Seems our viewers enjoy watching how the Jenny helped excite the American public in its central role as the principle Barnstorming machine across the post WWI countryside. So, here’s another of these exciting video displays for your edification and enjoyment.

In this ten (10) minute composite clip, made by the Prelinger Archivisits (San Francisco) from various aviation archives of some 80 to 90 years ago, all black and white silent film, you’ll easily see why the American Public fell in love with the excitement and adventure of this new thrilling and extremely dangerous sport.

It’s important to remember that while almost every adult in America had heard of airplanes by the end of WWI, it was estimated that only about 1 to 2% of the public had ever actually seen a flying machine.  Barnstorming rapidly managed to change that small percentage and, in what seemed like only a few years of this new exposure, the American public had clearly fallen in love with flying – – – and aviation in general.  The airplane quickly became more reliable, safer, and began to show that it had actual business potential – not just military value.

As mentioned, the above Prelinger film is silent, so the scoring was added by us to help make the viewing more fun.  The music is all from the same silent film era as was the movie about barnstorming itself.  Because there was no scoring of films yet taking place when these clips were made, when they were shown in theaters, there would be a resident pianist to provide the musical accomaniment.  So, we’ve cheated a bit and actually put that “live” piano onto the film as an attached soundtrack.

The first sound track piece is Kevin MacLeod at the movie theater piano and it’s called “Breaktime.”  The other two pieces are also typical of the piano scoring or companion theater accompaniment of this era: the second tune is called, “Fig Leaf Times Two,” and the last segment is entitled, “Lively Lumpsucker.”

Enjoy!