The History Center has a growing collection of films and videos. Holdings include commercially produced films on genealogy, the circus, and other Bridgeport related topics in the general collection. But BHC films also include locally produced footage of events or places, Bridgeport promotional or marketing segments, interviews from cable access television, documentaries on local history subjects, and “home movies.” Check our Films section for viewing some of the department’s collection online.
Please be aware that the Bridgeport History Center does not have playback machines for all a/v formats.
Bullard Company – Man Au Trol: How it Works
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 ...
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Mount Trashmore
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 ...
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Bridgeport: A Legacy of Neighborhoods
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 ...
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Blizzard of 1934
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 ...
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Mayor Jasper McLevy Administration: 1930’s Civic Improvements
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 ...
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Bridgeport: A Closer Look (1990)
Bridgeport: A Closer Look is a marketing film produced in 1990 on Bridgeport, Connecticut, by the Lynmark Group and the City of Bridgeport ...
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Dolly Curtis Interviews Mary K. Witkowski, Historical Collections, Bridgeport Public Library
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 ...
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Barnum Festival, 1949, pt. 1, by Vincent Frazzetta, Sr.
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 ...
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Barnum Festival, 1949, pt. 2, by Vincent Frazzetta, Sr.
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 ...
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Barnum Festival, 1949, pt. 3, by Vincent Frazzetta, Sr.
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 ...
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Barnum Festival, 1949, pt. 4, by Vincent Frazzetta, Sr.
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 ...
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Bridgeport: Toward the Good Life
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 ...
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Rare Film: Fireman and Police parade; UMC-Remington Arms Workers, 1912
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 ...
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Barnum Festival Parade, 1956
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 ...
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Bridgeport Player’s Club Production, 05/03/1940
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 ...
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Holmes & Edwards Silver Company – Marketing film
Industrial film produced by the Holmes & Edwards silver company in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The film shows workers manufacturing silver items (more…) ...
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Memorial Day Parade, 1923-1929
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 ...
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Ice Cutting on Bunnell’s Pond, Beardsley Park, 1932-1939
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 ...
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