U-Matic

Irish Festival, 6-2-89

U-Matic S tape containing footage shot at the 1989 Irish Festival in Hart Plaza and a Riverfront Ethnic Festival commercial recorded over the beginning of video of Mayor Coleman A. Young giving a press conference at the City-County Building. The Irish festival footage preeminently features music and concessions. In his press conference Mayor Young answers questions about police abuse, the press, controversy about the Chrysler Jefferson Avenue plant project, and Devil's Night.

The video opens with footage of an Irish folk band performing on a stage in the amphitheater area.

The camera then moves to the underground food court area for individual shots the stalls of the Daughters of Erin and Lefkofsky's Deli serve things including corned beef and stew. The camera also shoots along the row of stalls, and Henry Yee Chinese Cuisine is visible among them. The camera also captures shots of a Leprechaun sign and a display of carnations among the stalls.

The camera then moves outside for shots of people eating in the amphitheater area, a t-shirt vendor's stall, and people walking past Dodge Fountain.

Following a brief clip from the previous recording of Mayor Coleman A. Young at a press conference already in progress, a 1990 Detroit Riverfront Festivals commercial inspired by the 1989 movie "Looks Who's Talking," then rolls. The spot features voice-overs narrating the thoughts of babies and a horse attending an ethnic festival over shots from several different festivals.

The remainder of the recording on the tape consists of Mayor Young responding to questions at a press conference. He expresses reservations concerns accusations of abuse by two police officers; references recently meeting the mayor of Detroit's sister city Toyota, Japan; discusses a trade imbalance with Japan; mentions Donald Pailen who was involved in questions about the Chrysler Jefferson Avenue plant development; and talks about Devil's Night preparations. A statue of a woman in a kimono is on display in the room, presumably relating to the visit from Toyota's mayor.

The video is on a 3M UCA-30S U-Matic S tape with a handwritten 3M label, marked "1989 Irish Festival," although "GM Plant City Clips" handwritten directly on the tape. The tape is housed within a black plastic latching case with City of Detroit Department of Public Information Video Production label on its cover marked, "Irish Festival," and "6-2-89." A handwritten shot list is included in the case:

Irish
In - Shot
:15 - Irish Band
1:07 - People at Food Booth
2:27 - Woman Slicing Corned Beef
3:18 - Big Irish Leprechaun Sign
3:43 - Booth Shots
3:59 - Green Irish Carnations
4:21 - Woman Eating Sandwich Outside
5:09 - Wendy Buying something
5:41 - Fountain