"Lilac Time" (Black & White Version - 1970)

In the Spring of every year, Rochester, NY welcomes the season with it's famous Lilac Festival, held at Highland Park. Renowned park designer Frederick Law Olmstead was responsible for the development of the park. Among his other accomplishments was the design of New York City's famous Central Park. The park's lilac collection was started by horticulturist John Dunbar in 1892 with 20 varieties.
To honor this annual event, filmmaker Tom Nottingham and myself decided to make a short film about the lilacs in bloom. With a 16mm Bolex camera, we filmed the different areas of the park. To match the pictures, we found the old classic recording, "Jeannine, I Dream of Lilac Time" sung by Gene Austin in 1928. The combination was perfect. The film was shown on our local NBC affiliate. Originally shot in color, here is a B&W print of that project.
UPDATE - The original pristine color film has been located and re-scanned. Please check my uploads for March 2009 and watch this same film in gorgeous color!
Filmed: May 19, 1970.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Kerry
• Decker
• Tom
• Nottingham
• Gene
• Austin
• lilac
• festival
• time
• highland
• park
• rochester
• new
• york
• 1928
• 1970
• RIT

[patriotsfan82]

I've searched for this song for two years. I too was named after this song on my dad's insistence. My mom agreed as long it was spelled the shorter version, Janine. My dad used to sing it to me but never went further than "Jeannine I Dream of Lilac Time" and I always wanted to hear the entire song. My dad is gone now and I can't tell you what it was like to finally find this song. Thank you for posting it!!!

[KKD1247]

Thank you. You are SO welcome.

[whizbang47]

Humbled by the above comments. All I can add is that the one time I was in Rochester, in '72,

folks told me I had to see Highland Park and it was no disappointment, I'll tell you. I never forgot but I had no souvenir until your posting.

Thanks.

[KKD1247]

I am looking for the color copy I made of this film. If/when I do, I'll post it.

[Chub4ChubsRule]

ahh, gene austin. his voice is like slowly sliding down a soft velvet ribbon. lovely pictures too.

[KKD1247]

Thanks so much!

[dancingaro]

I too was named for this song (1952), a favorite of my parents. I was given the french long version Jenneine. thanks for posting this song. I work as a nurse and MANY older couples would sing a few bars, it was a most favorite song of it's time.

[mvnkct]

We lived in Buffalo long ago (1950s & 60s) My grandmother, mother, and I drove to Rochester to see the lilacs every May until my grandmother died in 1966. My mother died in 2005. When I hear Gene Austin sing these beautiful old songs, it makes me sad, but he really had the best voice for singing 1920's and 30's ballads. His "Garden In The Rain" is one of the best and most beautiful recordings.

[SherbertOnyx]

all my residents at my work are like "Janine, have you ever heard of Jeannine I dream of lilac time?" and i told them no i never have and they would always keep singing "Jeannine i dream of lilac time" when i would pass by so i just had to look for it and listen. and its such a sweet song :)

[46Janine]

My mom thought that this was such a pretty song. She named me after this song and I finally got to hear this song all the way through. My name is spelled Janine. My mom thought that it would be easier for me to spell that way so that is the way she had it spelled. I think that this song is really pretty. Thank you for posting it.

[skiprydell1]

Wonderful classic treatment. We are diminished by forgetting these old beauties.

[onoffkkk]

KURWANAGY ZENEEE

[mianno58]

I found the original sheet music and I am now learning it on the ukelele. Love this song but Vaughn Deleath has a much better version.

[ja9johson]

I'm also a Janine; born in 1954 and named after a French actress my parents saw on a movie marquee in Jackson, California. Older men would always sing those first few bars of the song when they met me: Jeannine I dream of liliac time.....and then hum the rest - ! Great to finally hear the entire song!

[Georgewos]

This was the theme song from a 1928 movie called Lilac Time starring Gary Cooper and Coleen Moore . A movie about WWI.