Film clip from The Powers Girl

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A film clip of the opening scene from a musical comedy with the title The Powers Girl. It consists of a single reel of positive, black-and-white, 16mm acetate film with variable-density optical sound. The footage opens with a sign on the screen that reads [STATE FAIR GROUNDS / TO DAY / FINAL JUDGING - FANCY BRED HOGS]. A second sign appears on the screen that reads [SPECIAL ADDED ATTRACTION / BENNY GOODMAN AND HIS BAND / FEATURING DENNIS DAY / ONE DAY ONLY….RAIN OR SHINE]. Next, members of The Benny Goodman orchestra are seen performing on stage as Goodman himself plays the clarinet. The camera slowly pans away from the stage to reveal audience members dancing in the rain. At one point, a woman slides across the field and is helped up by Jerry Hendricks (George Murphy). Jerry Hendricks sends his companion, "Charlie" to the stage, where he introduces himself to Benny Goodman.

Catalog date

1943

Recorded places

New York, United States, North and Central America

Recorded subjects

African American; Film; Instrumentalists (Musicians); Jazz (Music); Musical films

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