Details

These wonderful films capture United Airlines Stratocruiser in the magical era of the 1950s. Back then, travel by air a completely new method of travel, and the airlines set out to educate the general public as to how safe, convenient and efficient air travel becoming.

This show is loaded with fabulous classic propliner footage from the 1950s. It documents how air travel was so special fifty years ago. United Airlines Boeing B-337 United Airlines Stratocruiser, DC-6, Convair CV-340 DC-8 and the first generation of smokey Douglas DC-8s all featured in the classic airline films presented herein.

The footage on this was shot on film and is not to the same image quality levels as today’s broadcast quality video cameras. Also, as is typical of film footage from this era, the footage has suffered deterioration over the years. These promotional movies presented for their historical interest value as well as to preserve them in digital format for the enjoyment and education of future generations.

DVD Programs

Chapter 1) United Airlines Stratocruiser to Hawaii (7 min)

This mid-1950s colour airline promo film boasts of the many benefits of flying on United Airlines’ double-decker Boeing 337 Stratocruisers from the US west coast to Hawaii. The film takes us along an a Stratocruiser from San Francisco to Hawaii. The film starts with the passengers checking in at San Francisco airport. It is where the Captain shows passengers the layout of the Stratocruiser using a large cutway airline display model of a Stratocruiser. Passengers then board, engines started and the Stratocruiser rolls down the runway.

Chapter 2) United Airlines DC-6 The 6534 Story (29 min)

This all colour film tells of the detailed story of United DC-6 ship 6534 as the crew and passengers go from Los Angeles to Chicago Miday Airport, and then to New York City. This early to mid-1950s film loaded with amazing aircraft footage the likes of which rarely documented in the 1950s. And the film explains how United maintained their DC-6s to very high standards. Also how the crews operate the aircraft from getting their weather, to navigation and flying the aircraft.

Chapter 3) The Sky is For Everyone (30 min)

Produced for United Airlines by General Dynamic Convair Division in the early 1950s. The colour film offers a very detailed look at the airline’s short-haul domestic Convair 340 flight operations. First the film introduces the Convairliner explain what an amazingly safe and capable aircraft she is. Even showing footage of one of the engines being shut down in flight with the aircraft safely climbing on only one engine.

Chapter 4) Airplane Trip by Jet (10 min)

In this educational black and white film from 1961, we follow two children (Sue and Bob Allan) as they take their very first jet flight. It happens to be on a United Airlines Douglas DC-8-10 from New York to Los Angeles. The film highlights the ease and benefits of jet travel, with lots of neat DC-8 footage. The film starts with the children boarding the flight in New York and their dog skippy being placed in the freight hold.

Chapter 5) Stars and Bars New Livery Introduction (4 min)

This promo film introduces United Airlines’ early 1970s new “Stars and Bars” livery and new aircraft interior upgrade program. This piece filmed aboard a United DC-8-62. Some nice vintage onboard footage showing aircraft interiors of yesteryear. Also the early 1970s aircraft interior styles very different from what we used to today!

Chapter 6) Early 1970s Snowbirds Promo (4 min)

This promo film explains how the airline is serving the early 1970s swinging winter ski market, with Boeing 727-100s. Some nice vintage onboard footage.