Summary

Abyssinia (R1-R2)

Source Archive Films by Getty Images
Title: Abyssinia (R1-R2)
File Number: AD-29 1 inch; 35mm
Color: B W
Type: Travelogue
Year: 01/01/1930
Subjects: 1930s, travelogues, Abyssinia, Africa, Africans, Europeans, Americans, herding, animals, horses, ; government personnel, military, guns, firearms, handshakes, introductions, horseback riding, ; looms, textiles, pottery, pots, sewing machines, musicians, natives, native people, processions, ; processional, statues, train stations, trains, umbrellas, villages, royalty, emperors, kings, ; Yahager Lebse, Generals, native clothing, Shamma Shawls, togas, cloaks, inaugurations, diplomacy, ; ambassadors, highlands, families, marketplaces, money, wages, paid, Giorgis Cathedral, explorers, ; unveiling, Catherine Fairbanks, Mrs Jacoby, wives, wife, international, coronations, street markets, ; outdoor marketplaces, retail
Description: Travelogue from 1930 filmed in Ethiopia (Abyssinia), which features footage of Addis Ababa leading up to the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I (which took place on November 2nd, 1930) Various foreign diplomats and dignitaries paying their respects to the Emperor, including American Special Ambassador Herman Murray Jacoby, who is accompanied by Brigadier General William W Harts Crowds of Ethiopians on city streets with excellent shots of people of the region dressed in traditional clothing (shawls, cloaks, native village attire), some with rifles and shields Examples of traditional Ethiopian culture (such as weaving & pottery making) & music Rows of soldiers standing at attention and marching through the streets Rare footage of the Emperor Menelik II equestrian statue being unveiled the day before the coronation ***************************************************************************************************** 01:00:12:00 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia View looking out of railroad train window as it pulls into station, people waiting on platform MS American Special Ambassador Herman Murray Jacoby shaking hands w African dignitaries (being introduced) (good shot, international relations, diplomacy, race relations) Procession of dignitaries past rows of soldiers MS Ethiopian trumpeters announcing arrival VS Ethiopian musicians playing large bamboo flutes (traditional culture, Ethiopian music) PAN row of Ethiopian natives dressed in tribal clothes holding rifles & shields VS natives dressed in tribal clothing including lion-maned chieftains (great shots, tribal culture, tribal clothing) 01:01:57:16 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia HA PAN busy Ethiopian street w Pharmacie in BG VS crowd of Ethiopians holding rifles accompanying (protecting) person riding horseback through streets Crowds of Ethiopians surrounding car People riding horseback through the streets followed by people on foot 01:03:57:20 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia VS pack horses & donkeys being herded through streets w traffic VS Ethiopian policeman directing traffic on busy street, he pushes people out of the way & salutes as diplomatic car goes past VS Ethiopian policemen using force to push pedestrians out of the way VS Ethiopians carrying boxes & supplies on their heads through streets LS Ethiopian men carrying very long pole tree trunk through street 01:05:54:11 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia VS Addis Ababa street scenes w Ethiopian pedestrians dressed in traditional clothing Man weaving on floor loom outside African hut VS man weaving on floor loom CU hands weaving on loom HA feet pressing on pedals (good shots, textile manufacturing, handicrafts) Headshot Ethiopians in traditional clothing (native cultures, traditional culture) Caucasian man hands baby goat (kid) to Ethiopian boy CU Ethiopian boy holding baby goat (kid) (cute shot) Headshot Ethiopian mother & son 01:07:31:20 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Ethiopian woman rolling clay on stone slab VS Ethiopian woman molding clay into pot Caucasian man presses coins onto side of wet pot Ethiopian woman & Caucasian man bow to each other CU completed pot on ground (good shots, handicrafts, ceramics, pottery) 01:08:59:07 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia VS Ethiopian men in traditional clothing Ethiopian man bowing profusely Ethiopian man wrapping shawl around himself Prisoner being led by chain 02:00:13:27 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia WS PAN busy street w pedestrians VS Ethiopian telephone operators working switchboard Caucasian man (Burton Holmes) paying Ethiopian men w coins, they salute him in appreciation (good shot, subordination, race relations) 02:01:28:13 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia VS Ethiopian street scenes w pedestrians VS busy Ethiopian marketplace CU & MS Ethiopian men holding hands VS Ethiopian men stitching fabrics on sewing machines PAN busy marketplace Vendor selling cloaks 02:03:28:00 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Man riding horseback followed by men on foot Ethiopian women holding parasols as they walk down street Ethiopian men carrying chairs down street Men setting up carpets near chairs Wealthy Ethiopian man wearing Kabba cloak sitting in chair, man helps loosen his collar & straighten his cloak TU wealthy Ethiopian man wearing ornate gilded Kabba cloak (good shot, traditional culture) 02:05:25:04 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Procession of mounted soldiers going through Menelik II Square w covered equestrian statue of Emperor Menelik II & St Georges Cathedral in BG Dignitary car (probably Selassie) goes past crowds & soldiers lined up along side of street Armed soldiers standing at attention CU covered Menelik II statue LS statue is unveiled by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester MS Emperor Menelik II equestrian statue Guards saluting as Emperor Haile Selassie I enters car MS Selassie dressed in gilded Kabba cloak sitting in back seat of car, which drives off Crowds of Ethiopians wearing traditional clothing & carrying rifles walking down street Ethiopian men carrying covered chairs 02:07:30:04 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia LS procession of mounted soldiers riding past soldiers standing at attention HA dignitary car pulls up to building, dignitaries get out & walk up steps (includes Brigadier General William W Harts & Special Ambassador Herman Murray Jacoby) Emperor Selassie seated on throne is greeted by dignitaries, he stands & shakes hands w Ambassador Jacoby, who reads dedication to him Ethiopian translator reads translation Jacoby presents Selassie w paper who then makes speech Jacoby introduces dignitaries & General Harts to Selassie, they exchange handshakes 02:09:16:19 OUT
}