[Home Movies of the San Pedro Fishermen’s Fiesta / circa 1949 - 1950]

Dateca. 1949-1950

DimensionsL: 326 ft

ClassificationsMoving Images

Credit LineGift in Memory of Ben Fukuzaki

Object number2002.1.2

DescriptionColor home movie footage taken by Ben Fukuzaki during the San Pedro Fisherman’s Fiesta, circa 1949 to 1950. Fukuzaki’s boat “Nancy Rose” is seen sailing past other decorated boats in Fish Harbor, Terminal Island. Most of the boats are decorated in red, white, and blue while others have other themes such as Halloween or Valentine’s Day. There is also footage of people on the harbor looking at the boats, and people on the boats as passengers eating together and picnicking.

0:30 - “Welcome Fisherman’s Fiesta” banner
0:50 - Boats are passing by a harbor; shows other boats that are docked in the harbor as well 1:00 - The Nancy Rose passes by (undecorated)
1:13 - The Nancy Rose is decorated with lots of red, white, and blue patriotic bunting and a California state flag
1:26 - Fleet of boats packed with people on them and each of the boats decked out; also shows the packed crowds on the harbor watching the boats
1:53 - Close up of a boat with a banner that reads “Sea Miners”; Oakland is written on the side of the ship; the boat has a dirt hill with a person riding a horse and an American flag stuck into the dirt
2:00 - Wide-shot of the crowds; shows the flags on some of the ships as well – one flag reads “Western Clipper”
2:11 - First shot of a family sitting down on a boat; picnic seems to be happening on the dock of the harbor; lots of people are crowded around the picnic table
2:41 - Velero IV is the first boat in the lineup; camera pans around the other boats near it; the camera continues to pick up on the boat names and decorations
4:10 - Camera faces the open water; lots of boats are cruising on the open water as well; camera seems to focus on the other boats and some of the buildings by the shore
4:38 - Camera now turns to the passengers on the boat that the cameraman is filming on (the Nancy Rose); there is a mix of passengers from different racial backgrounds – many passengers are Japanese American; food is placed on the table in the middle of the boat
6:13 - Camera captures the harbor/shore where crowds are still watching the boats; then pans to the open ocean to catch boats still sailing before panning back to the crowd on the harbor; also footage of boats returning to the harbor
8:39 - Close up of the Stella Maris while docked at the harbor; decorated with red, white, and blue bunting; close up shots of people on the boat, standing around, and eating together; more footage of boats sailing by
9:58 - Fisherman’s Fiesta cake and cake cutting; group shot of people sitting on the harbor
10:20 - (footage becomes granier) Boats are sailing on open ocean (unsure if towards the harbor or just on open sea); some are decorated in large American flags, bunting, Halloween decorations and Valentine’s decorations; another ship has a “island”/Hawaiian theme in it as well; a series of three small boats have banners that read “Tell your Congressman” “We Need Tuna Tariff” “Write To-Day”
14:49 - Brief clip of people feeding deer with holes in the film, could be Nara, Japan (because of the deer)
14:51 - end

Color home movie footage taken by former Terminal Islander Ben Fukuzaki during the San Pedro Fisherman's Fiesta in the late 1940s/early 1950s. Fukuzaki's boat "Nancy Rose" is shown passing by the French Sardine Company building in Fish Harbor, Terminal Island, and there are many long shots of the fishing fleet assembled in the harbor. Most of the boats are festooned with banners, bunting, paper lanterns, and other decorations. There are also shots of crowds of people enjoying themselves at a large picnic or potluck, where long tables are covered with food.;1 film reel (326 ft.) : si., col. ; 16 mm. original pos. , Title supplied by cataloger.