Films

Film enthusiast Nicholas Soltis was born and raised in Bridgeport and spent his entire career as a policeman on the Bridgeport force. Nick enjoyed taking home movies of family gatherings and special events in Bridgeport. In this film, Mr. Soltis captured the 1956 Barnum Festival ...

This is the first segment of four reels of 8mm film taken during the first year of the Barnum Festival in Bridgeport, 1949. This segment begins with a long shot of the stature of P.T. Barnum located at Seaside Park. The photographer pans from the statue ...

This second segment of four reels of 8mm film taken by Bridgeport resident Vincent Frazzetta, Sr., during the first year of the Barnum Festival in Bridgeport, 1949. This segment begins with the Barnum Festival Parade on lower Park Avenue near the Perry Memorial Arch. Parade: band; floats; clowns; ...

This segment opens with a shot of the main entrance to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus tent then switches to crowds milling about circus tents. Many animals such as lions and tigers may be seen in cages. A sign for the Ringling ...

Film segment opens with a demonstration of a Remington electric shaver then a Bridgeport Brass Company booth at the Bridgeport Progress Exposition sponsored by the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce. A dairy booth with live cows is featured next. A shot of Long Island Sound and ...

Silent home movie documenting the blizzard of 1934 in what was originally thought to be Bridgeport, but now looks to be in neighboring Fairfield. While the original film maker is unknown, the film features not only edited clips, but opens with a title card that ...

The Firebird Society is a branch of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters that grew out of a class action discrimination lawsuit against the City of Bridgeport Fire Department in 1975. The lawsuit lasted ten years and went to the U.S. Supreme Court.

This silent film follows a Bridgeport Player's Club or drama club's production.  The film is in both black and white and color and has text card interspersed throughout.  Both men and women participate in the production.

 Bridgeport:  A Closer Look  is a marketing film produced in 1990 on Bridgeport, Connecticut, by the Lynmark Group and the City of Bridgeport.

This 1986 film from Cablevision of Connecticut visits different neighborhoods and community leaders throughout the city. Highlights include an African American choir at the Full Gospel Pentecostal Church, Puerto Rican education and civil rights advocate Cesar Batalla, Ozzie's Shoe Repair in the Hollow, Greek dancing, ...

A promotional film on Bridgeport produced by People's Bank in the early 1970's. The film covers the City's location within Fairfield County, infrastructure, industry, arts and culture, schools, social service organizations and other features as a publicity and marketing tool to attract business and residents ...

This 1951 film was produced by the Bullard Company, the famous inventor and manufacturer of the vertical lathe. The film contains extensive instructions on how to operate the Man Au Trol machine (Manual or Automatic Control), with instructions for specific tasks. The beginning of the ...

 Local public access cable channel star Dolly Curtis interviews History Center Head Emeritus Mary K. Witkowski. They discuss Bridgeport's history as well as the nature of the Center's collections and mission and department activities and projects. 2001.

Industrial film produced by the Holmes & Edwards silver company in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The film shows workers manufacturing silver items in the factory plant, sales representatives receiving training, and retail sales people showing customers Holmes & Edward products. The film dates 1935-1949 and was the ...

Ice Cutting “Ice Cutting” was produced for a local Bridgeport Company, The Southern New England Ice Co., which was already over 100 years old at the time the film was made in the 1930’s.  The film depicts an activity that was once essential to city and ...

Bridgeport native Joseph "Joe" Minto is interviewed by Matt Larry about his experiences during World War II. Minto describes his work before he was drafted into the Army and sent for training in Bradenton, Florida, crossing the English Channel shortly after D-Day and joining the ...

This 1930's era silent, black and white film shows locations around the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, where infrastructure improvements are being implemented under the aegis of the Mayor Jasper McLevy administration. Scenes include: Park Avenue; Seaside Park; Bridgeport Harbor (including lighthouse); State Street; North Avenue ...

Memorial Day Parade in Bridgeport, Connecticut, 1923-1929 This film is from the period between the World Wars. The World War I manufacturing boom further expanded Bridgeport’s already well established status as a significant industrial center in the Northeast and strongly associated the city with the munitions ...

Video created by community members opposing City of Bridgeport's management of Mount "Trashmore," a large, illegal dumpsite located on the City's East End in the early 1990s.

1912 - Some of our Bravest and Finest (movie) Bridgeport History Center This silent film was found hidden in the archives of the Lewis Corbit Photo Studio Collection.  It is thought that this was taken by either Lewis Corbit or a family member as the firemen and ...

This film commemorates the Hungarian community in Bridgeport and the immigrant experience, particularly the people of Hungary and other countries who made America their home. The film depicts the fortunes of an Hungarian immigrant family in Bridgeport, Connecticut, during the first half of the Twentieth ...