https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/37bcd6f7-bfb5-48c8-b62a-fbff2af5dabe Help us preserve, scan and post more rare and endangered films on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCddem5RlB3bQe99wyY49g0g/join Website: www.PeriscopeFilm.com Part 2: https://youtu.be/1iOTHzbSx68 Dating to January 19, 1961, this kinescope film shows a portion of President John F. Kennedy's pre-inaugural gala, featuring Ella Fitzgerald, Bette Davis, Laurence Olivier, Gene Kelly, Louis Prima and Keely Smith, Mahalia Jackson, Sidney Potier, Joey Bishop, Leonard Bernstein, and more. The telecast was directed by Peter Lawford. The event was held at the National Guard Armory. Despite a major snowstorm that disrupted performances and technical issues including audio problems, the gala was a historic event. This program blended music, satire, and solemn reflection. It opens with a performance of the national anthem by Mahalia Jackson. The evening includes humorous political commentary and tributes from notable figures in entertainment, such as Bette Davis and Joey Bishop, who offer both lighthearted and poignant reflections on the state of the nation and the significance of the presidency. A particularly moving speech by Sir Laurence Olivier expresses international admiration and hope for America's new leader. The event concludes with a poetic prayer for strength, wisdom, peace, and renewal as the nation enters a new chapter under its freshly elected leadership. 0:00 – The program opens with an introduction by the announcer, welcoming the audience and introducing Mr. Nelson Riddle and conductor Leonard Bernstein. 1:18 – The musical performance begins. 3:38 – The phrase “Here we go” signals a transition into a continued energetic performance emphasizing “Heat.” 5:13 – A narrator begins a monologue with fragmented phrases like “I’m going to walk you through my...,” 7:27 – The voice says, “They’re over here,” and a formal introduction follows: “Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Mahalia Jackson.” 8:24 – Mahalia Jackson performs a stirring rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which continues through a full vocal performance of the national anthem. 9:59 – The next speaker greets the audience and humorously comments on the Democratic Party’s spending and the lack of rehearsal, tying it into political satire. 11:17 – Bette Davis is introduced to present reflections on America’s geographical and cultural expansion, and the growing political engagement of the entertainment industry. 13:00 – The program moves into a humorous alphabet tribute spelling out "Lyndon Baines Johnson," using creative and satirical associations for each letter, as read by Anthony Quinn, Sidney Potier, Frederick March and Sir Laurence Olivier. 15:57 – Sir Laurence Olivier begins a heartfelt speech, adopting the perspective of an outsider expressing admiration and hope for the new American president. 18:04 – Olivier praises America’s new leader, reflecting on the responsibility and hope invested in him, and emphasizes the global importance of his role. 20:05 – The focus shifts to a broader philosophical reflection on democracy and the dignity of elected leadership, presenting it as the highest political calling. 21:27 – The program pauses for a meditative moment, emphasizing the importance of silence and reflection on the eve of political transition. 23:01 – A solemn prayer-like invocation asks for strength, wisdom, peace, and renewal for the nation and its people, closing with a hopeful vision of the future. Motion picture films don't last forever; many have already been lost or destroyed. For almost two decades, we've worked to collect, scan and preserve the world as it was captured on 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies -- including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction. If you have endangered films you'd like to have scanned, or wish to donate celluloid to Periscope Film so that we can share them with the world, we'd love to hear from you. Contact us via the weblink below. 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 http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFi2M1Zs_4o Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Thu, 11 Jun 2026 06:24:47 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/37bcd6f7-bfb5-48c8-b62a-fbff2af5dabe All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.