May 20, 2010
Film stars octopus, but where was he and why?
Editor’s Note: The UW Audio Visual Services Materials Library has more than 1,200 reels of film from the late 1940s through the early 1970s, documenting life at the University through telecourses, commercial films and original productions. Some of the short films are easily identifiable, but many more remain mysteries. Who shot these films and why? Can you help answer those questions? Faculty and staff can use the comments field at the end of the story to send ideas. Those outside the University can e-mail filmarc@u.washington.edu.
The subject of this week’s Lost & Found Film is obvious from its title Octopus. But aside from the fact that it features a live octopus, Film Archive Specialist Hannah Palin doesn’t know much about it. It opens with a sign that gives visiting hours and says that a guide is available. From there we see a waterfront location with some buildings in the background.
Then we switch to a closeup of some tide pools, where we see an octopus slithering along. Soon a man in rubber boots scoops up the octopus and puts it into a tub. Later the octopus is weighed and moved from the tub into a larger tank full of water and Epsom salts.
The film almost 3 minutes long and was made in about 1949. Palin would like to know:
- Where exactly is the UW facility portrayed?
- Is it Friday Harbor?
- What are the people in the film doing with the octopus?
- What kind of study might be going on?
Palin is still looking for information about last week’s film, Malburg, which portrayed a fictional town full of “big churches and easy virtue.” Take a look and see if you can help.
