Vitaphone Color Parade

The “Vitaphone Color Parade” was a series of documentary short films produced by Warner Bros.

Overview The majority of these one-reel (under 10 minutes) short subjects were produced by Edward Newman of the E. M. Newman Travelogues and co-directed by Ira Genet in New York at the Vitaphone studios, but a few later entries were completed in California. These were directed by Del Frazier with Gordon Hollingshead as producer.

Mechanix Illustrated backed a series that resembled, in part, the Jerry Fairbanks Popular Science (film) series made for rival studio Paramount Pictures. These consisted of individual segments spotlighting technical marvels and took cameras “behind the scenes” to show how popular household items were manufactured.

A few were shot in full Technicolor, but the majority edited in New York utilized the more economical Cinecolor. By 1940, these were replaced by the Sports Parade.

List of titles List of films by title / major credits (not complete) / release date or copyright date (marked ©) / notes:

TitleMajor creditsRelease dateNotesRobert Edgren's Miracles of Sport Robert W. Edgren (directed); narrator: Rush Hughes September 10, 1938Pow Wow Lansing Holden (director) October 1, 1938 full Technicolor views of NavajoChina Today narrator: Dwight Weist October 1, 1938Mechanix Illustrated No. 1 narrator: Dwight Weist November 5, 1938 making paint, food preparation on trains, liquid air preservation.The Immortal Brush Horace Shepherd (director); narrator: Dwight Weist) November 19, 1938 full Technicolor documentaries on British painters, the first featuring Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, Frans Hals, among others. Three of these titles were released in the U.K. earlier on March 19.Gifford, Denis British Film Catalogue: Two Volume Set - The Fiction Film/The Non-Fiction Film 2001 RoutledgeNature's Mimics narrator: Eddie Acuff December 8, 1938 features chimpanzees, trained birds, seals & a harmonica playing elephantMechanix Illustrated No. 2 narrator: Jean Paul King January 7, 1939 (© December 12, 1938) weather forecasting, synthesizing vitamins, television & fire alarms.Points on Pointers Del Frazier (director) January 28, 1939 first of a series on dogsThe Master's Touch Horace Shepherd; narrator: Dwight Weist February 18, 1939 “Immortal Bush” series, released in U.K. on March 19, 1938Mechanix Illustrated No. 3 narrator: Dwight Weist February 25, 1939 natural gas, doll making, face powder & airplane assembly.The Roaming Camera March 25, 1939 Hawaiian football, hairstyles & seamanshipMechanix Illustrated No. 4 narrator: Dwight Weist April 22, 1939 bullet making, skeet shooting, gold beating & artificial flowers.For Your Convenience narrator: Dwight Weist May 20, 1939 how to hide “black eyes” with makeup, parachutes, coffee makers & vibrating machines for "girth". Mechanix Illustrated No. 5 narrator: Dwight Weist June 10, 1939 candy, lead pencils, New York police crime lab.Modern Methods July 15, 1939 tide measurements, remote controls in the home, hat & mask makingMechanix Illustrated No. 6 narrator: Dwight Weist August 5, 1939 precision flying, lie detectors, color photography.Mechanix Illustrated No. 7 narrator: Dwight Weist © August 5, 1939 jewelry polishing, chinaware manufacturing, polarized light, production of billboardsRomance in Color Horace Shepherd; narrator: Dwight Weist © August 19, 1939 “Immortal Bush” series, released in U.K. on March 19, 1938Mechanix Illustrated No. 8 (Series 2-1) narrator: Dwight Weist September 30, 1939 gemstones, Polaroid glass & advertising signs.American Saddle Horses Del Frazier; music: Howard Jackson; narrator: John Deering November 11, 1939 Mechanix Illustrated No. 9 (Series 2-2) narrator: Dwight Weist December 2, 1939 making of ice cream sticks, dragline mining in Alaska, New York fireboats & the manufacture of artist's paintsNew Horizons music: Howard Jackson; narrator: John Deering January 6, 1940 Alaska travelogueMechanix Illustrated No. 10 (Series 2-3) music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Dwight Weist February 7, 1940 Alaskan salmon run, liquid silk & electric signsMen Wanted music: Howard Jackson; narrator: John Deering March 23, 1940 More about AlaskaGun Dog Life (Gun Dog's Life) Del Frazier (director); music: Howard Jackson; narrator: John Deering May 11, 1940 mostly retrievers and spanielsMechanix Illustrated No. 11 (Series 2-4) music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Dwight Weist © June 29, 1940 aviation, streamlining in design, product testing & fire extinguishing.Dogs You Seldom See Del Frazier (director); music: Howard Jackson; narrator: Knox Manning July 6, 1940 Profiles less famous breeds like the Saluki and Chinese CrestedThe Valley music: Howard Jackson; narrator: John Deering © July 20, 1940 Alaska's Matanuska ValleyFamous Movie Dogs Del Frazier (director); music: Howard Jackson; narrator: John Deering August 17, 1940

Vitaphone Color Parade

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