ORLANDO – The booster promotional film is a staple of mid-20th century American life and a great window into how average Americans perceived their places.
To get a sense of Orlando, check out the below video, produced by the Orlando Chamber of Commerce on the eve of the arrival of Walt Disney World. Featured are the attractions and amenities of Orange County, including the giant Martin Marietta plant and Minute Maid’s operations.
It also has a view of architecture, including office parks, the brutalist Orlando Public Library and local churches and synagogues, where residents can give “their children the opportunity to raise their children in a spiritually rich community.”
Also seen is McCoy Airport, with some snazzy DC-9s from Eastern airlines, jai alai and dog racing. Most interesting is a family just moved to Orlando. The reason? Where the :coveted two week Florida vacation” has become a part of everyday life.
Much of what appealed about Orlando is still there, though traffic and terrorism worries have added new stresses. What has disappeared is the simple innocence of an era lost.
