The Frederick O Smetana Family

These are clips from seven reels of 8mm film converted into digital files of Dr Frederick O Smetana Phd family between 1958 and 1962

They show the four children of Dr Frederick Smetana and Adelaide Virginia Smetana.

The eldest Daniel, plus Martha, Andrew and Paul Fran celebrating various birthdays and the opening of Christmas presents.

Frederick and Adelaide appear in these films. Their marriage endured over 50 years until Adelaides demise in July 2005 with Dr Smetana passing in May 2011 in Raleigh N.C at the age of 83

A full obit is available on the Dignity memorial website 

These films were shot during the period of 1955 to 1961 whilst Dr Smetana was a research scientist at the University of Southern California where he earned his Ph.D. in Engineering. 

At that time the family were living at 2445 Frances Avenue, La Crescenta Monrose, California in a rather imposing property

Of the chldren, Andrew seems to have had a fine career as a police officer and is now retired and living in Sparta New jersey

Should you be interested in recovering these memories to perhaps have them converted in a more usable format, please use the contact form on the top right of the page. They are standard 8 and have all been run through a projector and are in very good condition.

  

 

The Manfred Weidberg Family

These are films of the Manfred ( Fred ) Weidberg Family of 286 Cherry Place, East Meadow, New York.

There are two rolls of 8mm Standard 3" 50ft rolls of around 4 minutes duration shot between 1962 and 1964. One roll relates to a visit to Parrot Jungle in Florida with three boys aged around 11-14 as well as the mother. Two of the boys are Clifford and Steven

The second roll is that shown in the first video which is of a family holiday in Florida with three boys, a young couple, as well as the grandparents on the beach and by the pool at the Shoreham Norman Hotel on Miami Beach

If my research is correct Manfred and his brother Siegfried arrived, aged just 17 years 9 months and 16 years 6 months respectively in the USA aboard the steamer Nyassa from Portugal in December 1940. Manfred went on to serve in the war, Siegfried became a doctor. They had followed their parents Samson and Laura who had arrived in February of the same year aboard the Vulcania from Gibraltar

Like many people from Europe of Jewish heritage, it is likely they were fleeing the persecution that was being inflicted in Austria at that time. My source for this history is Ancestry.com where there are public family trees associated with Manfred Weidberg from the Teller ( Harris ) and Winston family archives




Clifford is living in Florida and Steven still lives in New York

These films are in very good condition and would make a great addition to the famiy archive and are available to purchase. Please use the contact form at the side of the page should you wish to bring them back into your family.

The John W Glenn Family

This is footage from a film of the John Willis Glenn family from 33 N King Avenue, New Castle PA back in 1958

This particular reel shows twin sisters getting dressed for their confirmation as well as an older sister in her prom outfit ?

Some research shows a John W Glenn born on 6th Feb 1918 and passed 30th April 2003 in Neshannock PA

The son of John C Glenn and Cara B Clover John Willis in 1930 had 6 siblings, Clarence, Charlott, Clara, Chester, Mary and Edna ranging in age from 16 year old Clarence to 1 year old Edna.

However from here the trail goes cold. Maybe you recognise a relation in this video?

There are a further 19 Standard 8 3" reels of 50 ft  per reel which play for around 4 minutes. So around 80 minutes in all. Most are in great condition and play back fine through a cine projector. A few have some graining issues but still play.

They range in date from 1959 to 1971 with family get together's at Xmas, Birthdays, holidays in Florida, at the beach. JFK on TV at Xmas 1961, Twin sisters who could be Judy and Melanie according to some writing on the original boxes. They are seen getting of the bus coming back from school. Mom in her band uniform. The family dog and Cars. Granny and Grandpa at family get togethers. Badminton in the yard. The older girl, possibly Pat in the Xmas films.

These films all in all are a great collection of memories which can be cherished as they are or converted to digital format

Is this your family ? The house in N King Ave was home right into the 21st Century for the Glenns so there must be someone out there who would like to get these films back into the possession of the family




The 20 reels of 8mm film are available to purchase via paypal. Please contact me via the contact form at the side of the page for the cost, inc shipping.