The Cinecraft collection “is one of the most comprehensive collections from an industrial film company in the country,” said Kevin Martin, the Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Audiovisual and Digital Collections, who received his master’s degree in history with a minor in museum studies from UD.
“The collection fit so well with our collecting interest because it covers all these companies over a long period of time,” he said.
The audience for many of the films in the past has been researchers and scholars, but by digitizing the collection, Martin said the Library has received requests for more information from new audiences such as documentary filmmakers and producers.
“The number of requests that we have has just gone through the roof. People are looking for a specific image or they see something online that they're interested in,” Martin said.
About Cinecraft Productions
In the mid-20th century, Cleveland was home to national manufacturing companies like Westinghouse, B.F. Goodrich and American Gas Association, along with numerous regional and local businesses. Cinecraft, which is still in business today, was the largest of 13 film studios in the city, creating productions for industry clients as well as trade groups, government agencies and social service organizations. The company was also a pioneer in the early days of television programming.
Culley’s parents co-owned Cinecraft, and it quickly became a family affair. Culley, his parents, brothers, cousins and other family members were involved both on screen and behind the scenes, and Culley’s uncle eventually bought the company from his brother.
“My mother would get upset when people from the studio would take things from our house to use in the sets,” Culley said, smiling.
Among Culley’s favorites are Freewheelin’, the story of a group of van owners driving to a van and truck rally, which promoted a new line of B.F. Goodrich tires made specifically for vans. Culley also loves Milestones of Motoring, a musical about the history of motor vehicles to announce Sohio Oil’s new boron-based gasoline and featured future TV star Merv Griffin and vaudeville actor Joe E. Brown.
“The shooting of that film was so difficult. My uncle was laying in the back of the car. He’s the sound guy playing the music on a record player in the seat so they could lip sync as they’re driving down the road singing,” Culley said.
Other famous faces included former president Ronald Reagan, and then-Vice President Richard Nixon in a 1960 film asking Republic Steel Corporation employees to support his presidential campaign in the race against John F. Kennedy, Jr.