U-Matic

Freedom Festival Press Conf. Fred Martin, 3-23-89

U-Matic tape containing a recording of the press conference kicking off the 1989 Detroit-Windsor International Freedom Festival in March of that year. The press conference includes Fred Martin, the Chief of Staff for Mayor Coleman A. Young, Windsor, Ontario Mayor John Millson, International Freedom Festival president Margaret Williams, Mike Ilitch of Little Caesar's, the Detroit Red Wings, and the Fox Theatre. Following the press conference on the tape is a remnant of a previous recording of Mayor Young handling questions at the end of another press conference.

After a test pattern over a cacophony of voices, the video begins with Fred Martin, Chief of Staff for Mayor Coleman A. Young at a podium on a conference table. He explains that Young is unable to appear due to sickness. After a brief introduction, he introduces the new mayor of Windsor, Ontario, John Millson.

Millson then talks about the relationship between Detroit and Windsor. He also mentions the "Dinosaurs Alive" attraction, hot air balloons, an airshow, the remote controlled car race, and the new slogan "Two Nation Vacation."

Millson then introduces Margaret Williams, the president of the festival. She recognizes the members of her Windsor staff in attendance, and elaborates on the Windsor events that Millson mentioned, as well as some other events including a tug-of-war over the river, the tugboat race, and a casino in the Cleary Auditorium. She uses her mention of the casino as an opportunity to tease the absent mayor.

Martin then introduces Mike Ilitch, who is serving as the Detroit General Chairman of the event. Ilitch expresses his fondness for Canada including a memory of seeing Sammy Davis, Jr. at the Elmwood Casino. He then recognizes the members of his Detroit Executive Committee. He also lists planned events including the fireworks, free concerts, the swearing-in of new citizens, a ten-mile run, the Wheels of Freedom display, the George E. Van Memorial Sailing Regatta, and the docking of the Naval ship U.S.S. BOULDER.

Ilitch is then joined by Margaret Williams to announce that the Rubber Ducky Tugboat Race between mayors will be replaced by the Ducky 500. They present the racing jumpsuits for each mayor. They also present a toast to each city's victory. Finally Ilitch presents Martin with an international Pizza! Pizza!, which features images of two arms decorated with the iconography of American and Canadian flags engaged in a handshake on its paper wrapper.

Martin then entertains questions from the press. He is asked about what makes 1989's celebration special. Millson is asked about funding for Windsor's events, the free trade agreement, waste management problems, plans for casino gambling. He also makes mention of the possibility of a over-head trolley system to link the two cities.

After the initial recording ends, a previous partially recorded-over press conference proceeds. In this recording Mayor Coleman A. Young is entertaining questions from the press. He discusses bullet-proof vests, and the presidential campaign of Michael Dukakis.

The videos are on a 3M UCA-60 U-Matic tape with a handwritten City of Detroit Department of Public Information Video Production label on its top. The tape is housed within a black plastic latching U-Matic case with a matching label on its cover.