Advanced Media Integration Transfers Vintage Fort Wayne, Indiana Footage
From time to time, we come across some extremely rare and vintage film, video, slides or photos. Recently, while transferring an old Betacam SP tape to DVD, we found some classic footage of Fort Wayne, Indiana from 1938. Originally shot on 16mm film and transferred to Betacam format, the footage features several buildings, parks, schools, and churches in downtown Fort Wayne and the surrounding areas. With our client’s permission, Advanced Media Integration wanted to share this historical video recording and take a look back at the city’s past.
Downtown
In this footage of downtown Fort Wayne, several landmarks that still exist today can be seen as well as many that are no longer there. Some of the highlights include trolley cars running down Main Street, the Baltes Hotel, the Keenan Hotel, and Hotel Anthony. Additionally, the market place, the court house and the old Frigidaire appliance store can be seen. Notice the difference of the skyline toward the end of this video.
Trains, Buses, and Planes
In this section, what was known at the time as the Pennsylvania Depot, now Baker Street can be seen as well as the old Greyhound bus station. This also gives us a unique look back at what airports use to look like. Known as Smith Field Airport, you can see people waiting for their loved ones to arrive on benches right outside the airport.
Fort Wayne Theaters
Formerly known as the Emboyd Theater, this is now the location of the historic Embassy Theater in downtown Fort Wayne. Also, you can see the sign and marquee for the Paramount Theater. Notice one of the movies playing is Snow White.
Fort Wayne Parks and Beach
In this footage you can see many of the parks in and around the Fort Wayne area. Notably, Lakeside Park looks virtually the same after all of these years. Also featured are Memorial Park, Fort Wayne Japanese Gardens, Reservoir Park and Municipal Beach.
Historic Building of Fort Wayne
This section includes many of the historic buildings located in Fort Wayne as well as footage of the International Harvester Plant and the General Electric Building. Other notable buildings; the Chamber of Commerce, City Light Office, City Hall & Police Headquarters (now the History Center), the Telephone Company, and the Filtration Plant.
Schools of Fort Wayne
In this footage, several of the city’s public schools from the time can be seen as well as Concordia College. As you can see, North Side High School looks almost the same, other than the recent addition of gymnasium.
City of Churches
While Fort Wayne has many churches located throughout the city, this section only focuses on three; Concordia Lutheran Church, Trinity English Lutheran Church, and Saint Jude’s Catholic Church. While some of the names of the churches have changed, all of the buildings are still in use today.
Advanced Media Integration is your complete source for Video, Film, Slide, and Photo Transfers. We will convert all of your old media formats, camcorder tapes, and photos to DVD, MiniDV, or the appropriate Web format. Utilizing the latest technologies, we will preserve or digitize your video files and transfer them to a usable format. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will work with you to ensure that you receive the best quality transfer possible. For more information regarding our Security Footage or Video Enhancement services, contact one of our sales representatives.
- VHS and VHS-C
- Digital8 and Hi8
- Betacam Formats
- DVCam
- Mini DV
- DVC Pro & HDV
- Reel to Reel Audio
- Audio Cassette & Vinyl Records
- Photos and Slides
- Super 8mm, 8mm, and 16mm Film
Brian Rynders
on March 7, 2015 - 23:01:11I have an old beta tape that I would like to transfer to DVD. We have been looking for someone who has the capibilty of doing so. Can you help?
Gene L
on March 10, 2015 - 15:10:56Check with Norm at the main library in Access Fort Wayne. I believe they have the ability in the Maker Lab.
Terry Dancer
on March 8, 2015 - 00:16:13What a wonderful treasure you’ e discovered. Thanks for sharing!
michael vorndran
on March 8, 2015 - 11:52:44Have you seen the videos on cable public access where someone in 1974 and 1976 videotaped (mostly that I’ve seen so far) of downtown Fort Wayne? They air the videos generally on sunday evenings at 9 (that I’ve noticed). Those videos remind me of these and also need cleaned up and archived.
Terry Faylor
on March 9, 2015 - 05:52:08I was born in 1938 and lived in Fort Wayne till I moved to CA in 1967. What beautiful memories you have presented to me this evening!!
Thank you!
Terry Faylor
Matthew Moeller
on March 9, 2015 - 14:33:19Lovely! I wasn’t born in Fort Wayne until 1959, but I appreciate seeing familiar places in unfamiliar times! My compliments to whoever selected the background music. Watching these was very calming.
Jon Duffey
on March 9, 2015 - 22:16:30Awesome. Any idea who shot this stuff. Ollie Strong was probably about 20 back then. Who else might have been lugging a 16mm camera around Fort Wayne back then? Were any shots of Coney Island or the Old Methodist Hospital (prior to a Travelodge and then Foelinger Gardend) in this collection… two places my mother (1912-1982) haunted.
Lori Larko-Wilch
on March 10, 2015 - 19:15:11I was wondering if there was anywhere you could buy a copy of this. I was not born until 73 but I love watching the city as it once was. I find it so beautiful and relaxing, it makes me proud to be from the Fort Wayne area!
Don Lieberum
on March 11, 2015 - 05:31:09I am still uncontrollably angry over the destruction of all of Sunny Shick’s films of Fort Wayne. Declared to be unsafe fire hazards, priceless footage of historic Fort Wayne was destroyed with no known effort to save it.
Julian McDavitt
on March 11, 2015 - 21:35:45Did you notice not a parking meter in sight?
Those were the days when a working stiff could raise a family on very little income.
What the heck happened?
Janet Bresler
on January 12, 2016 - 01:22:14People went downtown. No malls. I think they were the “good old days”. Well BEFORE my 60’s. Everything went haywire after them!!!
Victor Seewald
on January 11, 2016 - 16:37:04Thank you for sharing. I would even buy a DVD if it were available.
Janet Bresler
on January 12, 2016 - 01:20:00Is there any way to save these to our computer or we can buy them???
Steven C. Hall
on January 13, 2016 - 17:57:07Great films but I wish they had 1938 music accompanying it….
Lois Argo
on July 24, 2016 - 22:15:17My son just sent me these, and I absolutely loved them. I was born in Ft. Wayne in 1933, but married a Tennessee boy and married him and moved South in 1957. These were so much fun to watch! I saw my high school, and many shopping places, and the International Harvester where family worked and also the GE where my Mother and step dad worked. Loved those cars too. Oh thank you so much!
Carole & Charlie Seng
on October 22, 2016 - 15:45:35I’ve looked at all these videos several times, like going back to the old days, innocent times, peaceful. I moved away from Ft Wayne in 1956 but consider it my home. It is a true “people” place.