Glimpses of Florida

. . . about the Man Who Ruined Florida (aka, "The Sunshine State"). Back in the 1900s, when GLIMPSES OF FLORIDA was filmed, tourists seldom took a step without setting foot on an alligator. On many occasions lucky travelers were blessed to observe BOTH of their lower limbs supported by crocks. But then the pernicious Ross Allen, depicted here as the annihilator of 36,000 of these cute peninsular denizens, according to his own count. By the end of Allen's gator carnage, demographers estimate that nearly half of the Old South citizenry had closets full of gator belts, shoes, stilettos and brasiers. Now, in this Our Modern 21st Century, sightseers have been known to spend entire days amid all the relentless sunshine without ever observing an alligator.

Traveltalks goes to southern Florida. They were stuck in the Americas during the war years and they mostly traveled around the U. S. It's rather peaceful. Even Miami looks very white bread. I can do without Swanee River. Just because the river flows into Florida doesn't mean the song has to be included. Of course, they have to show an old black Aunt Jemima couple laughing and smiling. The old south is still rising. Florida has crazy white people doing alligator wrestling and rattlesnake milking. There are Seminoles in traditional costumes. This is Florida in its tourist trap glory.

James A. Fitzpatrick sends the Technicolor cameras to southern Florida, with Robert Carney to run them, so we can look at the hotels of Miami Beach, the swamps, the palm trees, and listen to someone sing "Swanee River."

I knew the area somewhat about a quarter of a century later, visiting my grandmother, and it hadn't changed much. There were still the big hotels, places where you could watch guys 'milk' snakes of their venom, and the public library looked like it was set in a small town.

Although the copy that plays on Turner classic Movies is not in the best shape, the colors remain striking.

James A. FitzPatrick produced and directed a series of one-reel short subjects (just over ten minutes each)often called "Traveltalks" distributed to theaters across the nation mainly in the 30's and 40's. FitzPatrick narrated the travel films as "The Voice of the Globe." He was assisted by his able cameraman, Bob Carney, who supplied the pictures. All the later travel shorts were in color at a time when other shorts (and most movies) were in black and white. The color, the skilled camera work, and FitzPatrick's intriguing narration made the Traveltalks popular.

"Glimpses of Florida" begins with a story about how southern Florida changed from a desolate area of sand to one of balmy palm trees beginning in 1878 when a wrecked ship loaded with coconuts was salvaged by the local inhabitants who proceeded to plant the cargo. At the time "Glimpses of Florida" was released, southern Florida was still sparsely populated but a playground for tourists. FitzPatrick and Carney highlight African American culture in Florida as Stephen Foster's "Swanee River (Old Folks at Home)" is sung in the background. Seminole culture is spotlighted as well, with emphasis on their customs, crafts, and dress.

Ross Allen and his sister are shown catching turtles and alligators. Ross struts his stuff by wrestling an alligator that appears to be either tame or tranquilized. Carney gets to show off his underwater camera work which is truly dazzling, especially for 1941. Silver Springs bathing beauties close out this Traveltalk displaying their swimming talents (plus other natural gifts) for the audience.

Today, FitzPatrick and Carney's travel adventures are more a curiosity than entertainment. The Traveltalks seem quaint, showing the viewer how the world looked once upon a time.

A fairly interesting Traveltalk short from James A. FitzPatrick deals with Florida as a tourist resort. Mention is made of the cargo of coconuts that ended up in Florida after a shipwreck and were the source of the many sheltering palms long the shoreline.

Various scenes of resorts in Miami with their private pools and outdoor dining facilities are glimpsed before we move to the Everglades and scenes along the Swanee River. A look at Cypress Gardens is followed by scenes of Seminole Indians living along the Swanee River.

Some underwater scenes of swimmers frolicking with sea turtles and what must be a tranquilized alligator is skillfully photographed and shows how clear the Florida waters are.

Just slightly better than average for a FitzPatrick short.