000

Kate: Yup, I spotted that on my second perusal; rather embarrassed that I missed that when I commented! (blush)

I’ve read some other stuff about instructional films, though, plus I had some insider info, as my mom was a teacher and had some dealings with these things, both as a student and as a teacher. She told me about seeing a movie as a student that claimed that “girls who park in cars aren’t really popular” and having to bite back laughter, as the most popular girls in her school were the ones who parked!

There’s another good book that tackles another lost classroom tool, the filmstrip. Track down “Change Your Underwear Twice a Week” and prepare for a few chuckles.

By: Gina

Gina — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:39:57 +0000

These are great! Thank you!

By: dennis

dennis — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:30:30 +0000

good stuff