U-Matic

Clips of City
People Mover
Trappers Alley
Fire Engine Dedication
New Center

U-Matic tape containing a series of shots centered around several locations--the foot of the MacArthur Bridge during the construction to eliminate the underpass from Grand Boulevard, the riverfront and skyline as viewed from the northwestern edge of Belle Isle, the construction of the People Mover track along Park Place, the interior of Trappers Alley, the dedication of a new fire engine in front of the station of Engine 17 and Ladder 7, the interior of New Center One, outside in the New Center Area, and a series of shots of billboards, street signs, and building entrances.

The tape begins with the camera positioned on the northwest corner of Jefferson Avenue and Grand Boulevard during the construction to remove the underpass at the footage of the MacArthur Bridge. The camera plans around showing a view along Jefferson to downtown, the Goodyear tire plant, construction markers, traffic (including an old fire engine), and the Belle Isle sign. The camera then moves to get a direct shot of the construction barricades blocking the south end of the underpass, then pans showing traffic and construction activity from that area, including an excavator and a crane truck.

After another cut, the camera is now positioned near the northwestern side of Belle Isle, near its shore. From the point the camera gets a series of zoomed-in pans across the riverfront side of the tire plant, the MacArthur Bridge, the Ambassador Bridge, the Renaissance Center, and the riverfront between the cement silos and the bridge. The camera also gets a brief shot of people fishing near the tip of the island

After a quick shot of a pile of U-Matic tape cases, the next phase of the tape focuses on the construction of the People Mover track in the vicinity of the Times Square station. The camera captures shots of workers in ditches just below street level around the track's support pillars. Once shot captures traffic on Michigan Avenue from the southeast corner of Cass Avenue and Michigan. Another shot features a worker walking along the tracks overhead. The camera also pan around Telephone Pioneer Park. These shots feature the park's sign and people relaxing on its benches

The next section of the tape centers on Trappers Alley in Greektown. It begins with an exterior shot from the northwest side of Monroe Avenue, The camera then moves inside from a shot from the main corridor at the complex's lower level, panning from the escalators and walkways overhead down to people walking around. The camera moves upstairs for a view of people seated in the food court area. The successive series of shots highlights businesses in the mall, including the Fudgery, the Bayside Fruit and Nut Company, an "open for business" sign. From the complex's upstairs atrium area, the camera captures shoppers, and gets a view of Monroe Street below. The interior footage continues with views of the stores Stampin Grounds, and Sun Vision, as well as pans around the main atrium taken from the upper level and elevators.

The final shot on the tape taken at Trappers Alley features a man, likely Detroit Tigers player Dave Bergman signing autographs beside a display window of sports collectables.

After a brief flash by a character generator-produced title card which reads, "Detroit Alive & Well title card," footage begins of the dedication of a new platform truck outside the station for Ladder Company No. 7 and Engine Company No. 17 on the north corner of Second Avenue, and Burroughs Street. The engine is parked in the driveway of the station, and rows of chairs are set up beside it. After several pans of firefighters lining up beside the new truck, and members of the public in the seats, Marvin Beatty, the administrative assistant to the fire commissions, begins speaking from a stage trailer. He introduces Richard Star, who in turn recognizes members of the Detroit Fire Department who are seated on stage beside him. Next Fire Commissioner Melvin Jefferson takes the podium. He addresses the children in the crowd, and praises the neighborhood surrounding the station. After another cut, the camera person pans around the truck, while an off-camera speaker concludes the presentation. The Detroit Fire Department's clown team then shows up in a small fire truck and passes the station while of its members dangles from the side of the truck. Following another cut, members of the press are shown interviewing Jefferson. The firefighters then start up the new truck, turn on its lights, rev its engines, and raise its ladder, while one of the clowns hands out balloons.

The on-screen text "New Center Area" introduces the next sequence, which begins in the lobby of New Center One. Here, there camera moves around the atrium, along its escalators, and on its central glass elevators, capturing S. Thomas Scarff's sculpture An American Lightbow, and a large American flag made of balloons.

Next, the camera moves out to the intersection of West Grand Boulevard and Second Avenue for an exterior shot of New Center One. More outdoors shots follow around Shot follows of the fountain in New Center Park, the exterior of the Cadillac Building, the West Grand Boulevard and General Motors Boulevard street signs, pedestrians walking beside the Fisher Building, an ad for Pine Knob tickets on the Fisher Theatre's sign, "Summer Swings In New Center" light post banners, the skywalk between New Center One and the Cadillac Building, the Fisher Theatre marquee on Second Avenue, the skywalk Between New Center One and the New Center Building, the short skywalk between New Center One and the Hotel St. Regis, the cafe outside of the Hotel St. Regis, a bicyclist on Second Avenue, a 1984 Tigers-themed "Winners! Do It In Detroit" billboard atop a building on the southwest side of the John C. Lodge Service Drive, and a wide shot of the New Center Area taken from the vicinity of West Baltimore Avenue and the John C. Lodge Service Drive

The camera then moves closer to downtown for a shot of a "Great Neighborhood Living" Do It In Detroit campaign billboard in a parking lot near West Congress Street and Second Avenue. Next, the camera captures close-ups of the street signs for Brush Street and East Jefferson Avenue, with the Millender Center in the background. A shot follows of the construction sign for the Millender Center. Next, the camera zooms in on the Cass Avenue street sign at its intersection with West Fort Street, outside of The Detroit Club. The then camera gets a series of shots of the sign above the entrance to the Book Building on Washington Boulevard. Finally, the camera zooms in on the sign above the arched entrance to Cass Technical High School.

The video is on a 60-minute U-Matic tape with a handwritten label on its top which reads, "People Mvr Station, Trappers Alley, Fire Engine Dedication, New Center/Fisher Theatre, "Do It..." Billboards, Buildings, Signs - Famous Detroiters." The tape is housed in a black plastic latching case with a handwritten 3M label on in its cover.