Due to the recent seizure of megaupload.com by the FBI, most of my (legal) files  (under EU law where this blog originates and in accordance with the Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. § 107) are no longer accessible.


I feel that the U.S. Government/the FBI is TOTALLY ABUSING its powers by negating CITIZENS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES the right to use a LEGAL SERVICE THEY HAVE PAID FOR!!!!


I have heard that EF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) is helping to get U.S. users to get their legally stored Megaupload files back (if they're still on the servers) -- but what about international users?


Is there any way to sue the FBI for not allowing me to use a (legal) service I have paid for, with hard-earned money?

Educational Films About U.S. History (Part 13 - Westward Expansion)

Pioneers of the Plains (1942)

Experiences of a pioneer family on their journey from Illinois to the Midwestern plains.

This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Encyclopaedia Britannica Films, Inc.

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

DOWNLOAD (Divx as multi-part rar-file):
PART 1 (95 MB)
PART 2 (31 MB)

Educational Films About U.S. History (Part 12 - The Civil War)

The Civil War (1954)

Dramatization of important military events and imagery of the places where they occurred.

This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Encyclopaedia Britannica Films

Creative Commons license: Public Domain



DOWNLOAD (Divx as multi-part rar-file, 15:06)
PART 1 (95 MB)
PART 2 (88 MB)

Educational Films about U.S. History (Part 11 - The Donner Party)

Trail of Tragedy: The Excavation of the Donner Party Site
AVA19387VNB1 - 1994

For many years a plaque has marked the spot where the donner party presumably spent their tragic winter of 1846-47 trapped by the heavy snows of the Sierra Nevada. The Tahoe National Forest working with archaeology students from the university of Nevada.

Producer: Department of Agriculture, United States Forest Service,
Tahoe National Forest

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

DOWNLOAD (Divx as multi-part rar-file, 28:45)
Part 1 (95 MB)
Part 2 (95 MB)
Part 3 (95 MB)
Part 4 (55 MB) 

NOTE: You'll need a program like WinZip, WinRar or similar to extract/combine parts.

Public Domain (and downloadable) Literature:

Houghton, Eliza P (Donner),

The Expedition of the Donner party and its Tragic Fate (1911)

(PDF, 53.4 MB)

 

McGlashan, C. F. (Charles Fayette),

History of the Donner party: a Tragedy of the Sierra (1902)

(PDF, 32.8 MB)

The Location of Site of Breen Cabin; General C.F. McGlashan, Donner Party Historian, declares present pioneer monument covers exact spot where hut stood. Array of interesting facts presented relating to early investigation of sites of various cabins occupied by members of ill-fated pioneer party (1920) (PDF, 2.6 MB) 

The fate of the Donner Party was also dramatised for Episode #09
of the 1935 radio series "Frontier Fighters" -
DOWNLOAD THAT EPISODE (32 kbps mp3, 3.26 MB, 14:14)
or download and listen to the complete series  
(134.2 MB zip-file) at archive.org.


"Insight", KXJZ, Sacramento, CA, October 30, 2006


"Insight", KXJZ, Sacramento, CA, March 24, 2008

Patrick Breen's diary, in its entirety, at the Academy of Pacific Coast History

Daily Diary of the Donner Party (from primary sources), compiled by Daniel M. Rosen

PBS American Experience - watch online 

Educational Films about U.S. History (Part 10 - Allegheny Portage Railroad)

Allegheny Portage Railroad
AVA19380VNB1, 1993

The video gives the history of the Allegheny Portage Railroad in the westward movement of settlers and commerce in central Pennsylvania in the mid-1800's.

Producer: National Park Service
Harpers Ferry, WV. Harpers Ferry Center.
Creative Commons license: Public Domain.



DOWNLOAD (Divx as multi-part rar-file, 19:54):
PART 1 (95 MB)
PART 2 (95 MB)
PART 3 (45 MB)

NOTE: You'll need a program like WinZip, WinRar or similar to extract/combine parts.

Educational Films about U.S. History (Part 09 - The Erie Canal)

"America's Heritage: The Erie Canal" (1957)
Producer: Warner Pathé News

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

DOWNLOAD (Divx, 79 MB, 06:39)

Educational Films about U.S. History (Part 08 - Flatboatmen of the Frontier)

Flatboatmen of the Frontier (1941)

Presents a phase of pioneer agricultural economy in the early nineteenth century. Portrays Ohio Valley farmers as they fell trees, prepare the lumber, and build a flatboat to carry their produce down the river to market.
Producer: ERPI Classroom Films, Inc.

Creative Commons license: Public Domain.

DOWNLOAD (Divx, 127 MB, 10:18)

Educational Films about U.S. History (Part 07 - War of 1812)

The War of 1812
ARC Identifier 37624 / Local Identifier 146.5.
Contributor/Producer, U.S. Navy.
Creative Commons license: Public Domain.



DOWNLOAD (Divx, 238 MB, 1957)

On a related note:

Restoration Of 'Star Spangled Banner' Uncovers Horrifying New Verses

Educational Films about U.S. History (Part 06 - Lewis & Clark)

Lewis and Clark (1950)

Dramatization of the expedition made by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the land from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Coast.
Producer: Emerson Film Corp./Encyclopedia Brtannica

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

DOWNLOAD (Divx, 200 MB, 16:43)

Educational Films about U.S. History (Part 05 - The American Revolution)

A Force of Citizens
AVA04979VNB1 - 1994
Illustrates the formation of the National Army and Navy of the US at the time of the American Revolution.
Producer: National Park Service
Audio/Visual: sound, color
Creative Commons license: Public Domain



DOWNLOAD (Divx, 144 MB, 12:06)

Educational Films about U.S. History (Part 04 - 1776)

Americans: 1776
AVA01335VNB1, 1975
Presents a view of everyday life during the time of the American Revolution. Shows the crafts, ways of life, and the differences of attitudes among various types of people living in the colonies.
Producer: National Park Service
Creative Commons license: Public Domain

DOWNLOAD (Divx as multi-part rar-file) (30:01)
PART 1 (95 MB)
PART 2 (95 MB)
PART 3 (95 MB)
PART 4 (46 MB)

NOTE: You'll need a program like WinZip, WinRar or similar to extract/combine parts.

Educational Films about U.S. History (Part 03 - Early Westward Movement CONTINUED)

"The American Pioneer"
(Almanac Films, undated, probably 1940s)
DOWNLOAD (Divx as multi-part rar-file) (19:46)
PART 1 (95 MB)
PART 2 (95 MB)
PART 3 (43 MB)

NOTE: You'll need a program like WinZip, WinRar or similar to extract/combine parts.

Educational Films about U.S. History (Part 02 - Early Westward Movement)

Cumberland Gap (AVA15022VNB1, 1986)
This film focuses on Cumberland Gap as a special place of passing for thousands of years--a place with a long relationship to the affairs of man. It relates the important role the gap played in opening the West to settlement.
Producer: U. S. Department of Agriculture
Creative Commons license: Public Domain.

DOWNLOAD (Divx, 125 MB, 10:28)








Kentucky Pioneers (1941)

Follows pioneer families along wilderness road to Kentucky. Shows their schools, recreation and everyday tasks, such as weaving, soap-making, cooking, carpentry and candle-making.

Production Company: ERPI Classroom Films, Inc., distributed by Encyclopedia Britannica

Creative Commons license: Public Domain.

DOWNLOAD (Divx, 125 MB, 10:32)

For Independence Day Weekend - Educational Films about U.S. History (Part 01 - New England Settlers)

Puritan Family of Early New England (1955)
Production Company: Coronet
Creative Commons license: Public Domain 
DOWNLOAD (Divx, 127 MB, 10:28)


  
Early Settlers of New England (Salem 1626-1629)

Dramatized impressions of the life of the pioneer settlers in a New England colony.
Producer: Encyclopaedia Britannica Films

Creative Commons license: Public Domain  
DOWNLOAD (Divx, 72 MB, 05:54)

Bob Wills on WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX, 1955

"Music Country Style" - Host Billy Gray presents Bob Wills and the 1955 incarnation of His Texas Playboys, featuring "younger brother" Billy Jack Wills on local Dallas/Fort Worth TV channel WFAA (16:08).

From Videobeat's compilation of Public Domain Bob Wills footage.

DOWNLOAD (Divx as multi-part rar-file):

PART 1 (95 MB)
PART 2 (95 MB)
PART 3 (7.73 MB)


NOTE: 
You'll need a program 
like WinZip, WinRar or similar
to extract/combine parts.

James Newill croons "Barbecue Bill" in "Renfrew of the Royal Mounted" (1937)

While browsing the listings of public domain movies at archive.org, I came across the following review:

Reviewer: surfvh -

- July 7, 2008
Subject: The best baritone in movies
This is a really fun film with the lead actor being the best baritone in all of the movies I've watched so far. His rendition of "Barbecue Bill" is really great, and worth watching the movie just to hear him sing it! The rest of the movie is good as well, especially the Italian chef who is Renfrew's rival. I highly recommend this film. You gonna love it!

Naturally, I had to download this 1937 film - and was quite pleasantly surprised by the performance singled out by above reviewer - to the point of having to include it in my own archives (and this blog).

So please, grab a soda and some popcorn (or some hamburgers...), make yourself comfortable and enjoy

A LAUGHING...SINGING DAREDEVIL of the WILDS!
The first motion picture of the famous radio and fiction character...with Jimmy Newill, sensational star of radio.

Info from archive.org:
Director: Albert Herman
Producer: Al Herman
Production Company: Grand National Pictures Inc.
Audio/Visual: sound, b&w
Creative Commons license: Public Domain

Cast:
James Newill
.... Sgt. Renfrew
Carol Hughes
.... Virginia Bronson
William Royle
.... George Powlis
Herbert Corthell
.... James Bronson
Kenneth Harlan .... Roger 'Angel' Carroll

Dickie Jones .... Tommy MacDonald
Chief Thundercloud .... Indian guide (as Chief Thunder Cloud)
William Austin .... RCMP Constable Kelly
Donald Reed .... RCMP Constable MacDonald
Lightning the Wonder Dog .... Lightning, Renfrew's Dog

Additional review:

Reviewer: ccandreva - - August 19, 2004
Subject: Very Enjoyable

...While the general image quality of the print is very good, there are a number of drop-outs. The beginning and end seem to have frames missing, as are bits throughout the movie. Including an entire punch line to a joke.

DOWNLOAD 
(ENTIRE MOVIE, 56:09: Divx as multi-part rar-file):

PART 1 (95 MB)
PART 2 (95 MB)
PART 3 (95 MB)
PART 4 (95 MB)
PART 5 (95 MB)
PART 6 (95 MB)
PART 7 (95 MB) 
PART 8 (22 MB)

DOWNLOAD "BARBECUE BILL"
(Divx, 2:00, 24 MB)

Louis Jordan & The Tympany Five, AFRS "Jubilee" Radio Shows (c. 1943-'45)

From Wikipedia:
"The prime of Louis Jordan's recording career, 1942-1950, was a period of segregation on the radio. Despite this he was able to score the crossover #1 single "G.I. Jive"/"Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby?" in 1944, thanks in large part to his performance in the Universal film Follow the Boys. Two years later, MGM had its cartoon cat Tom sing "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby?" in the 1946 Tom and Jerry cartoon short Solid Serenade.
During this period Jordan again placed more than a dozen songs on the national charts. However, Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five dominated the 1940s R&B charts, or as they were known at the time, the "race" charts. In this period Jordan scored a staggering eighteen #1 singles and fifty-four Top Ten placings. To this day Louis Jordan still ranks as the top black recording artist of all time in terms of the total number of weeks at #1....
Jordan's popularity was boosted not only by his hit Decca sides, but also by his prolific recordings for Armed Forces Radio and the V-Disc transcription program, which helped to make him as popular with whites as with blacks. He also starred in a series of short musical films, as well as making numerous "soundies" for his hit songs. The ancestor of the modern music video, "soundies" were short film clips designed for use in audio-visual jukeboxes. Jordan also had a cameo role in the Hollywood wartime musical Follow the Boys.

TECHNICAL NOTES: 
This is uploaded as a multi-part rar-file - to extract and combine the parts, you'll need a program like WinRar or WinZip.

Once extracted/combined, you'll have a folder with lossless FLAC-files, an ffp-"Flac Fingerprint"-file (to verify the integrity of your files), a txt-file with setlist and notes on the recording and CD artwork (for an 80 min. CD-R).

You can convert the FLAC-files to wav-files (for burning as audio CDs) with software like Trader's Little Helper or other tools for your specific OS.

01. Five Guys Named Moe - 3:07
02. Pistol Packin' Mama - 5:22
03. I Can't Get Started - 5:21
04. Rose Room - 4:52
05. Good Ol' Nagasaki - 3:19
06. "Outro Tune" - 2:29
07. Jumpin' At The Jubilee - 1:58
08. I'm Going To Move To The Outskirts Of Town - 2:54
09. Better Off Without You - 1:35
10. How High Am I? - 2:20
11. Hey! Now Let's Live - 2:25
12. Slender, Tender, and Tall - 2:31
13. (My Feet Are Killing Me Marching In) The Infantry Blues - 2:18
14. Is Ya Is, Or Is Ya Ain't My Baby - 3:18
15. Caldonia Boogie - 2:09
16. Bahama Joe - 2:39
17. Couldn't Happen To Nobody Else But Me - 2:52
18. Caldonia Boogie - 1:25
19. You Was Right Baby - 3:00
20. O'Fay And Oxford Gray - 2:34
21. Reconversion Blues - 2:22
22. Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe - 2:36
23. Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe - 2:21
24. Is You Is, Or Is You Ain't My Baby - 3:02
25. Don't Worry 'bout That Mule - 2:14
26. "Outro Tune 2" - 2:19
27. Choo-Choo, Ch' Boogie - 2:37
28. Let The Good Times Roll - 2:41

These tracks come from multiple broadcasts, specific locations and dates are unknown, but at least some of the tracks were recorded at The Zanzibar Club, New York, NY.

DOWNLOAD:
PART 1 (95 MB)
PART 2 (95 MB)
PART 3 (95 MB)
PART 4 (95 MB)
PART 5 (7.35 MB)

Taper-friendly artists: Mary Gauthier, Ottersum, NL, June 4, 2010 (soundboard/audience matrix)

Moved to my new blog "Taperfriendly Artists" at
http://taperfriendlyartists.blogspot.com/

Carson Robison, "Ford R&G Used Cars" Show, date unknown (c. 1930s-1940s)

And even more oldtime country radio  
- 128 kbps VBR mono mp3 file, 
complete info in ID3 tag:

Carson Robison & His Buckaroos:
01 Careless Love (Opening Theme)
02 Home On The Range
03 Ford "R&G" Used Cars Sales Pitch
04 Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie
05 Down On The Levee
(Down In The Valley)
06 Intro
07 Goin' Back To My Good Old Texas Home
08 Ford "R&G" Used Cars Sales Pitch
09 Golden Slippers
10 Wabash Moon
11 Intro
12 Boots And Saddles
13 Ford "R&G" Used Cars Sales Pitch
14 Whistling Solo (Closing Theme)
(TOTAL TIME: 14:56)

FROM RADIO TRANSCRIPTION DISCS 

(commercially unreleased, 
believed to be PUBLIC DOMAIN), 
location and exact date of recording unknown (c. 1930s-1940s).


NOTE: The 1977 public domain material/"bootleg" album, releasing these transcriptions for the first time, dates them as coming from 1949 (which is probably incorrect, as a listing of surviving transcriptions in The Carson J. Robison Collection should indicate).

DOWNLOAD (13 MB Mono mp3)

Carson Robison, "CR Ranch" Show #2 (date unknown, c. 1935)

More oldtime country radio  
- 128 kbps VBR mono mp3 file, 
complete info in ID3 tag:


CARSON ROBISON 
& His Pioneers
(with John Mitchell, Bill Mitchell, Pearl Mitchell):


01 Wait For The Wagon
02 I Left My Gal In The Mountains
03 There's A Bridle Hanging On The Wall
04 Hear Dem Bells
05 Carry Me Back To The Lone Prairie
06 I Left Her Standing There
(With A Do-Dad In Her Hair)
07 Careless Love
08 Whistling Solo
09 Home On The Range
10 Closing Theme
11 Red Wing
(TOTAL TIME: 21:11)

FROM RADIO TRANSCRIPTION DISCS 
(commercially unreleased, believed to be PUBLIC DOMAIN), 
location and exact date of recording unknown (c. 1935).

DOWNLOAD (22 MB Mono mp3)