Culley family collection of Cinecraft Productions audiovisual materials 2018.201
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on September 14, 2021. Description is written in: English. Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Audiovisual Collections PO Box 3630 Wilmington, Delaware 19807 [email protected] URL: http://www.hagley.org/library Culley family collection of Cinecraft Productions audiovisual materials 2018.201
Table of Contents
Summary Information ...... 3 Historical Note ...... 4 Scope and Content ...... 6 Administrative Information ...... 7 Controlled Access Headings ...... 8 Collection Inventory ...... 8 Company and personnel history ...... 8 Films ...... 12 Educational materials ...... 27
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Summary Information
Repository: Audiovisual Collections Creator: Cinecraft, Inc Source: Culley, John Creator: Culley family Title: Culley family collection of Cinecraft Productions audiovisual materials ID: 2018.201 Date [inclusive]: 1937-2016 Date: bulk 1937-1975 Physical Description: 5 Linear Feet General Physical 19 reels : sd., col. ; 16mm. 7 reels : sd., b&w ; 16mm. 76 magazine/ Description.: newspaper clippings. 111 articles : copies. 7 advertisements : copies. 81 photographic prints : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. 2 photographic prints : b&w ; 10 x 12.5 in. or larger. 13 photographic prints : b&w ; 6 x 9 in. 30 photographic print : b&w ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller. 3 photographic prints : color ; 8 x 10 in. 1 photographic print : color ; 5 x 7 in. 14 transparencies : color ; 8 x 10 in. 7 transparencies : color ; 5 x 7 in. 5 negatives : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. 1 negative : b&w ; 4 x 5 in. 4 contact sheets. 1 drawing : colored pencils ; 11 x 11 in. 81 slides : color ; 35mm. 24 filmstrips. 6 sound discs : analog ; 33 1/3 rpm. 11 sound cassette tapes : analog. 1 videocassette (VHS). 1 album. 30 booklets. 27 letters. 5 certificates. 8 scripts. 1 coloring book. 54 items. 7 Gigabytes. Language of the English . Material: Abstract: Cinecraft Productions was founded in 1939 by Ray Culley (1904-1983) and Betty Culley (1914-2016) in Cleveland, Ohio. Ray Culley served as president of the company until his retirement in 1970. During his tenure, Cinecraft specialized in commercial productions for business, industry, trade organizations, and, in some cases, government agencies and social service organizations. Cinecraft was one among hundreds of production houses in the U.S. during the middle decades of the 20th century that specialized in motion pictures commonly referred to as non-theatrical, industrial, business and/or sponsored films. This collection documents the history of the company, the people that worked there, and some of the company's film and educational projects. The collection has been arranged into three series: Company and personnel history; Films; and Educational materials. The materials - Page 3- Culley family collection of Cinecraft Productions audiovisual materials 2018.201 date from 1937 to 2016 with a bulk of the collection dating from 1937 to 1975.
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Historical Note
Cinecraft Productions was founded in 1939 by Ray Culley (1904-1983) and Betty Culley (1914-2016) in Cleveland, Ohio. Ray Culley served as president of the company until his retirement in 1970. During his tenure, Cinecraft specialized in commercial productions for business, industry, trade organizations, and, in some cases, government agencies and social service organizations. Cinecraft was one among hundreds of production houses in the U.S. during the middle decades of the 20th century that specialized in a motion pictures commonly referred to as non-theatrical, industrial, commercial, business and/or sponsored films. While ownership has changed twice since its founding, Cinecraft is still in business and rightfully claims itself the "country's longest standing corporate film & video production house."
Cinecraft's founder, Ray Culley, was born in 1904 in Norwalk, Ohio. He apprenticed and worked as a watchmaker and jeweler for twelve years before moving to Hollywood in 1930 with the intent of working in the movies. He started his Hollywood career as an actor with bit parts in a number of films before moving behind the camera as a production manager and assistant director mainly for Allied Pictures, Liberty Pictures, and Republic Films. In 2018, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) lists Culley as part of the production team on twenty-three films in the genres of westerns, dramas, and comedies.
Culley's transition to industrial/sponsored filmmaking came in 1937 when he was hired as assistant director on a General Electric film titled From Now On produced by Tri-State Productions in Cleveland. The movie was written and produced like a Hollywood film except it was entirely funded by GE and featured numerous GE products. This work influenced him to move back to Ohio where he was hired as the director on another commercial film The World's Largest Electrical Workshop for the General Electric Lighting Division in Cleveland.
Betty (Buehner) Culley was born in 1914 in Germany and immigrated to the United States in 1923. Her family ended up in Cleveland where her father worked on the construction of the Terminal Tower. When she met her future husband, she was employed as a film editor with Tri-State Productions in Cleveland. She later worked as an editor for a film lab in New York where she gained experience working with 16mm sound film, a relatively new format at the time.
Ray and Betty married in May 1939 and started Cinecraft that same year. Betty Culley recognized the economy and potential of 16mm film and influenced her husband to employ the format in their new business of making commercial films. Since 16mm was a cheaper format then 35mm, films became affordable for more businesses to employ in marketing and advertising opening up a larger customer base. Betty Culley was also instrumental in developing the multi-camera film shooting methods that became an important element of Cinecraft's success. That innovation brought down production costs as well.
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Cinecraft started its production studio in a rental space in the Card Building in Downtown Cleveland. Their first film was a thirty-minute educational safety film titled You Bet Your Life for the Cleveland Railway Company under contract with Fuller & Smith & Ross, a prominent Cleveland-based advertising agency. The early years of Cinecraft brought work from many local businesses and national businesses with satellite offices and/or operations in Ohio. Fuller & Smith & Ross played an important part in Cinecraft's early years. Cinecraft produced films for Westinghouse from their start. Westinghouse was among the ad agencies most prominent clients at the time. During the Second World War, Cinecraft made films for the government -- they received a check for $34,486 in 1944 from the U.S. Treasury related to work they did for the Navy. Starting in 1948, Cinecraft began producing television advertisements directly for clients and through ad agencies including Fuller & Smith & Ross, McCann Erickson, and Lang, Fisher & Stashowe.
After less than ten years of operation, Cinecraft moved its operation to the Cleveland Chamber of Industries Building at 2515 Franklin Ave in Cleveland. The $45,000 purchase price paid in 1947 provides insight into the company's early success. They renovated the building's atrium into a soundstage. The space allowed them to design and build custom sets for a variety of productions. In the 1940s, they added an animation department that included five full-time artists. According to a notation in the Cinecraft log books, between 1939 and 1959 Cinecraft produced 299 films and 900 TV/Radio commercials.
In addition to Westinghouse, prominent clients during Ray Culley's tenure as the head of Cinecraft (1939 to 1970) included DuPont, Hercules Powder, Standard Oil of Ohio, Seiberling Rubber Company, Firestone, Goodyear, Bethlehem Steel, Owens-Corning, Ohio Bell Telephone, General Electric, American Greetings, Carling Brewing, The Austin Company, and Republic Steel.
Cinecraft also produced films for trade organizations including the National Association of Manufacturers, American Society for Metals, Lake Carriers Association, and the American Iron and Steel Institute. On a smaller scale, they produced films for various governmental agencies, social service agencies, and religious organizations
Many of their accounts -- Westinghouse, General Electric, Ohio Bell Telephone, Republic Steel, and Standard Oil of Ohio being prime examples -- lasted for decades. Production of films for the steel, energy, and tire industries endured well into the twentieth century.
Cinecraft relied on local acting talent from the Cleveland Playhouse but also attracted well known (or soon to be well known) actors and celebrities to appear in their films including Alan Alda, Don Ameche, Merv Griffin, Wally Cox, Tim Conway, Brian Donlevy, Reed Hadley, Chet Huntley, Danny Kaye, Otto Kruger, George Montgomery, Burgess Meredith, Basil Rathbone, and James Whitmore. Future presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan also participated in Cinecraft projects.
Starting in the 1940s, Cinecraft developed and employed a 3-camera production technique that would later become standard for shooting television shows. In 1950, Cinecraft produced a film for the Domestic Sewing Machine Company under contract for Fuller & Smith & Ross. The President of Domestic Sewing Machine Co, Dodge E. Barnum (1902-1981), wrote an article for Advertiser's Ink in September 1950 titled "Three-camera technique used to shoot TV film." In the article, Barnum described how the method saved time and money by eliminating re-shoots from multiple angles and lighting changes which were necessary with single camera shoots.
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The three-camera film technique improved the quality of television programming re-broadcasts by eliminating the need for low quality versions that used a kinescope - a film camera that would produce a copy of a broadcast from a video monitor. In 1953, Cinecraft demonstrated the three-camera technique in a film they described as "experimental" titled Sadie Ferguson - Postmistress. The last five minutes of the film went into detail about the advantages of the production method.
Cinecraft produced a television series called The Ohio Story, an educational program that started on radio in 1947 before transitioning to TV in 1951. In all, 1,309 radio shows and 175 TV films were made in the series. The Ohio Story sponsored by Ohio Bell Telephone -- ran on local Ohio television until 1962.
In addition to producing industrial films and television commercials, Cinecraft made slide films for clients and audio only programs for radio. In some cases, they managed the sales of film prints for clients and, on a small scale, sold stock footage which provided another revenue stream.
In 1970, Ray Culley sold the business to his younger brother Paul Culley (1924-2016) and his wife Christine (Hofstetter) Culley (1921-2016), who ran the business until 1985 when they sold it to its current owners Neil McCormick and Maria Keckan. McCormick and Keckan were Cinecraft employees at the time of the sale.
Cinecraft began to transition from film to video in the 1970s. They produced their final work on film in the early 1980s. Starting in the 1990s they began to transition to the digital technology that is now ubiquitous in all motion picture production. They are one of the few independent industrial/commercial production houses that successfully transitioned through these three significant technological changes.
Cinecraft continues to operate out of the same facility purchased by Ray Culley in 1947. In recent years, Cinecraft has evolved into a nationally recognized producer of custom content for corporate learning and development clients.
A special thanks to Jim Culley for his research and contribution to this historical note.
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Scope and Content
This collection documents the history of the company, people that worked there, and some of the films and educational projects. The collection has been arranged into three series: Company and personnel history; Films; and Educational materials. The materials date from 1937 to 2016 with a bulk of the collection dating from 1937 to 1975.
Company and personnel history series includes correspondence, account ledgers, Ray Culley's phonebook, biographies of select personnel, staff photographs, newspaper and magazine articles, and awards. The two account ledgers document the financial activities surrounding films made between 1945 and 1971. The account ledgers are copies. Of particular note is a memoir about Paul Culley, and two oral
- Page 6- Culley family collection of Cinecraft Productions audiovisual materials 2018.201 history interviews with key members of Cinecraft of which there is both a digital video and a written transcript. The materials date from 1939 to 2016.
The Films series contains reels for twenty-six films. The films are generally sponsored by a company or trade organization such as General Electric, the DuPont Company, Hercules Powder, Westinghouse, Armco Steel, National Association of Manufacturers, and the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce. There is associated documentation related to thirteen of the twenty-six films. The related documents include copies of articles about the film or showings of the film, brochures, advertisements, and published film descriptions. Six scripts or shooting scripts are included. In some cases there are photographs or transparencies. There is documentation related to thirty-two films in which the film reels are not a part of the collection, four of which have digital copies and there are two digital videos with no accompanying material. There are a few photographs of studios built by Ray Culley. There are production stills which include photographs of film appearances of Ray and Betty Culley, Ray and Betty's oldest two sons, Jim and Paul, as children, and their family home when it was used as a shooting location. The films are arranged chronologically by the date of the film creation, which is not necessarily the date of the associated documentation. Most of the articles and advertisements are copies. The materials date from 1937 to 1975.
Educational materials series contains booklets, audio, and filmstrips for classes on electronics, reading, and writing. There are also two sets of a children's educational series called "The Lollipop Dragon," which was geared at pre-school and elementary school age children, created by three Kent State students and produced by Cinecraft Productions. This series is arranged chronologically and the materials date from 1970 to 1972.
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Administrative Information
Publication Statement Audiovisual Collections
PO Box 3630 Wilmington, Delaware 19807 [email protected] URL: http://www.hagley.org/library
Access Restrictions This collection is open for research.
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Existence and Location of Copies View selected images in Hagley's Digital Archives.
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Controlled Access Headings
• Motion picture industry. • Motion pictures -- Production and direction • Industrial promotion • Industrial films • Culley, John
Collection Inventory
Company and personnel history, 1939-2016 Controlled Access Headings: • Motion picture industry -- Employees • Culley, Ray, Jr. Title/Description Instances Correspondence, 1943-19651994 box 1 folder 1
Sale of business from Ray Culley to Paul Culley, 1970-1973 box 1 folder 2
Account ledger, "black book," copy, 1946-1959 box 1 folder 3 Scope and Contents
Motion picture productions.
Account ledger, "black book," copy, 1949-1954 box 1 folder 4 Scope and Contents
Slide film productions.
Account ledger, "black book," copy, 1951-1955 box 1 folder 5
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Scope and Contents
Miscellaneous projects.
Account ledger, "black book," copy, 1947-1963 box 1 folder 6 Scope and Contents
Sound department projects.
Account ledger, "black book," copy, 1948-1961 box 1 folder 7 Scope and Contents
Television spots productions.
Account ledger, "black book," copy, 1945-1947 box 1 folder 8 Scope and Contents
Motion pictures made for television list.
Account ledger, "black book," copy, 1948-1955 box 1 folder 9 Scope and Contents
Frank Siedel - Storycraft projects.
Account ledger, "black book," copy, 1947-1955 box 1 folder 10 Scope and Contents
Checking account spreadsheets.
Account ledger, "black book," copy, 1953-1956 box 1 folder 11 Scope and Contents
Checking account spreadsheets.
Account ledger, "black book," copy, 1953-1963 box 1 folder 12 Scope and Contents
Checking account spreadsheets.
Account ledger, "black book," copy, 196119681969 box 1 folder 13 Scope and Contents
Invoices.
Account ledger, "red book," copy, 1959-1971 box 1 folder 14
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Scope and Contents
Project lists by invoice number.
Betty Culley monthly notes for external auditor, 1954-1956 box DF 19 Scope and Contents
Includes a typescript copy prepared by Jim Culley in 2019.
Ray Culley's personal photographs, 1925-1950s box 9 folder 1 Scope and Contents
Includes: Cinecraft staff group portrait; Ray Culley aviataion snapshots; an ad for flying lessons to be inquired about at Rogers Jewelry Store; staff posed in interior of Kays Jewelry Store; James Whitmore and Ray Culley on Cinecraft set; Richard Nixon and Ray Culley on Cinecraft set; behind the scenes of Cinecraft productions; and three items related to the zeppelin crash "Shenandoah" in 1925 due to a storm: a newspaper clipping; a piece of cloth of the zepplin; and a small plaque.
Ray Culley's phonebook, copy, undated box 1 folder 15
Light control console drawing, undated box DF 19
Cinecraft Motion Pictures diesel electric generator truck, circa box DF 19 1950s
Cinecraft staff group photograph, 1959 January 15 box DF 19
Cinecraft staff photographs, 194019591960 box 1 folder 16
Cinecraft staff photographs, 193519571960 Scope and Content
Includes: Ray Culley, Bob Welchan, director; Ray Culley with chief cameraman, Harry Horrocks, and staff at wedding reception.
Cinecraft personnel biographies, 2019undated box 1 folder 17 Scope and Contents
Includes: Christine "Chris" Hofstetter Culley, William Donohue Ellis, Robert Welchans, Harry Horrocks, Robert "Bob" E. Haviland, Reed Hadley, Ray Culley, and Everett Dodrill.
Partial list of Hollywood movies Ray Culley worked on, undated box 1 folder 18
Magazine articles, 1944-194719591963 box 1 folder 19
Newspaper clippings, 19391953-1966 box 1 folder 20
Newspaper clippings scrapbook, circa 1949-1954 - Page 10- Culley family collection of Cinecraft Productions audiovisual materials 2018.201
box 4
Newspaper clipping, Air Force film, 1969
"Three-Camera Technique Used To Shoot TV Film," by Dodge E. box 1 folder 21 Barnum, 1950 Scope and Contents
Article appeared in "Printers' Ink."
Merit Award for Advertising Excellence, 1955 box 1 folder 22 Scope and Contents
To Raymond Culley from the Cleveland Advertising Club.
Best Commercials on TV, 1954 box DF 19 Scope and Content
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) award to Cinecraft Productions, Inc. for Libby- Owens-Ford Plate Glass and Ohio Bell Telephone.
Best Productions on TV: 5 minutes or more in duration, 1954 box DF 19 Scope and Content
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) award to Cinecraft Productions, Inc. for Magnificat and Milestones in Motoring.
Best Filmed Commercial, 1955 box DF 19 Scope and Content
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) award to Cinecraft Productions, Inc., Ray Culley for McCann Erickson, Inc. and Standard Oil Company of Ohio.
Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineers membership box DF 19 certificate, 1941 March 14 Scope and Content
Ray Culley.
Cinecraft Productions 50th Anniversary, 1988 June 9 box 4 Scope and Content
WEWS-TV5 6PM news.
Cinecraft Productions, Inc., Remembering How It All Began, 1999 December 17
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Scope and Contents
Cinecraft Productions, Inc., Remembering How It All Began, box 1 folder 23 1999 December 17 Scope and Contents
Transcript of interviews with Paul Culley, Bob Haviland, and Neil McCormick. Moderated by Jim Haviland.
A Memoir Paul Eugene Culley, Growing up: 1924-1945, box 1 folder 24 199920142017 Scope and Contents
"Paul wrote this memoir when he was 75. The memoir was edited and photos were added by Paul R. Culley (son) and Carol Denzinger (daughter) in 2014. Jim Culley (nephew) added the cover and a number of pictures in 2017."
Cinecraft Productions, Inc., John, Jim, and Ray Culley - Remembering Ray Culley and The Start of Cinecraft, 2016 May 16
Cinecraft Productions, Inc., John, Jim, and Ray Culley - box 1 folder 25 Remembering Ray Culley and The Start of Cinecraft, 2016 May 16 Scope and Contents
Transcript of interview with John Culley, Jim Culley, and Ray Culley. Interviewed by Neil McCormick.
Biographical info, by Jim Culley, 2018 Scope and Content
Includes: Betty Buehner - A Life Fulfilled and Ray Culley from Hollywood to the Founding of Cinecraft Productions.
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Films, 1937-1975 Controlled Access Headings: • Ohio • Steel industry and trade. • Electric industries • Kitchen appliances Title/Description Instances From Now On, 1937 box 2 folder 1
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Scope and Contents
General Electric.
The Romance of Iron and Steel, 1938 film Can 9 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (600 ft) : sd., b&w ; 16mm. TRT 00:21:16. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC09]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by Armco Steel Company. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. Directed by Ray Culley. Narrated by Basil Ruysdael. Film follows process of turning iron ore into steel. Research building erected in 1937 is depicted. Founder of Armco, George M. Verity speaks at end of film.
The Romance of Iron and Steel, 1938 box 2 folder 2 Scope and Contents
Armco Steel Company.
World's Largest Electrical Workshop, 1938 General
Presented by General Electric. Produced by Tri-State Pictures. Directed by Ray Culley. Photographed by Robert Sable. Narrated by Alois Havrilla. Shows the research and manufacturing work of General Electric.
World's Largest Electrical Workshop, 1938 box 2 folder 3 Scope and Contents
General Electric.
You Bet Your Life, 1938 box 2 folder 4 Scope and Contents
Cleveland Railway Company. First Cinecraft movie.
General Electric pamphlets, 1939undated box 2 folder 5 Scope and Contents
Mrs. Cinderella and The Poor Wife's Revenge.
Story of Phenothiazine, 1940 film Can 14 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (600 ft) : sd., col. ; 16mm. TRT 00:20:41. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC14].
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Scope and Contents note
Presented by E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Story of Phenothiazine, a drug created by DuPont for removal of worms, from sheep, swine and other farm animals. Film depicts the Beltsviile Research Center of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Story of Phenothiazine, 1940 box 2 folder 6 Scope and Contents
E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company
It Happened in the Kitchen, 1941 film Can 3 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (900 ft) : sd., col. ; 16mm. TRT 00:39:21. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC03]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by Modern Kitchen Bureau. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. The importance of the modern kitchen and how modernizing can benefit the average American. Fictional couple is shown various kitchen remodels and how they too can afford a new kitchen. Includes preparation of food and food shots as well.
It Happened In The Kitchen, 1941 box 2 folder 7 Scope and Contents
Modern Kitchen Bureau.
DuPont, A Better Way, circa 1941 film Can 6 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (600 ft) : sd., col. ; 16mm. TRT 00:20:37. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC06]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. Two poultry farmers, using different methods, need to boost production because of World War II. One farmer raises concerns about accessing Vitamin D. DuPont introduces Delsterol to end Rickets in chicks.
Our Part of the Job, 1942 film Can 21 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (500 ft) : sd., col. ; 16mm. TRT 00:17:59. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC21].
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Scope and Contents note
Presented by Hercules Powder Company. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. Film depicts two fictional house painters using Hercules Steam-Distilled Wood Turpentine. They visit a paint store and discuss the product with the store owner. Then they view a film by Hercules Powder Company about how the turpentine is produced.
Our Part of the Job, 1942 box 2 folder 8 Scope and Contents
Hercules Powder Company.
Careers for Cellulose, 1944 film Can 11 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (600 ft) : sd., col. ; 16mm. TRT 00:24:15. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC11]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by Hercules Powder Company. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. Film describes the many products derived from cellulose and the careers created as a result. Some uses shown from cellulose derivatives are lunchboxes, motion picture film, glider parts. Also, many products are shown created of plastic, chemically derived from cellulose are piano keys, furniture, costume jewelry, handles, combs and more. The process of making chemical derivatives from cellulose is explained, from cotton to products.
It All Adds Up, 1945 box 2 folder 9 Scope and Contents
Westinghouse Electric.
Little Known Facts About a Well Known Product-Ridgid, 1945 film Can 22 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (900 ft) : sd., col. ; 16mm. TRT 00:39:21. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC22]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by The Ridge Tool Company. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. Exterior of Ridge Tool Company plant in Elyria, Ohio is shown. Then film moves inside to show various office and employees of plant. Finally, the production floor is depicted, including the foundry, forge shop, machine shop and heat treating department. Multiple tests for various products are shown. Lastly, all Ridgid pipe tool products are shown.
The Micrometer, circa 1945 - Page 15- Culley family collection of Cinecraft Productions audiovisual materials 2018.201
General Physical Description note: 1 reel (400 ft) : sd., col. ; film Can 18 16mm. TRT 00:14:56. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC18]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by The Federal Security Agency and the U.S. Office of Education. Produced by Loucks & Norling Studios. Directed by F.E. Brooker. Number 2 in the series, Machine Shop Work in the Metal Working Industry. Film describes how to use a micrometer caliper. Diagrams show all aspects of the instrument and different scenarios of how to use the micrometer are explained.
Crystal Clear, 1946 box 2 folder 10 Scope and Contents
Fostoria Glass.
Linter Logic, 1946 film Can 17 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (600 ft) : sd., col. ; 16mm. TRT 00:20:19. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC17]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by Hercules Powder Company. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. Film depicts fictional Ogletree family that runs a cottonseed mill and how they expand their business to supply linters for the growing market of products created with cellulose.
Flight in the Ohio Heritage, 1967 film Can 19 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (400 ft) : sd., b&w ; 16mm. TRT 00:14:55. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC19]. Scope and Contents note
Description of the history of flight in the Ohio area. Includes photographs of the Wright Brothers flight and historical footage of various aircrafts. Introduces the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio and contains footage of aircrafts from museum.
Naturally-It's F.M., 1947 film Can 1 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (500 ft) : sd., b&w & col. ; 16mm. TRT 00:20:47. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC01]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by General Electric. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. Directed by Ray Culley. Written by Frank
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Siedel. Husband explains radio technology to his wife. Film includes flashback to characters as children and newlyweds as well animation that visually depicts radio technology.
Naturally-It's F.M., 1947 box 2 folder 11 Scope and Contents
General Electric.
A Report on DDT, 1947 film Can 10 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (600 ft) : sd., b&w ; 16mm. TRT 00:18:44. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC10]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by the DuPont Grasselli Chemicals Department, this film explains the importance of the chemical Deenate or DDT. A professor/entomologist describes to a farmer how DDT helps in agriculture and livestock industries. Images of farms being crop dusted and livestock being sprayed with DDT are included.
Thank You Mr. Chips, 1947 box 2 folder 12 Scope and Contents
National Potato Chip Institute.
Miracle on Mulberry St., 1948 film Can 7 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (700 ft) : sd., col. ; 16mm. TRT 00:24:04. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC07]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by Seiberling Rubber Company. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. Directed by Ray Culley. Written by Frank Siedel. Film about fictional residents of Mulberry street and their safety concerns. Includes demonstrations of tires that can withstand nails and punctures and reseal themselves.
Miracle on Mulberry St., 1948 box 2 folder 13 Scope and Contents
Seiberling Rubber Company. Film location: 21800 Morewood Parkway, Rocky River, Ohio.
Miracle on Mulberry St., 1948 Scope and Content
Production stills.
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Sales Are The Payoff, 1948 box 2 folder 14 Scope and Contents
Bryant Heater.
The Talking Hoist, 1948 film Can 5 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (400 ft) : sd., col. ; 16mm. TRT 00:13:26. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC05]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. and Fuller & Smith & Ross, Inc. Marketing film for the Yale Load King wire rope electric hoist, presented by the Philadelphia Division of the Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company. The hoist animates through a talking puppet face of the "Yale Load King" explaining the benefits of the product. Assisted by a young woman, includes charts and graphics of equipment.
Television Televised, 1948 film Can 15 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (600 ft) : sd., b&w ; 16mm. TRT 00:20:41. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC15]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by The Austin Company. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. Edited into five segments, separated by leader, each one describing a different part of the television process. Includes animation explaining how television signal is sent and received.
Television Televised, 1948 box 2 folder 15 Scope and Contents
The Austin Company.
Two Square Feet of Cooking Magic, 1948 film Can 24 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (400 ft) : sd., b&w ; 16mm. TRT 00:11:02. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC24]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. Film describes the Westinghouse automatic electric roaster oven. Various meals are prepared using the oven and it's use as a food warmer is also shown.
Two Square Feet of Cooking Magic, 1948 box 2 folder 16
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Scope and Contents
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company.
Unto the Least of These, 1948 film Can 13 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (600 ft) : sd., col. ; 16mm. TRT 00:20:42. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC13]. Scope and Contents note
Directed by K. Elmo Lowe. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. The Story of Children's Services: Foster Care Bureau, Adoption Service Bureau, Alice Hunt Center, National Guidance Bureau and the Children's Clinic. Tells the story of young girl taken from her parents and sent to a foster home until they are able to take care of her properly.
Unto the Least of These (Newer version), 1948 film Can 25 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (600 ft) : sd., col. ; 16mm. TRT 00:20:42. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC25]. Scope and Contents note
Directed by K. Elmo Lowe. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. The Story of Children's Services: Foster Care Bureau, Adoption Service Bureau, Alice Hunt Center, National Guidance Bureau and the Children's Clinic. Tells the story of young girl taken from her parents and sent to a foster home until they are able to take care of her properly. Different narrator.
Why Do Home Owners Insulate?, 1948 box 2 folder 17 Scope and Contents
Baldwin-Hill Company.
Home Miracles for 1950, 1949 Scope and Content
Presented by Natural Foods Institute. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. Directed by Ray Culley. Starring W.G. Barnard.
Home Miracles for 1950, 1949 box 2 folder 18 Scope and Contents
Vita-Mix infomercial
Vita-Mix infomercial, 1949
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Scope and Content
Interview excerpt with Paul Culley, Bob Haviland, and Jim Haviland talking about Papa Barnard and the making of the first infomercial.
The Wayward BTU, 1949 film Can 16 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (400 ft) : sd., col. ; 16mm. TRT 00:10:36. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC16]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by Owens Corning Fiberglass Corporation. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. Animation showing BTUs at work in the oven and how fiberglass insulation is used to keep the heat in.
The Wayward BTU, 1949 box 2 folder 19 Scope and Contents
Owens Corning Fiberglass Corporation.
How to Decorate and Light Your Home, 1952 box 2 folder 20 Scope and Contents
General Electric.
Sadie Ferguson - Post Mistress, circa 1952 film Can 23 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (700 ft) : sd., b&w ; 16mm. TRT 00:28:42. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC23]. Scope and Contents note
Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. and Ray Culley. Directed by K. Elmo Lowe. Starring Dorothy Paxton. Fictional character Sadie Ferguson stars in show with various characters set at the Red River Post office. Includes commercial for Hudson Wasp automobile. Director K. Lowe appears with crew at end of film to describe Cinecraft's new 3 camera production process, called Cinescope.
Sadie Ferguson - Post Mistress, circa 1952 box 2 folder 21 Scope and Contents
Biography of K. Elmo Lowe, Dorothy Paxton's husband.
A Fan Family Album, 1954 Scope and Content
Presented by Westinghouse Electric. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. Directed by Ray Culley. Sound by Paul - Page 20- Culley family collection of Cinecraft Productions audiovisual materials 2018.201
Culley. Promotes the line of fans made by Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company with a focus on the innovations made in the late 1940s and 1950s.
I've Got A Story, 1954 film Can 20 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (400 ft) : sd., col. ; 16mm. TRT 00:15:44. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC20]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. Sales film explaining all the food that can fit in various spaces in the new Westinghouse refrigerator. Includes animation explaining how Westinghouse's new cooling technology is used to keep things cold throughout the refrigerator.
Magnificat, 1954 October Scope and Content
Production stills.
Milestones of Motoring, 1954 film Can 2 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (700 ft) : sd., b&w ; 16mm. TRT 00:29:37. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC02]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by Sohio Shale Oil Company. Starring Joe E. Brown, Merv Griffin, Warren Guthrie, and Rita Farrell. Film introducing new Boron supreme gasoline depicts various automobile milestones in Ohio history beginning in 1898. Actors include Rita Farrell, Merv Griffin and Joe E. Brown, with host Warren Guthrie. Includes statements from Sohio's Vice President in charge of Sales, Sam Elliott and Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Milestones of Motoring, 1954 box 2 folder 22 Scope and Contents
Sohio Shale Oil Company.
Tune in Tomorrow, 1954 film Can 8 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (400 ft) : sd., col. ; 16mm. TRT 00:13:59. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC08]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by CBS Radio Network. Produced by United Productions of America. Film predicts prosperity for American economy in 1960 through a higher standard
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of living. Radio advertising, through many statistics, is explained to be the best way for advertisers to reach their audience, primarily advertising on CBS Radio.
Land of Promise, 1955 film Can 4 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (700 ft) : sd., col. ; 16mm. TRT 00:27:38. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC04]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. Directed by K. Elmo Lowe. Written by Frank Siedel. Narrated by Robley Evans. Film explains the importance of Northeast Ohio on the St. Lawrence Seaway and the opportunities it can provide. Highlights the four ports in this area: Cleveland, Fairport, Ashtabula and Conneaut. Discusses the transportation and industrial systems in the area and how they are beneficial to growth.
Land of Promise, 1955 box 2 folder 23 Scope and Contents
Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company.
Sealed Air Safety, 19552019 box 9 folder 2 Scope and Contents
Seiberling Tire Rubber Co. Production still of a man scuba diving. Includes notes compiled by Jim Culley in 2019.
Boy In The Doorway, 1956 box 2 folder 24 Scope and Contents
Autism.
Men Who Made Steel, 1956 box 2 folder 25 Scope and Contents
Republic Steel Company.
Blindness, 1958 box 2 folder 26 Scope and Contents
Three films, one supported by Standard Oil of Ohio.
Ohio The Grown State, 1959 box 2 folder 27
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Scope and Contents
Bureau of Unemployment. Film included three Hollywood actors with ties to Ohio: Brian Don Levy, Reed Hadley, and Otto Kreuger.
Ohio Story, 1959 box 2 folder 28 Scope and Contents
Ohio Bell Telephone Company.
Candidly Speaking, 1960 box 2 folder 29 Scope and Contents
Pennzoil.
Conservation Pays Off, 1960 box 2 folder 30 Scope and Contents
Carling Conservation Club.
Long Ship Passing, 1960 box 2 folder 31 Scope and Contents
Lake Carries.
Letter to Youngstown, 1961 Scope and Content
Presented by Youngstown Sheet and Tube. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. Shows the steelmaking process through the story of a young boy, Jimmy who wants a bicycle for his birthday, but his grandfather gives him a stock certificate to a steel company instead. Jimmy writes a letter to the President of the company to ask why it's so important to be a stockholder. The company president gives Jimmy a tour and explains the significance of the steel industry.
Letter to Youngstown, 1961 box 2 folder 32 Scope and Contents
Youngstown Sheet and Tube.
New World of Stainless Steel, 1961 box 2 folder 33 Scope and Contents
Republic Steel Company.
Water: Pattern of Life, 1961 box 2 folder 34
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Scope and Contents
Ohio Water Commission.
Cleveland: City on a Schedule, 1962 box 2 folder 35 Scope and Contents
Cleveland Development Foundation and the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce.
The Velvet Curtain, 1962 film Can 12 General Physical Description note: 1 reel (600 ft) : sd., b&w ; 16mm. TRT 00:20:49. This film has been digitized [ID: FILM_2018201_FC12]. Scope and Contents note
Presented by The American Good Government Society. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. Starring Reed Hadley. Civics film examining the significance of voting. Follows newspaper reporters encouraging people to go to the polls.
The Velvet Curtain, 1962 box 2 folder 36 Scope and Contents
American Good Government Society.
Teaching Modern Math, 1963 box 2 folder 37 Scope and Contents
Science Research Associates (SRA).
Invitation To Ohio, 1964 box 2 folder 38 Scope and Contents
Wally Cox (Mr. Peepers). Music by Cleveland Orchestra.
The Most Important ..., 1964 box 2 folder 39 Scope and Contents
National Association of Manufacturers.
Building Political Leadership, 1966 box 2 folder 40 Scope and Contents
Republic Steel Company.
Why Politics, 1966 box 2 folder 41
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Scope and Contents
Republic Steel Company.
Bill James-Comedy, 1967 film Can 26 Scope and Contents note
Film follows male character on silly escapades trying to attend a meeting. Can labeled "Bill James-s.w.-Slo-motion- Comedy."
Scott & Fetzer movie, 1967 Scope and Content
Production stills.
C5 Largest Aircraft, 1969 Scope and Content
Presented by the United States Air Force. Produced by Cinecraft Productions, Inc. and the Aerospace Audio- Visual Service Military Airlift Command. A film about the C-5 Galaxy, history, manufacturing process, and system capabilities. Discusses the impact the aircraft will have on military and civilian transportation.
In Quest of Cleaner Air and Water, 1970
In Quest of Cleaner Air and Water, 1970 box 2 folder 42 Scope and Contents
American Iron and Steel Institute.
Projection-70 Urban Systems, 1970 box 9 folder 3 Scope and Contents
SOHIO. Ray Culley Jr. script.
Quick Up Knives, 19702019 box 9 folder 4 Scope and Contents
Quikut. TV commercial. Ray Culley Jr. script. Includes notes compiled by Jim Culley in 2019.
Not With Empty Hands, 1972 box 2 folder 43 Scope and Contents
American Negro Emancipation Centennial Authority (ANECA).
Where's Joe?, 1973 - Page 25- Culley family collection of Cinecraft Productions audiovisual materials 2018.201
Scope and Contents box 2 folder 44
U.S. Steel Industry.
Make Steel But Keep It Clean, 1975 box 2 folder 45 Scope and Contents
Bethlehem Steel.
Studio sets built by Ray Culley, 1962 box 3 folder 1
Production stills and behind the scenes, 1930s-1940s box 9 folder 5 Scope and Contents
Includes images from Ray Culley's time at Allied Pictures Corporation and at Cinecraft: Officer Thirteen with Mickey Rooney and Monte Blue; Joel Gray as a young boy; Dorothy Paxton and K. Lowe; Neil Hamilton; Otto Kruger; Bryan Donlevy; a group of Cinecraft employees with Merv Griffin and Joe E. Brown; and several of images from a Hoot Gibson film(s).
Production stills and behind the scenes, album, 1937-1950 box 8 Scope and Content
Includes the following individuals: Ray Culley, Richard Nixon, Julius Potocsny, Chet Huntley, Tim Conway, Ernie Anderson, Don Ameche, Harry Horrocks, Danny Kaye, Bob Welchans, Reed Hadley, Dorothy Carnegie, Otto Kruger, Nelson Olmstead, Elton Fletcher, Paul Culley, Dorothy Paxton, and 1946 and 1947 company Christmas Card with headshots of staff identified. Includes the following productions or sponsors: General Electric: From Now On; Cleveland Railway Company: You Bet Your Life; Westinghouse: A Fan Family Album; State of Ohio: Bureau of Unemployment Compensation; Miracle on Mulberry Streets; The Talking Hoist; Thank You Mr. Chips; The Wayward BTU; Westinghouse: Two Square Feet of Cooking Magic; Westinghouse: It All Adds Up; General Electric: Naturally It's FM; Fostoria: Crystal Clear; Bryant Heater Co.; Ridge Tool Co.; Seiberling Rubber Company.
Production stills and behind the scenes, 1940-19411955 Scope and Content
Includes: Testing new cine special; On location in So. Euclid; Shooting titles for Hercules Powder Company; On Location, Storm King Highway, New York; On top of Terminal Tower, Cleveland; Ray Culley with Richard Nixon; and production stills from unknown films.
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Production stills and behind the scenes, 1945-1960s box 3 folder 3
Production stills, 1947 box 3 folder 5 Scope and Contents
Jim and John Culley.
Production stills, circa 1959 box 3 folder 4 Scope and Contents
Ray and Betty Culley, "Ohio Story."
Production stills and behind the scenes, circa 1966 box 3 folder 7 Scope and Content
Making an Ohio Story. Includes: Frank Seider, Ray Culley, Stuart Buchanan, Warren Guthrie, Ed Perry, Harry Horrocks, and Bob Haviland.
Production stills, circa 1967 box 3 folder 6 Scope and Contents
Filmed on location at the Culley family home. Includes notes compiled by Jim Culley written in 2019.
Production stills, undated box 3 folder 2
Celebrity headshots, 1930s box 9 folder 6 Scope and Contents
Includes Dawn O'Day; Al Bridge signed "To Ray of Allied From Al of Everywhere"; and Gloria Shea signed "To Ray - lot's of luck Always Gloria"
Chart for optical wipe-offs, undated box 3 folder 8
Advertising ideas, undated box 3 folder 9
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Educational materials, 1970-1972 Controlled Access Headings: • Reading • Writing Title/Description Instances Class In Electronics, 1972 box 3 folder 10
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Scope and Contents
Cleveland Institute of Electronics.
Greater Cleveland Reading Program, undated box 4 Scope and Content
Educational Research Council.
The Lollipop Dragon Adventures, 1970 box 5 Scope and Contents
SVE Educational Filmstrips. Includes: How The Lollipop Dragon Got his Name (Sharing), Working Together, Taking Turns, Kindness to Animals, Care of Property, and Avoiding Litter.
The Lollipop Dragon: Holiday Adventures of the Lollipop box 6-7 Dragon, 1971 Scope and Contents
SVE Educational Filmstrips. Includes: Lollipop Dragon's Valentine Party, The Big Easter Egg Hunt, Mother's Day Surprise, Lollipop Dragon's First Halloween, Thanksgiving in Tumtum, and Lollipop Dragon Helps Santa.
Put It In Writing, 1972 box 3 folder 11 Scope and Contents
Industrial Writing Institute.
Put It In Writing, 1972 box 4
Write To Communicate, 1972 box 4 Scope and Content
Industrial Writing Institute.
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