1935 - Amelia Earhart Arrives in Indianapolis via Train

This 16mm home movie footage had not been viewed for approximately sixty years before I found it in a long forgotten shipping carton in Sept. 2009 that was postmarked Oct. 1940.

Harvey S. Firestone, some of his family members, and others are seen awaiting Amelia Earhart's arrival at Indianapolis via train in September 1935. Amelia arrives, poses for newsreel reporters along with husband George Putnam. She and Harvey chat for awhile before departing together possibly for Purdue University where she was to begin her new duties as a visiting professor.

On May 30, 1937, Amelia had lunch with Mr. & Mrs. Firestone and rested at his Palm Beach home before leaving the next morning on her final round the world attempt.

I have also posted an image stabilized version of this video on this site.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Amelia
• Earhart
• Harvey
• Firestone
• Indianapolis
• 1935
• vintage
• home
• movie

[EmmyKami]

Yayyy, she's in my homestate (Indiana)! :D Very nice find, by the way! Funny thing is, my mother went to Purdue University also, and she was shocked when I told her about Ms. Earhart being there back in the 1930's! :p

[1930VintageHomeMovie]

The film carton had "Earhart, Indianapolis, 1935" written on it. I thought it might contain some stadium shots of her from that year's Indianapolis 500 where she performed a parachute training device demonstration. I was very pleased to discover that it was much better footage documenting her arrival on the way to Purdue. It was also nice to see my grandmother in the same clip. Shortly after this, my grandparents began to shoot their home movies in color. That would have been truly unique.

[Jacientaify]

The most amazing, she's always looking fabulous in fashion. Jumpsuit match with white shirt. A fashion formula that still true today

[indrr]

Some info: Comparing the dress seen in the movie with this photo (earchives.lib.purdue.edu/u?/e­arhart,683) of her at the 1935 Indy 500, the dresses look identical. So this is likely the day of the 500. The location is apparently the former Prest-O-Lite factory just south of IMS; the store seen in the background may be the one still at Main St and 15th. Finally, Firestone was involved in the 500, but not Indianapolis nor Earhart generally, which explains his presence here.

[EmmyKami]

Wow, your grandmother is very lucky! :D And thanks for the information, very interesting! :)

[mcdemuth]

Wow, what an amazing find, and in such good condition. Thank you for sharing.