Film, Motion Picture

Urban B 134 7818 - 134 8608 B 134 8624 - 134 9418 B 134 6189 - 134 6858

Silent color 16mm film containing footage presumably shot for "Detroit Means Business," of the 1981 Montreux-Detroit International Jazz Festival at Hart Plaza, and of Belle Isle.

The film opens several shots around Hart Plaza--the top of the Pylon, the Renaissance Center with a giant inflatable Stroh's bottle in the foreground, the crowd seated in the main amphitheater area.

A big band then is shown performing on the main stage. They are shown from beside the stage, as well as from the top of the amphitheater.

The camera then moves to Dodge Fountain for shots of people playing in its spray, as well as close-ups of its spouts. After a wide shot of the fountain, a couple, both clad in MontreuxDetroit t-shirts are filmed. After another shot of crowd members near the amphitheater,

The camera moves to the northern shore of Belle Isle for shots of people relaxing on the grass, barbecuing, fishing, and of passing sailboats, small craft, and the U.S. Steel Corporation freighter JOHN G. MUNSON. The camera also captures people canoeing on one of the island's canals, people fishing adjacent to the Belle Isle Casino, and a woman in an inflatable raft.

After a brief gap in the reel, and a quick shot from inside an open truck, filming on Belle Isle resumes of people on the lawn beside the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory. The lily pond between the Conservatory and the Belle Isle Aquarium is also shown. Next, a woman and child ride horse-drawn carriage past the camera. Filming then moves to the Belle Isle Playscape where the camera operator climbs steps, crosses one of the bridges, and films children at play on its slides, and towers from both on and around the structure. Shots follow of the signage for both the Playscape, and the Belle Isle Zoo.

At the zoo, a close-up features two of the zoo's parrots. Zoo visitors are shown interacting with horses in the petting zoo area. People are also filmed on the zoo's elevated walkways. From one such walkway, visitors are filmed gesturing for the attention of camels below. From beneath the zoo's entrance arch, the camera zooms into activity at the Playscape across the lawn.

The camera then moves to the mainland for a shot of the Belle Isle Park sign near the foot of the MacArthur Bridge. The changeable letters at the bottom of the sign read, "Drive 55 Bring Em Back Alive. Montreux Detroit Jazz Festival Sept 2 Thru 7."

After another gap in the reel, the camera returns to Hart Plaza. From beside the Detroit River, the camera captures people walking about with the Renaissance Center in the background. After a brief shot near Dodge Fountain, the camera moves to Jefferson Avenue, for a shot of an approaching Detroit Citizen's Railway trolley. Next, the camera rolls from a position off a trolley's rear platform, beside one of its trucks. The trolley heads east, and the Renaissance Center is visible in the background. A brief shot follows showing the interior of the trolley.

The camera then moves to the top of Hart Plaza's Pyramid for a wide shot of the festival's crowd. The camera pans around the crowd, incorporating views of the rest of Hart Plaza, and the festival's saxophone player logo posted on the side of Ford Auditorium. A five-piece band performs on the Pyramid Stage. The camera eventually moves from the crowd to behind the performers.

Next, the camera moves to the side of the main stage for footage of a larger group performing. The band members all wear matching white shirts with red trim. The camera then returns to Hart Plaza's riverfront briefly, before returning to the same band at dusk. A series of rapid shots follow of the crowd.

Several brief shots follow of another band, shot from behind, on the main stage at night. The reel ends with a shot of an open camera case.