VHS

Children Day 1985

VHS tape containing camcorder footage shot at Children's Day in the Detroit Cultural Center by someone from the Detroit Historical Museum, followed by footage shot of two different jazz concerts--the first from the September Song event in the Cultural Center, and the second in the Detroit Historical Museum's John and Horace Dodge Hall.

The Children's Day footage includes features performers on two stages, activities along East Kirby Avenue, and inside of surrounding building including the Detroit Historical Museum. The West Kirby Stage between the Detroit Historical Museum, and the Detroit Public Library hosts African dancers dancing to hand drummers, contemporary dancers, a double dutch demonstration done to Frankie Smith's "Double Dutch Bus," breakdancers, a man riding a partial bicycle frame like a unicycle while dribbling a basketball to "A Fly Girl" by the Boogie Boys, a modern ballet performance in which the dancers each utilizing a pair of rods in their routine, and a young solo ballerina who dances to Lionel Richie's "Wandering Stranger." The video captures Ronald McDonald and magician Don Jones on the East Kirby Stage beside the Park Shelton. Other outdoor shots include a harp player outside of the Detroit Historical Museum's Woodward entrance, a school bus shuttle, a painting area consisting of a row of easels set up in front of the Children's Museum on East Kirby, and activity tables and a parachute game being playing on the lawn of the Detroit Institute of Arts. There are also several Indoor shots taken during the festival. A face painting station, and a wood carving vendor are shown inside of a building with a display on the history of the Mediterranean region on the walls-presumably the International Institute. Popcorn and other concession are shown within the Kirby entrance lobby of the Detroit Historical Museum. Part of a puppet show is also shown in the Detroit Historical Museum's basement auditorium. The Children's Day footage ends with the text, "Courtesy of the Detroit Historical Department," "Education DV," and "Jun. 28 1985," created using a character generator.

The next segment begins with the camera's date stamp for September 18, 1985, over an image of the poster promoting "September Song" at the University Cultural Center. A jazz band performs in a darkened room, with a partially visible motorcycle behind them.

In the final segment on the tape, another jazz band performs in the Detroit Historical Museum's John and Horace Dodge Hall, as shot from the balcony overlooking the gallery. The band consists of a pianist, drummer, double bass player, saxophone/clarinet player, and a singer. Between songs the pianist explains the music, techniques, and instruments to the audience. The performance includes Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer" and the spiritual "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." The Chrysler Corporation Turbine Car is on display beside the stage, and the Scripps Bi-Autogo is behind the stage.

The video is on an unlabeled Scotch T-120 tape. The tape is housed within a TDK High Standard cardboard sleeve with handwritten tape labels on the cover and spine, which read, "Children Day 1985," beneath the crossed out text, "Nassau Bahamas Cruise, Dec. 13, 1991."