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While the opening title proclaims "This is America", this film is actually the first half a 1960s documentary called "The Secrets of St. Louis" (the "This is America" title was apparently spliced on by a previous owner; we don't have the second half of the film). This documentary reveals "secret" locations around St. Louis, Missouri such as Lafayette Park, Soulard Market and Calvary and Bellefontaine Cemeteries. Many places that no longer exist are shown including the Kerry Patch neighborhood, as well as renovated landmarks like the DeMenil Mansion, the Old Post Office, the Central West End and Eads Bridge.
The film opens with a shot through wrought iron fences encircling Lafayette Park (1:30). Marquis de Lafayette had given his name to this park in 1839 as he was a French aristocrat and military officer who had fought in the American Revolutionary War. The center of Lafayette Square is seen lined with oriental stone with decorative gates and landscaping to complete the look (1:45). A cannon from the American Revolution, that was raised from the Charleston harbor, sits in the park (2:14). St. Louis afforded $50,000 for the wrought iron fences shown (2:34). These matched the style of the houses which had been brought over by visitors of Paris’s Napoleon III. The houses were the work of the top architects of the 1870’s (2:50). An example of the picturesque style is seen in the rounded windows (2:54) and elaborate corniches. This particular neighborhood was constructed during the post-Civil War years (3:01). Benton Place is one of the areas that held the style of the times (3:23). A view of some of the houses that had been constructed in the late Victorian style appear (3:39). Headed down a few blocks from the Soulard Market (4:14), the neighborhoods are arranged in rows around the market and around the spine of St. Peters and St. Paul’s churches (4:28). The wrought iron work is displayed again around balconies in the area (4:59). As the houses were built in rows, often times another row would be installed behind one row and the alley (5:11). The architecture here had been preserved over a hundred years and by numerous generations (5:31). A few blocks down sits John Clemens’ house (6:27) and he was the uncle of Mark Twain. In 1860, he hired the top architects and wrought iron craftsmen to build his home. A close up of the cameo of his late wife’s face is seen as he had these installed as keystones above the windows (7:07). George Brooks, the director of Missouri’s Historical Society (7:12), comes on screen to discuss the preservation of historic neighborhoods and how much of it lies in the town’s folk desire to do so. The west end of St. Louis (8:50), was raised as the century’s end neared. Much of the style is blended from Egyptian, Roman and Greek architecture which gives the area a unique look (9:15). Other styles join the mix such as the high rounded dome which invokes a Moscow feel (10:27). During the 30’s and 40’s, as the Danish modern style became prevalent, many looked upon the older eclectic look with distaste (10:48). A window shaped as an eye (11:05) sits on a house continuing the strange mixed architectural feel. On Broadway, appears a home that stands in a grove of trees behind Cherokee Cave and this is the Chatillion-DeMenil Mansion (12:08). Dr. Nicholas DeMenil’s home in 1863 stood as a country retreat (12:40). As he was a southern sympathizer, the style of the house largely shows his affections (12:46). It stands encircled in New Orleans’ wrought iron work (12:52). Although it weathered many raids as well as actual weather, the antique fences are still preserved (13:45). A view from out of the parlor shows the iron bars that he later added to the house (13:57). The massive Greek columns are also shown (14:17). As industrialization grew in the United States and factories moved in to the dismay of the doctor, he kept from moving or selling (15:18). The film nears it’s conclusion as the previous president of Landmarks Inc discusses the desire to turn the DeMenil Mansion into a restaurant (16:12). He mentions that in 1964, thousands of tourists were expected to arrive to celebrate St. Louis’ 200th anniversary and the gateway was scheduled for completion (17:23).
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFi...