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Handy (Jam) OrganizationBehind the Bright Lights (1935)

How Chevrolet's giant electric sign in downtown Chicago works.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
Sponsor: Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W
Keywords: Advertising: Outdoor; Electricity; Chicago

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Classic_TV_and_Radio_Fan - - November 18, 2008
Subject: Good
Very good.

Reviewer: ERD - - May 25, 2006
Subject: Excellent film for its era
"Behind The Bright Lights" is a flashy, short vintage film showing how the 1935 Chevrolet electric sign in Chicago worked and was maintained. Informative and entertaining.

Reviewer: Christine Hennig - - December 7, 2003
Subject: CHEVROLET...CHEVROLET...CHEVROLET...
This 30s film tells us how the huge lighted Chevrolet sign in New York City worked, including the part where letters crawl by spelling various advertising messages. ItÃÂÃÂs actually pretty interesting and well explained. Of course, I love old signs anyway so this is just up my alley.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: **. Weirdness: ***. Historical Interest: ****. Overall Rating: ****.

Reviewer: Spuzz - - January 12, 2003
Subject: Where are the unions when you need them?
A fascinating historical relic, The big Chevrolet sign seemed to be one GIANT headache to take care of. In the film we see workers precariously, and I mean PRECARIOUSLY, hanging off swings to screw new light bulbs in. Some are even shown hanging on to dear life with no support at all! This is not an easy site to see, folks. As well, we see the electrical goings on explained to us. All I can say to THAT is... ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE MAKING. Reccomended!

Shotlist

SHOWS HOW NEWS IS FLASHED ON THE ELECTRIC SIGN, THE PRINCIPLE OF THE MOTOR GRAPH, AND HOW PRODUCTS OF MODERN INDUSTRY ARE PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC. SIGN, MADE OF MANY BULBS, ADVERTISES CHEVROLET.


BILLBOARDS ELECTRICITY LIGHTS PERCEPTION BULBS CHEVROLET ADVERTISING AUTOMOBILES ELECTRIC SIGNS MOTOR GRAPH LABOR WORKERS TECHNICIANS ENERGY CITIES AERIALS ODDITIES HUMOR SKIES BUILDINGS ROOFS CHICAGO, ILLINOIS MICHIGAN AVENUE