A web log, an æthereal scrap-book if you will, with a somewhat vintage flavour. News items, occurrences, experiences, thoughts and opinions related to Victoriana through to Fifties Americana can all be found here.
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
Writers in the sky
Whatever happened to skywriters - those skilled aviators for whom the sky was a blank canvas? (Or banner-towing aircraft for that matter. Where have they gone?). We marvel at the likes of the Red Arrows and their wonderful smoke-filled displays but seeing actual words formed by looping and diving aircraft is always a special thrill. Both they and aeroplanes trailing banners hark back to more cheery times, I always feel.
The above clip, produced for Chevrolet in 1935, features a dashing aviator explaining the intricacies of skywriting to a well-dressed (and rather game!) young lady before flying off to do a bit of advertising for the aforementioned car company. It is part of a selection of similar films called the Prelinger Archives (including this amusing retelling of the Cinderella story, in which our heroine drives a 1937 Chevy!), which I was fortunate enough to discover via The Atlantic. Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Popular Posts
-
I rather fancy it's time for another Captain Hastings/Style Icon post, but this time with a twist! I think that, by way of a change, I ... -
The starting of a new job seems to have coincided with a bit of a downturn in vintage news (not to mention my third cold in as many months!)...
-
Classic car firm Morgan building new three-wheeler after gap of 60 years Morgan is by far and away my favourite motor manufacturer so it was...
-
Second in the style icon stakes after Fred Astaire must surely be Mr Archie Leach - a.k.a Cary Grant. All images courtesy of Doctor Macr...
-
Model of new Routemaster London bus unveiled A few months ago I blogged the news that the winning design for the new London Routemaster b...
-
Rare photographs of comedian Stan Laurel are auctioned I make no secret of my love for the films of Laurel & Hardy, so it was with great... -
Vintage Rolls-Royces honour Spirit of Ecstasy by itnnews Another car manufacturer, another anniversary. This time it is the renowned lu...
-
Coming to you a week later than intended (sorry about that!), the third of the Film Friday: Gangsters series - Howard Hughes gritty prod...
-
Historic wooden car floated at auction Wood has long been used as part of automobile manufacturing, although these days it tends to be reser... -
Last Friday I received a welcome surprise in the form of a Liebster Blog Award from Little Lil of London . Thank you, Lil, it was very k...
We get the banner pulling ones here every time the NASCAR races are in town! (Along with the Goodyear Airship).
ReplyDeleteThe only way to fly....in an old Curtis with a rotary engine.
ReplyDeleteI do not know if the planes shown are Curtis biplanes or not, but I did get to fly in biplanes about 20 years ago and it is a great way to fly. Old Piper Tripacers are nice too.
I've seen a few sky writers, but very few. Mostly boring banners.
Thanks for the interesting video.
Thanks for posting! It's awesome and this might be inspirational for the next swing dance party we're planning. : )
ReplyDeleteThere is a banner-towing plane near my house in Tucson Arizona almost every day, and about two weeks ago there was actual skywriting! I have never seen any besides that, but I think it's great. If any man wants to win my hand in marriage, that is the way to propose (bonus points if he is the pilot!)
ReplyDeleteThat's a great video, by the way.