U-Matic
19 Detroit Ethnic Spots 1973, 11/12/73
U-Matic tape containing 19 television public service announcements for the different Ethnic Festivals held at the riverfront behind Cobo Hall during the summer of 1973. The bulk of the commercials feature scenes of people--usually dancers--in folk costume from previous events, coupled with narration emphasizing food, music, and dancing. Several spots also feature greetings in foreign languages spoken to the camera. Each spot ends with the logo of sponsor, the Pabst Brewing Company.
The first segment is an introductory spot in which Mayor Roman Gribbs invites the viewer to attend the season's Ethnic Festivals. Afterward are commercials for the Greek Festival, Irish Festival, Slovak Festival, German Festival, Italian Festival, American Festival (featuring "hot dogs, tap dancing, apple pie, drum and bugle core, and lots more"), the Far Eastern Festival (encompassing China, Indian, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, and the Philippians, and featuring "singing and dancing, karate demonstrations, and lots more"), the Captive Nations Festival (covering thirteen eastern European nations, and featuring shots of a bandura player, pastries, and the Miss Polish Festival winner dancing), Afro-American Festival, Indian Festival, Ukrainian Festival, Polish Festival (featuring shots of the polka bands the Polka-Delics, the V-Tones, and the Tempo Tones), International Week (featuring shot of various types of dancing from around the world, carnival foods, and a "handwriting analysis" sign), the Mexican Festival, the Arab Festival, the Armenian Festival, the Scandinavian Festival, and the Latin American Festival.
The video is on a Sony KC-30 U-Matic tape with both a blank Sony label on its top, as well as a smaller typewritten and handwritten label marked, "Pabst 19 spots, Pstr A." The tape is housed within a black vinyl case with a matching typewritten label on its cover. The case is then housed within a beige Sony slipcase. Three copies of a typewritten sheet listing the spots are included inside of the case:
Detroit Ethnic Festivals ... 1973 TV Commercials
1. Mayor Roman S. Gribbs
2. Greek May 25, 26, 27, 28
3. Irish June 1, 2, 3
4. Slovak June 8, 9, 10
5. German June 8, 9, 10
6. Italian June 22, 23, 24
7. American June 29, 30, July 1, 2
8. Far Eastern July 6, 7, 8
9. Captive Nations July 13, 14, 15
10. Afro-American July 20, 21, 22
11. Indian July 27, 28, 29
12. Ukrainian Aug. 3, 4, 5
13. Polish Aug. 10, 11, 12
14. International Aug, 31, Sept. 1, 2, 3
15. Mexican Sept. 7, 8, 9
16. Arab Sept. 14, 15, 16
17. Armenian Aug. 24, 25, 26
18. Scandinavian Aug. 17, 18, 19
19. Latin American Sept. 21, 22, 23
