OUR GANG FOLLIES OF 1940 - A Home Movie Masterpiece

1940's Amateur Improvised Comedy from Queens, NY. Filmed by my Grandfather Gustave Martens at his home on 14th Avenue in College Point, and in Hermon MacNeil Park.

Gus Martens and Percy Simpson played in a 1920's party band called Martens' Sterling Orchestra. (Gus drummed, Percy tickled the ivories). Gus was an only child, and you can see that Percy was like a brother to him. They remained buddies to the end.

Grandpa wasn't above using a few silly camera tricks in his movies, so I've added a few tricks of my own, but most of the ones in this movie are Grandpa's.

That's the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge seen faintly in the distance - it was brand new then!

See more of Grandpa's movies (and mine too!) on this channel! And check out "Grandpa's Picture Party" at WEBNIK.com .

Category:

Comedy

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[KmerWannabe95]

Since we have the names of the people in this video, can you list the ones that are still alive? Thanks! I loved this! (:

[robertwmartens]

Sure! The boy named WARREN is my father - he's now retired. The baby named MATTHIAS now lives out on Long Island. We lost contact with the pretty girl named JAYNE a long time ago - nobody knows where she is now, or if she's still alive. All the other named adults have passed away, including my grandfather GUS who died in 1977. That's life . . .  sigh . . .

[seftonwallet]

Your Grandfather must have had a great sense of humour, and been quite a character to be making movies like this.

Did you choose & add the music Robert?

I recognise Leroy Anderson, one of my favourite composers,

[robertwmartens]

Yes. I got the music from my Grandparents' record collection!

[NYC1927]

How cool is that!!! Love seeing footage of 'actual people' (as opposed to Hollywood movies) from those days. You're grandfather seems like he was a funny guy and the 'life of the party'! Cool 40' Buick too! Thanks for posting~ P.S., Jayne was a babe!

[robertwmartens]

Yeah, Jayne was a cutie, wasn't she? I never knew her personally - by the time I was born (1956) she was married and living far away, and today nobody I know has a clue what happened to her. Such is life.

[Joncavs24]

The pretty lady at 1:37 looks like Milla Jovovich

[redgrapeskins]

great films from the golden age of America -You could live and sleep in your home with the doors and windows open/unlocked and never worry about a thing- [didn't even cross your mind ]--That will never happen again! . Thanks for sharing --Hope your dad is well - Time sure flies for all of us -Hope you're making your own home movies

[dabebe39]

Would have loved to be part of your family back then, They totally looked like they truely had fun!

[KmerWannabe95]

@robertwmartens Thank you! These were truly simple times; my family members who were adults in this time and still live today say, even with a war looming in the hair much of the decade, everyone cared for eachother, teenagers were respectful, and the feeling of community and culture was very strong. It would be nice for the younger generations to get a time machine and revisit these times which are now sadly just distant memories. Thank you for sharing!

[annikee59]

Back when it was more important to have fun than be cool or make a statement. I wish I could go back!

[wontonga]

Women didn't have vaginas in those days! At least that's what granny said.