If you must leave the house tonight for trick or treating, please make sure you watch the indispensable “What To Do In A Zombie Attack” in order to learn how best to protect yourself.
If you wisely choose to stay home, you may want to try watching one of these highly educational films:
On Friday October 27, independent media journalist Brad Will was killed while covering the protests in Oaxaca, Mexico. He was shot with his camera running. His final footage was uploaded to the Archive and may be seen here (note: the streaming files do not work; right-click and save to download the file). Today’s Democracy Now discuses the protest and shooting, and features a tribute to Brad, it is available as video or audio. Two videos from a vigil held for Brad in Worcester, MA were uploaded and are available here and here.
The Internet Archive has over 100,000 audio items, but some of our favorites are songs written for children. A personal favorite is the catchy “I’m In A Pickle,” about a pickle-obsessed klutz. For anyone who doesn’t like their vegetables, ” Brussel Sprouts” really encompasses the depths of vegie-phobia. We’ve also got techno for kids, a radio show produced by kids, some songs made by kids, and children’s songs in Dutch.
– Alexis
You can download any movie on the archive and reformat it to play on your iPod, but some of our users have uploaded versions of popular movies that are all ready to be downloaded and played without the extra work.
When your Friday afternoon is going a little too slow, you might want to try a couple of these short but funny clips found on the Internet Archive.
The Internet Archive hosts a variety of interesting, old silent films. We also have a few new ones!
If you’re looking for the vintage, black and white variety, check out the antics and “special effects” of a sprightly demon in “Le Diable Noir” (1905), watch an early sci-fi flick like “Le Voyage Dans La Lune” (1902), a swashbuckling Douglas Fairbanks in “Mark of Zorro” (1920), the chilling “Nosferatu” (1920), “The General” (1927) with Buster Keaton, and many others.
If you’re interested in newer films, try the slapstick story “Hochbetrieb” (watch all the way to the end!), the sentimental “First Love,” sleepy “En retard,” or the silly “Mr. Stewart Takes a Drive.”
– Alexis
One of many great films made by the Centron folks in Lawrence, Kansas, A Day of Thanksgiving (1951) tells the story of a working-class family who can’t afford a holiday turkey dinner. Instead of stuffing themselves, they decide to think about what they’re thankful for. Unlike most Cold War films, this one doesn’t link freedom and happiness with the pursuit of material gain.
For more practical advice, cruise over to Let’s Talk Turkey (also 1951), which is full of kitchen suggestions that the Internet Archive does not endorse.
Looking for some dramatic music for your Halloween party? Or maybe you’re just looking to scare the beejeebies out of some trick or treaters?
Check out Calling All Fiends, a compilation of Halloween-inspired songs released by OddioOverplay.com.
– Alexis
If 290 Superman radio shows aren’t enough for you, we’ve also got 23 animated Superman episodes from the 1940s.
– Alexis
One of our Archive users has been uploading hundreds of episodes of The Adventures of Superman into our Old Time Radio collection. Check them out!
Today we ran across a couple of video items that teach you how to play the banjo, so check them out and improve your pickin’ skills:
Just in case banjo isn’t your thing, you can also brush up on your Folk Guitar skills.
– Alexis
We borrowed this entertaining collection of British public information ephemeral films from our friends at the European Archive. Among other critical topics covered here, you will find (thankfully!) instruction in the proper use of handkerchiefs.
