1 00:00:01,233 --> 00:00:03,600 - This is a production of SDPD. 2 00:00:14,100 --> 00:00:15,766 - I keep thinking that these people 3 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:19,500 that are on the screen like they were last night, are 4 00:00:19,500 --> 00:00:22,333 that old timers just coming back to check on us. 5 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:28,700 Just seems like they were here and this was their town 6 00:00:28,700 --> 00:00:30,133 and they were taking good care of it. 7 00:00:31,766 --> 00:00:36,233 - The 1930s, the depression, the drought, 8 00:00:36,233 --> 00:00:39,900 no money, no crops, no jobs, 9 00:00:40,900 --> 00:00:42,933 but people survived. 10 00:00:42,933 --> 00:00:45,333 Many moved away from their hometown seeking greener 11 00:00:45,333 --> 00:00:48,133 pastures, but many more stayed. 12 00:00:51,066 --> 00:00:54,000 They kept believing things would get better. 13 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:55,466 In Britain, South Dakota, 14 00:00:55,466 --> 00:00:59,000 probably a typical hometown in these United States. 15 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:00,966 People didn't allow the Great Depression 16 00:01:00,966 --> 00:01:03,700 or anything else to get them down. 17 00:01:03,700 --> 00:01:05,900 In fact, an enterprising theater owner 18 00:01:05,900 --> 00:01:08,500 and his faithful projectionist decided to make movies 19 00:01:08,500 --> 00:01:12,000 of their hometown and of the people that stayed behind 20 00:01:28,100 --> 00:01:31,100 over 50 years ago, these films were first seen 21 00:01:31,100 --> 00:01:32,666 by Britain's finest. 22 00:01:32,666 --> 00:01:34,966 Since that time, people still seek greener 23 00:01:34,966 --> 00:01:36,200 pastures elsewhere. 24 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:38,500 Crop prices are still low, 25 00:01:38,500 --> 00:01:41,033 but people continue to dream, hope 26 00:01:41,033 --> 00:01:44,800 and thrive in their hometown of 1500 citizens, 27 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:47,333 one longtime resident and the maker of these films. 28 00:01:47,333 --> 00:01:50,900 Ivan Bessie was a projectionist at Britain's Strand Theater 29 00:01:50,900 --> 00:01:52,500 for 67 years. 30 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:58,066 - Strand was started with, the grand opening was in 1915. 31 00:01:59,166 --> 00:02:01,700 It was built by Claude Baker 32 00:02:03,133 --> 00:02:06,166 who had a theater down the street about a block called 33 00:02:06,166 --> 00:02:07,900 The Old Dreamland. 34 00:02:07,900 --> 00:02:11,100 It was a frame building and he built this new one. 35 00:02:11,100 --> 00:02:15,200 The Strand by, oh, started in the 14, 36 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:16,466 I suppose, during the war. 37 00:02:17,300 --> 00:02:19,200 And I went into it, 38 00:02:20,666 --> 00:02:22,400 it'd been going about four years, 39 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:24,766 I guess when I got my first job there, 40 00:02:24,766 --> 00:02:27,566 we were going broke as that plane. 41 00:02:29,100 --> 00:02:33,766 It was during National Depression, depression all over. 42 00:02:33,766 --> 00:02:35,233 And then we had a little rougher 43 00:02:35,233 --> 00:02:38,066 because we had no crop, we had no rain for two years. 44 00:02:38,066 --> 00:02:41,700 It was just drying a bone. Everything was, wasn't even grass 45 00:02:42,766 --> 00:02:46,200 and we had to close down part-time. 46 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:49,933 And we heard about it full of it. Ran an outfit like this. 47 00:02:49,933 --> 00:02:52,266 So we went to see him to visit with him 48 00:02:52,266 --> 00:02:54,333 and he told that he'd get along pretty good with it. 49 00:02:55,833 --> 00:02:58,233 On the way home, the bus is a fly by the outfit. 50 00:02:58,233 --> 00:02:59,700 I know you take of it. 51 00:03:01,100 --> 00:03:02,233 And he says, I don't want nothing to do with it 52 00:03:02,233 --> 00:03:03,833 because I dunno anything about it anyway. 53 00:03:03,833 --> 00:03:05,533 And I said, sure I would. 54 00:03:07,166 --> 00:03:11,400 Otherwise, we'd have cut out part of the business 55 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,300 and I'd have cut out part of my salary. 56 00:03:14,300 --> 00:03:16,100 So that's how we got started on it. 57 00:03:17,333 --> 00:03:20,000 I never took pictures before of any kind. 58 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:21,766 I wasn't a camera bug 59 00:03:21,766 --> 00:03:24,633 or anything like that, so I just went out 60 00:03:24,633 --> 00:03:26,266 and took a guess at it. 61 00:03:26,266 --> 00:03:30,533 And I was lucky I kept the sun where it should be 62 00:03:30,533 --> 00:03:31,766 and that type of thing. 63 00:03:32,900 --> 00:03:35,466 And it was a gimmick just 64 00:03:35,466 --> 00:03:38,433 to get more people into theater. And that was all 65 00:03:38,433 --> 00:03:42,700 - From 1938 to 1940, Ivan Bessie filmed everyone 66 00:03:42,700 --> 00:03:44,500 and everything in Britain. 67 00:03:44,500 --> 00:03:46,933 Anything of social or personal significance? 68 00:03:46,933 --> 00:03:49,500 Ivan shot on 16 millimeter film 69 00:03:49,500 --> 00:03:52,266 and then would narrate the final unedited version 70 00:03:52,266 --> 00:03:55,800 before the Tuesday and Wednesday night movie at The Strand. 71 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,433 After working at the theater for over 30 years, 72 00:03:58,433 --> 00:04:00,966 Ivan finally bought the strand of the 1950s. 73 00:04:00,966 --> 00:04:04,866 He owned and operated the Grand place until 1987, 74 00:04:04,866 --> 00:04:06,300 at which time he finally sold the 75 00:04:06,300 --> 00:04:08,500 theater and everything in it. 76 00:04:08,500 --> 00:04:09,566 - It was sold here at Britain. 77 00:04:09,566 --> 00:04:11,700 We had a, an auction sale 78 00:04:12,866 --> 00:04:15,400 and we had a great big box of the film 79 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:20,133 and it was no good to anybody that we know of, you know, 80 00:04:20,133 --> 00:04:23,000 and somebody bought it for 50 cents, the whole box, 81 00:04:23,933 --> 00:04:28,200 and then somebody in Texas 82 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:31,733 and then it found its way into Rick's possession 83 00:04:31,733 --> 00:04:33,966 and he's revamped it. 84 00:04:33,966 --> 00:04:36,900 And now it's a wonderful piece of work. 85 00:04:38,833 --> 00:04:40,900 - Most of our images of the thirties, 86 00:04:40,900 --> 00:04:43,600 especially the depression, turn out to be cliches. 87 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,600 We remember the dust ball, we remember bread lines 88 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:48,600 or the Hindenburg being blown up. 89 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:50,066 These are a lot more real. 90 00:04:50,066 --> 00:04:52,600 These are ordinary people going about their 91 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:54,433 everyday activities. 92 00:04:54,433 --> 00:04:56,800 There's some ceremony and ritual, 93 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,233 but most of the time it's just ordinary life on Main Street. 94 00:04:59,233 --> 00:05:00,300 That's pretty important. 95 00:05:01,766 --> 00:05:06,366 Body language fashions, people's relation to the camera, all 96 00:05:06,366 --> 00:05:07,733 of that is kind of unusual 97 00:05:07,733 --> 00:05:10,200 and it's documented in such detail. 98 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:11,600 Then I think these are pretty special. 99 00:05:13,033 --> 00:05:15,566 - I heard about it from friends who know that I, you know, 100 00:05:15,566 --> 00:05:17,133 they're in New York, they read the New Yorker 101 00:05:17,133 --> 00:05:19,066 and they know I'm from Britain, South Dakota, 102 00:05:19,066 --> 00:05:21,300 and they read the line that says the films have been filmed 103 00:05:21,300 --> 00:05:22,566 in Britain, South Dakota. 104 00:05:22,566 --> 00:05:26,066 And so I did my research to find the article 105 00:05:26,066 --> 00:05:27,566 and then ultimately looked for to 106 00:05:27,566 --> 00:05:29,200 for Rick Prelinger in New York. 107 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:30,966 And that's where I found him 108 00:05:30,966 --> 00:05:32,800 - In May of 1991. 109 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:36,166 The films made their second debut at The Strand Theater. 110 00:05:36,166 --> 00:05:38,900 Ivan Bessie, again narrated the films just 111 00:05:38,900 --> 00:05:40,166 as he did 50 years 112 00:05:40,166 --> 00:05:43,033 before people yelled out names, delighted 113 00:05:43,033 --> 00:05:44,500 to see their family, friends, 114 00:05:44,500 --> 00:05:46,066 and neighbors as they once were. 115 00:05:46,066 --> 00:05:48,633 50 years ago, not only did the two 116 00:05:48,633 --> 00:05:51,766 and a half hours worth of films bring back memories, 117 00:05:51,766 --> 00:05:53,833 but also a renewed hometown. 118 00:05:53,833 --> 00:05:54,833 Pride 119 00:05:57,066 --> 00:05:58,700 - Britain is where the west begins 120 00:06:00,966 --> 00:06:03,500 as you go from Britain West. 121 00:06:03,500 --> 00:06:04,733 Why people are more, 122 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,266 I would say, friendly, open 123 00:06:11,566 --> 00:06:13,366 as you go east from Britain. 124 00:06:13,366 --> 00:06:15,133 Why? Then they begin to be more, 125 00:06:18,300 --> 00:06:20,000 I don't know exactly how to describe it, 126 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:22,233 but they, they, they kind of mind their own business and, 127 00:06:22,233 --> 00:06:24,300 and, and don't worry about somebody else. 128 00:06:25,633 --> 00:06:27,966 - Well, let's see, I, I suppose Britain's typical 129 00:06:27,966 --> 00:06:30,366 of most small towns in South Dakota, 130 00:06:30,366 --> 00:06:31,866 but we think we're special. 131 00:06:31,866 --> 00:06:35,600 Of course, we had a panel in Britain not too long ago 132 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:37,800 that were interviewing people and 133 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:39,466 after they finished about Britain 134 00:06:39,466 --> 00:06:40,933 and what they liked about Britain. 135 00:06:40,933 --> 00:06:42,800 And I said, well, what did you think of what we said? 136 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:44,600 And she said, why do you all apologize 137 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:45,766 for liking to live here? 138 00:06:45,766 --> 00:06:47,966 She felt that we were apologizing. 139 00:06:49,500 --> 00:06:51,566 - These are the people on Main Street of Britain, 140 00:06:54,033 --> 00:06:56,233 farmers, laborers, 141 00:06:57,833 --> 00:07:00,900 townspeople gathering on the street wondering what's 142 00:07:00,900 --> 00:07:02,366 going to happen next. 143 00:07:02,366 --> 00:07:05,233 Here comes a Za Carter Za was quite a 144 00:07:05,233 --> 00:07:07,066 character in her own way. 145 00:07:07,066 --> 00:07:10,966 She ran a dress shop in the cleanest place in town 146 00:07:10,966 --> 00:07:14,866 because every time you come to her door, she would stop you. 147 00:07:14,866 --> 00:07:17,466 You'd take off your shoes before you came into her shop. 148 00:07:18,566 --> 00:07:20,666 She never had to worry about scrubbing. 149 00:07:20,666 --> 00:07:23,233 - And it really allows you, you see people come in again 150 00:07:23,233 --> 00:07:26,333 and again and you see the same buildings and places appear 151 00:07:26,333 --> 00:07:28,333 and you really, you're not just a quick hit 152 00:07:28,333 --> 00:07:31,466 and run view, you just get a, you get an excellent chance to 153 00:07:32,666 --> 00:07:35,000 get kind of deeply into the life of a community. 154 00:07:38,333 --> 00:07:41,133 - I think this is a shot in front of the strand. 155 00:07:42,266 --> 00:07:44,700 We advertised that all kitties would 156 00:07:44,700 --> 00:07:46,833 have the picture taken if they'd come 157 00:07:46,833 --> 00:07:48,366 to the theater on a certain day. 158 00:07:49,766 --> 00:07:51,500 You'll notice that most of 'em are pretty well shined 159 00:07:51,500 --> 00:07:53,466 and polished and ready. 160 00:07:55,566 --> 00:07:59,900 Some of them would just stand and realize it was a movie. 161 00:07:59,900 --> 00:08:01,333 So we had to tell 'em to move. 162 00:08:01,333 --> 00:08:05,366 But the little Tads, they just were in wonderment. 163 00:08:05,366 --> 00:08:10,100 The dog had to get into the act. How hard was it? 164 00:08:12,300 --> 00:08:14,166 - Oh, so hard. You won't believe it if I tell you 165 00:08:17,266 --> 00:08:19,166 - To the book, it sharp. 166 00:08:19,166 --> 00:08:21,033 I lost all my money 167 00:08:21,033 --> 00:08:23,233 and now I have love this 168 00:08:23,233 --> 00:08:27,233 hard boy boy. 169 00:08:27,233 --> 00:08:30,233 Hard when you down. Mad up. 170 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:40,500 - Everybody was broke. Dust blues. 171 00:08:40,500 --> 00:08:43,700 You had the lamp lit all day long order. 172 00:08:43,700 --> 00:08:48,033 Did you see what you Well the folks were in Britain 173 00:08:48,033 --> 00:08:50,100 and they didn't get home with the car 174 00:08:50,100 --> 00:08:51,366 'cause they couldn't see the drive. 175 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:55,866 So they stopped out at the edge of the hills out here. 176 00:08:55,866 --> 00:08:58,900 Free bull place. Remember that? 177 00:08:58,900 --> 00:09:01,366 We had the lamp lit in the house all the time. Oh yeah. 178 00:09:02,433 --> 00:09:06,766 Afternoon. So no, it was 179 00:09:06,766 --> 00:09:08,000 - Bad. 180 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,133 And all the first couple of weeks out 181 00:09:11,666 --> 00:09:14,300 I was a little backward about walking up, 182 00:09:14,300 --> 00:09:16,766 sticking in somebody's face, you know, that type of thing. 183 00:09:16,766 --> 00:09:20,266 But after the first month it got to be kind of fun. 184 00:09:20,266 --> 00:09:25,200 I enjoyed it. And we'd run one, one rail, 185 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:28,000 which was 10 minutes, a hundred feet. 186 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:31,800 And we'd run that on a Tuesday Wednesday 187 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:34,233 and the next Tuesday, Wednesday we'd run another reel. 188 00:09:34,233 --> 00:09:38,100 It might be part of school activities with a few people on, 189 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:41,633 on the main street and thrown in. 190 00:09:41,633 --> 00:09:43,500 I'd take pictures any place I was, 191 00:09:43,500 --> 00:09:47,333 any place I could see something And we didn't amp 192 00:09:47,333 --> 00:09:50,900 so we might have a snowstorm 193 00:09:50,900 --> 00:09:52,166 and next time they run 194 00:09:52,166 --> 00:09:54,766 around short sleeves or something like that. 195 00:09:54,766 --> 00:09:56,300 There wasn't much rhyme or reason, 196 00:09:56,300 --> 00:09:58,900 but what we were trying to do is get 197 00:09:58,900 --> 00:10:03,300 the people on the street to get 'em to come in the theater 198 00:10:03,300 --> 00:10:06,133 and see themselves on the big silver screen. 199 00:10:06,133 --> 00:10:08,466 That was the main thing that worked. Worked good. 200 00:10:09,666 --> 00:10:14,200 - We drove the Model T without a heater 201 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:15,966 and side curtains on. 202 00:10:15,966 --> 00:10:19,500 And by the time we got to Britain around the, well, 203 00:10:19,500 --> 00:10:23,866 I guess it was probably gravel, but it sure wasn't oiled. 204 00:10:23,866 --> 00:10:27,866 But we had 14 miles to town and by the time you got there 205 00:10:27,866 --> 00:10:30,300 and that modeled tee used to froze up in the winter time 206 00:10:30,300 --> 00:10:34,800 that we jumped in on the furnace in the JCPenney 207 00:10:36,866 --> 00:10:39,366 building, they had one 208 00:10:39,366 --> 00:10:42,033 of those square furnaces in the floor holding the floor 209 00:10:42,033 --> 00:10:46,733 with all the heat come up, you know, to get thawed out. 210 00:10:46,733 --> 00:10:48,900 June, our feet were just like ice. We got there. 211 00:10:51,233 --> 00:10:54,533 - Britain is located on the north south continental divide 212 00:10:54,533 --> 00:10:57,966 and I think I'd forgotten from my grade school geography 213 00:10:57,966 --> 00:10:59,266 that there was a north south divide. 214 00:10:59,266 --> 00:11:00,766 We always hear about the east and west, 215 00:11:00,766 --> 00:11:02,566 but where you're standing here in front 216 00:11:02,566 --> 00:11:05,866 of my home on Main Street, the water flows to Hudson Bay 217 00:11:05,866 --> 00:11:07,533 and if you're on the south end of Main Street, 218 00:11:07,533 --> 00:11:09,133 it goes down to the Gulf of Mexico. 219 00:11:09,133 --> 00:11:10,933 And I think that's a very interesting fact. 220 00:11:14,533 --> 00:11:17,300 - These are just shots of some of our local fellows sitting 221 00:11:17,300 --> 00:11:20,766 around visiting, having a cigarette. 222 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:23,133 Watch this guy on the right, 223 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:27,233 he gets the light from the guy on the left. 224 00:11:27,233 --> 00:11:29,833 Then he puts his box of matches in his own pocket, 225 00:11:29,833 --> 00:11:30,866 he never gets it back. 226 00:11:34,666 --> 00:11:35,700 I always liked that scene. 227 00:11:39,500 --> 00:11:42,333 - They accused me first of being the sewer mayor 228 00:11:42,333 --> 00:11:44,133 because I worked so hard 229 00:11:44,133 --> 00:11:46,200 to get a sewer project on the south side of town. 230 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:47,900 But I said, if you've ever answered the phone 231 00:11:47,900 --> 00:11:50,133 and had somebody tell you the sewer is overflowing in your 232 00:11:50,133 --> 00:11:52,533 basement and the anguish in their tone, 233 00:11:52,533 --> 00:11:54,533 you know how important it is. 234 00:11:54,533 --> 00:11:56,633 - I was born in this house 235 00:11:56,633 --> 00:12:01,066 - In 1919 and I've lived here ever since we were married. 236 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:03,766 I think we moved in here in 1946. 237 00:12:05,433 --> 00:12:07,000 - Then they said I'm the parks mayor 238 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:10,066 because I'm very, very interested in the parks. 239 00:12:10,066 --> 00:12:12,200 We've bought some land across the street here 240 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:15,666 that we've added to our park and we have a new tennis court 241 00:12:15,666 --> 00:12:18,100 and we have a new park on the north, on the south side 242 00:12:18,100 --> 00:12:19,600 of town where there were lots 243 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:21,000 of children that they didn't have any. 244 00:12:23,366 --> 00:12:24,966 - This is a good sign of spring. 245 00:12:24,966 --> 00:12:28,300 I see a bunch of boys around in a circle 246 00:12:28,300 --> 00:12:31,200 with a marbles on the ground, shooting marbles. 247 00:12:33,033 --> 00:12:34,466 Every kid would start out with 248 00:12:34,466 --> 00:12:38,566 so many marbles in his pocket and night he'd go home. 249 00:12:40,066 --> 00:12:42,566 He might have a bigger pocket full or he may not have any. 250 00:12:43,633 --> 00:12:45,433 That was the kid's way of gambling 251 00:12:45,433 --> 00:12:47,900 and it was, it was a sure sign of spring 252 00:12:47,900 --> 00:12:49,533 and they'd start the bank in a big circle 253 00:12:50,866 --> 00:12:52,466 and get out on their haunches and play markets. 254 00:12:56,566 --> 00:12:58,433 - How long have you lived in Britain? 255 00:12:58,433 --> 00:13:01,700 - 77 years. - Were you born here? 256 00:13:01,700 --> 00:13:04,000 - Born here, right up the end of this street. 257 00:13:05,033 --> 00:13:06,466 Six blocks up the street. 258 00:13:07,866 --> 00:13:09,666 - I suppose the most important thing to a city, right 259 00:13:09,666 --> 00:13:12,400 to our city right now is the water supply. 260 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:14,233 The EPA regulations are getting tougher 261 00:13:14,233 --> 00:13:16,300 and tougher about what we have to have. 262 00:13:16,300 --> 00:13:19,733 And our water plant is 25 years old and needs renovation. 263 00:13:22,133 --> 00:13:26,033 - Ladies coming down the street, all in dresses. 264 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:29,633 You very seldom see a lady in slacks. 265 00:13:29,633 --> 00:13:31,000 In fact, I don't think they knew 266 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:32,466 what slacks were in those days. 267 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:38,033 Even the little girls are dressed in dresses. 268 00:13:38,033 --> 00:13:40,300 Men usually have hats. 269 00:13:40,300 --> 00:13:41,800 Ladies almost always do 270 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:44,633 fully dressed when they hit Main Street. 271 00:13:46,900 --> 00:13:51,266 - The house was bought by my mother in 19 five 272 00:13:51,266 --> 00:13:53,500 before she was even married. 273 00:13:53,500 --> 00:13:55,100 She was a school teacher then 274 00:13:55,100 --> 00:13:58,766 and she was later county superintendent of the schools. 275 00:13:58,766 --> 00:14:02,866 And she bought it in 19 five at a price of $800. 276 00:14:04,033 --> 00:14:06,100 - And of course everybody laughs 277 00:14:06,100 --> 00:14:10,833 but dogs are a problem in every city and they are here. 278 00:14:10,833 --> 00:14:13,500 People call about dogs running loose or dogs 279 00:14:13,500 --> 00:14:16,600 and we have a a problem about that, that's a little thing 280 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:18,400 but an aggravating thing. 281 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:20,033 - They did have dogs around. 282 00:14:20,033 --> 00:14:24,600 Every guy had a dog and they'd tag them around town 283 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:25,933 and never pay any attention, 284 00:14:25,933 --> 00:14:28,200 never had any problems that I knew of. 285 00:14:29,833 --> 00:14:33,500 And now of course you've got, you've gotta have shots, 286 00:14:33,500 --> 00:14:36,800 they gotta have a collar, you gotta have a license 287 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:39,333 besides that, you gotta have a string on 'em. 288 00:14:39,333 --> 00:14:41,766 So, so long, you know. 289 00:14:42,866 --> 00:14:44,400 But there were a lot of dogs. 290 00:14:45,566 --> 00:14:47,466 Kids had 'em and grownups had 'em as well. 291 00:14:51,100 --> 00:14:52,133 Part of the growing up. 292 00:14:54,700 --> 00:14:57,766 - It was a good place to make a living and raise a family 293 00:14:58,700 --> 00:15:00,933 and we enjoyed it here. 294 00:15:00,933 --> 00:15:05,366 We've been many places and we always like to come back 295 00:15:05,366 --> 00:15:07,633 and think this is the best place you can find. 296 00:15:08,966 --> 00:15:11,100 - I think there, there have been a number of people 297 00:15:11,100 --> 00:15:13,533 who have moved back here just to get away from the traffic 298 00:15:13,533 --> 00:15:14,966 of cities and so 299 00:15:14,966 --> 00:15:15,966 - Forth. 300 00:15:15,966 --> 00:15:17,366 Especially when you get older. 301 00:15:17,366 --> 00:15:21,833 When I was talking about moving out here, my two cousins 302 00:15:21,833 --> 00:15:25,366 who live here were visiting me in Minneapolis. 303 00:15:25,366 --> 00:15:26,766 And one said to the other, well 304 00:15:26,766 --> 00:15:29,833 what will Bertha do when she goes to to Britain now? 305 00:15:29,833 --> 00:15:31,733 What was she, how does she occupy her time? 306 00:15:31,733 --> 00:15:33,933 And the other one said, well there's church that'll 307 00:15:33,933 --> 00:15:35,500 take six days a week. 308 00:15:35,500 --> 00:15:37,466 All she needs to worry about is what to do on the seventh. 309 00:15:37,466 --> 00:15:39,466 And with all due respect to my good church, 310 00:15:39,466 --> 00:15:40,600 that's a little bit true. 311 00:15:51,266 --> 00:15:53,566 Well everyone should have just a little bit 312 00:15:53,566 --> 00:15:56,000 of discipline in their life, even if they're retired. 313 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:59,766 So I do have exercise class at 10 o'clock on 314 00:15:59,766 --> 00:16:01,133 Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 315 00:16:01,133 --> 00:16:03,033 And I try to attend quite faithfully. 316 00:16:06,133 --> 00:16:08,166 Well one, I think it's a very comfortable, 317 00:16:08,166 --> 00:16:09,833 easy place to live. 318 00:16:09,833 --> 00:16:12,166 And it's a place where I have many memories 319 00:16:12,166 --> 00:16:15,366 and good associations from my childhood and high school 320 00:16:15,366 --> 00:16:17,400 and even into college days. 321 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:18,700 The people are friendly 322 00:16:18,700 --> 00:16:22,366 and I guess I just like, I'm a small town girl. 323 00:16:22,366 --> 00:16:23,366 Maybe that's it. 324 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:27,333 - Our town was a good town. 325 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:29,800 There were good people in it 326 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:33,933 and workers, they had to be to compete 327 00:16:33,933 --> 00:16:35,766 with the other small towns around. 328 00:16:37,233 --> 00:16:41,100 It was the county seat and the largest town in the group 329 00:16:41,100 --> 00:16:42,800 or in within our county. 330 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:46,500 - As in most counties, 331 00:16:46,500 --> 00:16:49,966 agriculture's the main industry in Marshall County raising 332 00:16:49,966 --> 00:16:53,066 crops and livestock have historically maintained counties 333 00:16:53,066 --> 00:16:55,800 and small towns throughout our history. 334 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:58,700 Family farms and livestock operations continue 335 00:16:58,700 --> 00:16:59,900 to maintain Britain 336 00:17:00,966 --> 00:17:02,333 - Since 1935. 337 00:17:02,333 --> 00:17:03,833 We lived on this place. 338 00:17:03,833 --> 00:17:08,300 My brother and I started batching here in 1935 339 00:17:09,433 --> 00:17:11,900 and we batched till in 1939. 340 00:17:11,900 --> 00:17:16,200 I got married and he was trucking at that time. 341 00:17:18,233 --> 00:17:20,333 And then he went to the army in 42 342 00:17:22,033 --> 00:17:23,800 and was there until 46. 343 00:17:25,466 --> 00:17:29,400 So and later on then he 344 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:30,900 moved to Minnesota. 345 00:17:30,900 --> 00:17:34,100 That was in 49. Yeah. And he is been there ever since. 346 00:17:34,100 --> 00:17:37,900 So I've been here alone or that is run the place since. 347 00:17:37,900 --> 00:17:40,666 Since then. Farming in the thirties was all horses. 348 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,066 The early thirties at least the later thirties. 349 00:17:44,066 --> 00:17:48,333 They got some, yeah, they got some tractors I don't think, 350 00:17:49,833 --> 00:17:54,033 I don't think we had a tractor in in Yeah, we did too. 351 00:17:54,033 --> 00:17:57,166 Can't tell you now. We had a cross, cross motor case. 352 00:17:58,866 --> 00:18:01,266 I believe it was the first plow tractor we ever had. 353 00:18:03,266 --> 00:18:05,133 And that would be in the thirties though, right? 354 00:18:06,700 --> 00:18:10,733 - I think the sig, single largest industry in Marshall 355 00:18:10,733 --> 00:18:12,233 County, of course is raising cattle. 356 00:18:12,233 --> 00:18:14,400 We have some of the best cattle in the United States right 357 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:16,900 here in Marshall County and we're very proud of that. 358 00:18:16,900 --> 00:18:18,966 I think they figured a couple 359 00:18:18,966 --> 00:18:20,833 of years ago there were $50 million worth 360 00:18:20,833 --> 00:18:22,300 of cattle sold in Marshall County. 361 00:18:23,533 --> 00:18:26,766 The sale barn is a big part of our economy too. 362 00:18:26,766 --> 00:18:28,033 When the sail barn was closed 363 00:18:28,033 --> 00:18:30,000 and it was for about a year and a half. 364 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:32,333 And when it was reopened, it was great rejoicing, not only 365 00:18:32,333 --> 00:18:34,266 among the farmers but among the people in Britain. 366 00:18:35,700 --> 00:18:37,766 - Well if I'm supposed to describe the soil in this area, 367 00:18:37,766 --> 00:18:40,500 I'll say some of the best in the United States, 368 00:18:40,500 --> 00:18:43,300 but we haven't got the climate to go with it. 369 00:18:55,633 --> 00:18:57,866 - And they fired the shotguns. It was time to go. 370 00:18:59,066 --> 00:19:00,900 And they had the wagons would go down a row 371 00:19:00,900 --> 00:19:05,100 and each farmer would pick as much corn 372 00:19:05,100 --> 00:19:06,466 as he could and give him time. 373 00:19:07,633 --> 00:19:08,833 And they were all shooting for the big 374 00:19:08,833 --> 00:19:10,400 prize because it was big. 375 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:13,366 And the guy that won was prized was $3. 376 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:16,633 And they worked hard to get that $3. 377 00:19:16,633 --> 00:19:20,300 It $3 50 years ago was a lot of money. 378 00:19:23,233 --> 00:19:26,233 - Well I, I did pretty well in the, in the state contest. 379 00:19:26,233 --> 00:19:27,866 So because I got right in the middle 380 00:19:27,866 --> 00:19:32,100 and both my, my brother that you saw tonight, 381 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:39,000 my older brother, he won the first corn picking contest we 382 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:43,633 had in this county and then I won two after that. 383 00:19:44,966 --> 00:19:47,400 Let's suppose there's a cornstalk here with an ear on it 384 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:49,733 and you grab the ear with this hand and, 385 00:19:49,733 --> 00:19:51,300 and you rip the husk. 386 00:19:51,300 --> 00:19:53,500 Your hook sits right in here somewhere. 387 00:19:53,500 --> 00:19:56,800 You rip the husk open with this hand 388 00:19:56,800 --> 00:20:00,466 and then you pick the the ear out of the rest of the husk. 389 00:20:00,466 --> 00:20:02,933 You kind of pull that back with the left hand 390 00:20:02,933 --> 00:20:05,166 and then you put the ear out of there in the wagon. 391 00:20:05,166 --> 00:20:06,166 That building, 392 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:36,633 - Well everybody 393 00:20:36,633 --> 00:20:39,800 that you've seeing in these pictures had someplace to go 394 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:41,133 and something to do each 395 00:20:41,133 --> 00:20:44,100 of these in his own way had his own job 396 00:20:45,166 --> 00:20:47,300 and he'd go about it, do his work. 397 00:20:49,500 --> 00:20:52,566 I don't know that it's that much different except 398 00:20:52,566 --> 00:20:55,633 that it's different in the way it's done. 399 00:20:55,633 --> 00:20:56,833 It would probably take three 400 00:20:56,833 --> 00:21:00,633 or four men to handle the same job 401 00:21:00,633 --> 00:21:02,400 that one man will do. 402 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:07,400 Now there were no machines or equipment 403 00:21:08,233 --> 00:21:10,833 or factories, no tractors 404 00:21:10,833 --> 00:21:13,166 or anything like that to work with. 405 00:21:13,166 --> 00:21:15,033 It had to be straight hand. 406 00:21:26,866 --> 00:21:28,400 - Important industries, 407 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,133 manufacturers primarily fan clutches for diesel trucks. 408 00:21:31,133 --> 00:21:34,066 We refer to 'em as a class eight diesel truck. 409 00:21:34,066 --> 00:21:36,733 Others may recognize it as the 18 wheeler 410 00:21:36,733 --> 00:21:37,933 that goes up and down the highway. 411 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:42,766 We probably generate now the a salary of about a million 412 00:21:42,766 --> 00:21:45,866 and a half dollars per year coming into the community. 413 00:21:45,866 --> 00:21:48,266 And we expect to continue to grow. 414 00:21:48,266 --> 00:21:50,833 - Well I think Britain would have some very difficult, 415 00:21:50,833 --> 00:21:52,866 would've had some very difficult times if it weren't 416 00:21:52,866 --> 00:21:54,833 for Horton's and for trust Pros. 417 00:21:54,833 --> 00:21:56,633 Have you been out to Trust Pros? 418 00:21:56,633 --> 00:21:59,700 - Trust Pros was incorporated in 1978 419 00:21:59,700 --> 00:22:03,466 and we started in Britain and we're still here currently. 420 00:22:03,466 --> 00:22:08,033 We have, I believe it's 28 total people working right now. 421 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:12,733 And in the summer 422 00:22:12,733 --> 00:22:15,200 and fall of the year, we'll have 423 00:22:17,033 --> 00:22:20,666 sometimes 35 maybe up to 40 people that will be working. 424 00:22:35,300 --> 00:22:38,900 - I'm Jackman from the Jack Hammer, 425 00:22:41,500 --> 00:22:45,966 Jack Jackman from the Jack Hammer on 426 00:22:46,900 --> 00:22:50,400 the hammer down Jack. 427 00:22:53,633 --> 00:22:56,566 - This is a WPA project. 428 00:22:56,566 --> 00:22:58,200 It was a godsend back there 429 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:00,833 because in the thirties, as I said, 430 00:23:00,833 --> 00:23:02,366 there was no work, no nothing. 431 00:23:03,700 --> 00:23:05,200 So Uncle Sam stepped in, 432 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:09,266 he had the WPA projects and this is one of 'em. 433 00:23:09,266 --> 00:23:10,733 They went out east of town 434 00:23:10,733 --> 00:23:15,733 and built a dam, formed a lake 435 00:23:16,633 --> 00:23:18,100 and it's a very good one now. 436 00:23:18,100 --> 00:23:22,233 But these are the men, most of them are in town 437 00:23:22,233 --> 00:23:26,800 that are working in town stores and that type of thing. 438 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:29,233 And they're all lined up with WPA 439 00:23:29,233 --> 00:23:31,600 because that was the only thing that was, there was no work 440 00:23:32,833 --> 00:23:35,666 have the municipal pool was built 441 00:23:35,666 --> 00:23:40,166 and I think most of it was built back in the WPA days 442 00:23:40,166 --> 00:23:44,500 and then they put on the finishing doctors the 443 00:23:44,500 --> 00:23:45,900 city did afterwards. 444 00:23:47,100 --> 00:23:48,733 It's a wonderful place for the youngsters 445 00:23:48,733 --> 00:23:51,066 to go in the summer and it's hot. 446 00:23:54,066 --> 00:23:56,666 - One thing that intrigues me a great deal about the film is 447 00:23:56,666 --> 00:23:58,633 people's reaction to the camera. 448 00:23:59,966 --> 00:24:03,566 Today, when people are are shot on video, they tend 449 00:24:03,566 --> 00:24:05,800 to mug, they tend to wave. 450 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:07,766 They're very actively involved. 451 00:24:07,766 --> 00:24:10,433 They recognize the camera, they kind of play along with it. 452 00:24:10,433 --> 00:24:12,766 In those days, just about everybody was embarrassed. 453 00:24:12,766 --> 00:24:15,200 They hid, they didn't wanna look stupid. 454 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:18,033 And it was, you know, very much an earlier sort 455 00:24:18,033 --> 00:24:21,666 of age in the history of the media when people weren't 456 00:24:21,666 --> 00:24:24,100 so sure that they wanted their lives invaded. 457 00:24:24,100 --> 00:24:26,333 So there's a real fun interplay like that. 458 00:24:26,333 --> 00:24:27,666 I like Christmas a lot too. 459 00:24:34,100 --> 00:24:35,533 - You better watch out. 460 00:24:35,533 --> 00:24:38,333 You better not cry, you better not thought. 461 00:24:38,333 --> 00:24:42,266 I'm telling you why, why Santa Claus is coming 462 00:24:42,266 --> 00:24:44,400 to time Gather wrong. 463 00:24:45,566 --> 00:24:48,133 He's making a list, checking it twice. 464 00:24:48,133 --> 00:24:51,266 He's going to find out who's naughty and nice. 465 00:24:51,266 --> 00:24:54,233 Santa Claus is coming to time. 466 00:24:56,266 --> 00:24:59,033 - He's sees you when you are sleeping. 467 00:24:59,033 --> 00:25:01,900 He knows when you are awake. 468 00:25:01,900 --> 00:25:06,000 - He knows if you've been bad or good. So good goodness. 469 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:09,133 Goodness saying you better watch out out. 470 00:25:09,133 --> 00:25:12,633 You better not cry. You better not fall new 471 00:25:18,966 --> 00:25:23,000 - With little tin horns, little toy drums, Rudy Twos 472 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:24,500 and Ram Tum. 473 00:25:24,500 --> 00:25:27,900 Santa Clause is coming to Tide 474 00:25:30,100 --> 00:25:34,200 and curly head dolls Todd and cool elephant boat 475 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:35,666 and kitty cars too. 476 00:25:35,666 --> 00:25:37,100 Santa Claus is 477 00:25:41,166 --> 00:25:45,700 - The kids and girls in Boyland will have a jubilee 478 00:25:46,766 --> 00:25:49,633 that's gonna build a toy town all 479 00:25:49,633 --> 00:25:51,266 around the Christmas dream. 480 00:25:51,266 --> 00:25:53,600 You better watch out. 481 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:56,566 You better not cry, you better not pop. 482 00:25:56,566 --> 00:25:59,566 I'm telling you why Santa cause 483 00:25:59,566 --> 00:26:01,400 - Coming two times 484 00:26:04,100 --> 00:26:06,233 the big events like Christmas capture the 485 00:26:06,233 --> 00:26:08,033 spirit of the community. 486 00:26:08,033 --> 00:26:10,833 But many of the personal recollections of the films are 487 00:26:10,833 --> 00:26:12,200 of little events. 488 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:16,133 Events that capture one life at a time. 489 00:26:16,133 --> 00:26:19,733 - I was washing windows at Herman Johnson's grocery store. 490 00:26:19,733 --> 00:26:24,066 I remember seeing that one then out at the cemetery. 491 00:26:24,066 --> 00:26:28,266 I think the Firing Squad probably was out there that 492 00:26:28,266 --> 00:26:32,000 that day I suppose it was Memorial Day 493 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:33,800 and I was trying to get a picture 494 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:36,800 of Ivan Bessie when he was taking pictures. 495 00:26:38,500 --> 00:26:41,300 - The ones of my sister of course brought it back a lot 496 00:26:41,300 --> 00:26:43,633 of sentiment because she was a very special 497 00:26:43,633 --> 00:26:46,566 a down syndrome child and someone who was older than I. 498 00:26:46,566 --> 00:26:49,600 But my closest playmate I suppose during my younger years 499 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:51,466 and someone who died when I was five years old. 500 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:56,133 - Yeah, we were dressed up in our cowboy hats. 501 00:26:56,133 --> 00:26:59,900 It was probably at a a homecoming parade 502 00:26:59,900 --> 00:27:03,633 or something when we used to bring our horses in our ponies 503 00:27:03,633 --> 00:27:04,800 and ride in the parade. 504 00:27:06,266 --> 00:27:09,733 - Well and then I'm like I told you, in the one on the horse 505 00:27:09,733 --> 00:27:11,066 hitting the parade on homecoming, 506 00:27:16,433 --> 00:27:19,600 - We always had the parades with the bands. 507 00:27:20,766 --> 00:27:23,300 In fact we had a little band, school band. 508 00:27:23,300 --> 00:27:25,133 It was a marching band. 509 00:27:25,133 --> 00:27:28,333 We were on Main Street for every event that hit, no matter 510 00:27:28,333 --> 00:27:32,000 what it was, four H Club or the big game 511 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:33,800 or anything. 512 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:37,400 But that band was there. It seemed to be a cooperation 513 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:40,933 between the town and the school and the farmers 514 00:27:40,933 --> 00:27:43,200 and all that. 515 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:46,833 We since have lost in these 50 years 516 00:27:48,866 --> 00:27:50,066 were wonderful times. 517 00:27:50,066 --> 00:27:51,200 The town was wonderful. 518 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:55,333 The people were there are the 519 00:27:56,566 --> 00:27:58,266 parades and the vehicles that made the parades. 520 00:27:59,666 --> 00:28:02,466 It's odd to note the cars as they go along 521 00:28:03,900 --> 00:28:07,433 different makes different models. 522 00:28:07,433 --> 00:28:09,833 And this was all 50 years ago. 523 00:28:11,433 --> 00:28:14,600 This is a parade in which everybody takes part. 524 00:28:16,566 --> 00:28:20,100 Each merchant would have his own name on his car 525 00:28:20,100 --> 00:28:23,833 or his truck and have it decorated up and ready to go. 526 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:28,100 And we were out to beat Clark. 527 00:28:29,433 --> 00:28:33,666 Clark was the enemy of that day, trying very hard 528 00:28:33,666 --> 00:28:36,833 to beat them 50 years ago. 529 00:28:36,833 --> 00:28:38,633 We were probably still trying to beat them. 530 00:28:38,633 --> 00:28:43,500 Now the football game was a must. 531 00:28:43,500 --> 00:28:45,500 Everybody turned out for that. 532 00:28:46,633 --> 00:28:50,100 Our football team was about average. 533 00:28:50,100 --> 00:28:52,200 They'd win and they'd lose, 534 00:28:54,366 --> 00:28:55,633 but they'd draw a crowd. 535 00:28:56,766 --> 00:28:58,200 Of course in those days there wasn't 536 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:00,933 as much entertainment as there is now. 537 00:29:00,933 --> 00:29:05,933 There was no tv, very few radios, anything of that type. 538 00:29:07,233 --> 00:29:09,100 So while it was left was the game 539 00:29:09,100 --> 00:29:10,866 or whatever was happening in the town, 540 00:29:12,366 --> 00:29:14,466 but whatever was happening, everybody had a finger in it. 541 00:29:15,766 --> 00:29:18,533 Athletics were an important part of our school 542 00:29:18,533 --> 00:29:19,900 or of our whole system. 543 00:29:21,333 --> 00:29:25,866 Everybody turned out for football or basketball or track 544 00:29:25,866 --> 00:29:27,100 or whatever the kids were doing. 545 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:30,833 That was one of the big ways 546 00:29:30,833 --> 00:29:32,466 of getting entertained in our town. 547 00:29:33,866 --> 00:29:37,333 The field that there would play on back in those days 548 00:29:37,333 --> 00:29:39,866 was just over in somebody's backyard 549 00:29:39,866 --> 00:29:41,433 or somebody's vacant lot. 550 00:29:42,633 --> 00:29:45,800 And we'd use 'em for our football field. 551 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:48,900 Same way with track or anything like that. 552 00:29:48,900 --> 00:29:51,300 Didn't have any trouble getting them to pose for me. 553 00:29:54,866 --> 00:29:57,400 I think it's mostly the boys that came back. 554 00:29:57,400 --> 00:29:59,533 The girls went to college 555 00:29:59,533 --> 00:30:04,333 and found a boy 556 00:30:04,333 --> 00:30:08,000 or a job or something and didn't come back. 557 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:12,200 There's more of the old time men around that I knew 558 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:14,000 than there are in the ladies. 559 00:30:15,333 --> 00:30:20,200 It's amazing. Back in those days is how 560 00:30:21,366 --> 00:30:24,966 a couple would be together in high school. 561 00:30:26,533 --> 00:30:27,766 School day sweethearts. 562 00:30:28,933 --> 00:30:30,233 And how many of 'em are married 563 00:30:30,233 --> 00:30:31,366 and living here in Britain now? 564 00:30:31,366 --> 00:30:32,900 Okay. 565 00:30:32,900 --> 00:30:37,466 - Well he went in the service then in in 40, 41 566 00:30:37,466 --> 00:30:39,866 and that's when I went to college in 40. 567 00:30:39,866 --> 00:30:41,566 And so I was gone too then. 568 00:30:41,566 --> 00:30:43,466 And then we got married in 42 569 00:30:43,466 --> 00:30:46,900 and so we didn't return to Britain until 40 end of 45. 570 00:30:46,900 --> 00:30:49,333 We were gone. Well when you have a family business is one 571 00:30:49,333 --> 00:30:51,100 thing that keeps him in town. 572 00:30:51,100 --> 00:30:53,966 You know, he came back and joined his brother in their store 573 00:30:53,966 --> 00:30:56,233 and they were in business until two years ago. 574 00:30:56,233 --> 00:31:00,800 - So I, I felt that when I came back to South Dakota 575 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:03,400 that I would probably get into electronics. 576 00:31:04,866 --> 00:31:08,766 At that time it was radio but television was just ahead. 577 00:31:08,766 --> 00:31:12,400 We didn't get television here until 1953. 578 00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:15,433 But I was prepared because I had gone to Chicago 579 00:31:15,433 --> 00:31:17,433 and gone to a trade school and 580 00:31:17,433 --> 00:31:20,833 and learned to repair televisions. 581 00:31:20,833 --> 00:31:24,800 - We had so many more stores back in those days. 582 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:26,900 It seems we had three 583 00:31:26,900 --> 00:31:30,566 or four blocks of business places where now 584 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:33,266 two blocks handles it pretty well. 585 00:31:34,433 --> 00:31:35,833 I don't know whether they work together 586 00:31:35,833 --> 00:31:37,900 and consolidate or what they've done. 587 00:31:39,333 --> 00:31:42,200 - We're standing in front of the former Downey Jewelry 588 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:45,133 and Radio, TV building. 589 00:31:45,133 --> 00:31:49,066 This is a building that my father built in 1919 590 00:31:49,066 --> 00:31:51,033 for a jewelry store. 591 00:31:51,033 --> 00:31:56,000 He started in business in 19 six in Britain as a jeweler 592 00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:59,800 and was in a another building prior to this time, 593 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:01,900 a little farther down the street. 594 00:32:01,900 --> 00:32:06,266 Then in 1919 he built this for a jewelry store. 595 00:32:07,466 --> 00:32:10,633 - Most of them, their husbands were gone 596 00:32:10,633 --> 00:32:14,200 and had passed away 597 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:16,600 and the women went on running a place. 598 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:20,633 We had the lady in the dress shop, a lady in insurance, 599 00:32:22,366 --> 00:32:24,533 another lady in the store just went by 600 00:32:25,833 --> 00:32:30,333 and our stores were larger then than they are now. 601 00:32:32,666 --> 00:32:34,300 Oh dry. 602 00:32:34,300 --> 00:32:37,766 Good store for instance, man would own the place he 603 00:32:37,766 --> 00:32:39,633 and his wife, but he'd have two 604 00:32:39,633 --> 00:32:41,466 or three of the ladies working for him. 605 00:32:42,766 --> 00:32:45,800 - I had a heart attack in 89 606 00:32:45,800 --> 00:32:50,466 and we had about decided then to have a closing out sale. 607 00:32:50,466 --> 00:32:55,366 And we think maybe that this stress from getting ready 608 00:32:55,366 --> 00:32:56,900 for this sale may have had something 609 00:32:56,900 --> 00:32:57,933 to do with my heart attack. 610 00:33:01,300 --> 00:33:03,966 - Many people say life was simpler in the thirties. 611 00:33:03,966 --> 00:33:06,866 There wasn't as much stress on people like there is today. 612 00:33:08,366 --> 00:33:10,100 People born since the films are made have grown up trying 613 00:33:10,100 --> 00:33:11,866 to keep pace with the rest of the world. 614 00:33:12,900 --> 00:33:14,933 How has Britain changed? 615 00:33:14,933 --> 00:33:17,433 How are the children that are growing up today coping 616 00:33:17,433 --> 00:33:19,033 with this ever-changing world? 617 00:33:20,366 --> 00:33:22,366 The Hair Hut is an in-home business run by mother 618 00:33:22,366 --> 00:33:24,700 of four Lana Shot. 619 00:33:24,700 --> 00:33:28,266 - I've lived here all my life. I'm 39 years old tomorrow. 620 00:33:28,266 --> 00:33:29,733 My grand grandparents lived here, 621 00:33:29,733 --> 00:33:31,833 my grandparents and my mother and dad. 622 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:36,966 - So it's really a family tradition to keep living here. 623 00:33:39,233 --> 00:33:41,700 - My children I'm sure will not plan to stay here. 624 00:33:41,700 --> 00:33:43,200 They're going off to college of course. 625 00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:47,700 You know, my three have an 18-year-old, two 17 626 00:33:47,700 --> 00:33:49,633 and Lacey will be seven in June. 627 00:33:51,300 --> 00:33:53,133 - And you don't think they'll stay in Britain? 628 00:33:53,133 --> 00:33:55,966 - No one wants to be a pharmacist 629 00:33:55,966 --> 00:33:58,633 and one wants to be into physical therapy 630 00:33:58,633 --> 00:33:59,800 and one wants to be a teacher 631 00:34:01,100 --> 00:34:02,400 and I think they'll move to a bigger area. 632 00:34:03,733 --> 00:34:04,933 - I, I mean I like it. 633 00:34:04,933 --> 00:34:07,700 Get closer, closer to your classmates 634 00:34:07,700 --> 00:34:10,833 and you know everybody who's graduating in your class 635 00:34:10,833 --> 00:34:12,233 and it's a lot special 636 00:34:12,233 --> 00:34:14,733 or a lot more special than you think it would be. 637 00:34:14,733 --> 00:34:16,000 'cause I have realized it this year 638 00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:17,766 'cause I'm a senior and I'm gonna be graduating. 639 00:34:17,766 --> 00:34:22,000 I love it. It's, it's it's, it's good to like be so happy 640 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:25,600 with everybody that you're gonna graduate and I like it. 641 00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:27,333 - Now how many people are in your graduating class? 642 00:34:27,333 --> 00:34:30,400 - 37. - Someone called me 643 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:33,566 and asked me why Britain's population had gone down in the 644 00:34:33,566 --> 00:34:35,166 last, in this last census. 645 00:34:35,166 --> 00:34:38,100 Because in the other years we've gone up just a few. 646 00:34:38,100 --> 00:34:40,833 And this year we went down quite a few and I said 647 00:34:40,833 --> 00:34:43,633 because of birth control and they didn't like that. 648 00:34:43,633 --> 00:34:46,700 But when my youngest daughter graduated in 78, 649 00:34:46,700 --> 00:34:47,933 there were 78 seniors 650 00:34:49,766 --> 00:34:52,366 - And that was the big crop we had. 651 00:34:52,366 --> 00:34:54,233 We had more kids than anything in the world. 652 00:34:56,500 --> 00:34:57,866 Didn't know how to keep from having them. 653 00:34:57,866 --> 00:35:00,133 Probably as about half of it, 654 00:35:01,833 --> 00:35:03,100 - There are only half as many kids. 655 00:35:03,100 --> 00:35:05,366 We have as many adults as we've ever had. 656 00:35:05,366 --> 00:35:07,600 It's the families that are smaller. 657 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:11,133 I had six children and a lot of my friends had five 658 00:35:11,133 --> 00:35:12,466 or six, four or five or six. 659 00:35:12,466 --> 00:35:14,500 And now the young people have one or two children 660 00:35:14,500 --> 00:35:16,766 and they're just, it's the young people that we're missing. 661 00:35:18,933 --> 00:35:21,666 - Weird. I mean that's strange 662 00:35:21,666 --> 00:35:23,833 'cause they had children so much more young 663 00:35:23,833 --> 00:35:25,366 and I mean I'm 18 664 00:35:25,366 --> 00:35:28,333 and it wouldn't be like, it wouldn't be very much out 665 00:35:28,333 --> 00:35:29,933 of the ordinary if I would have a child 666 00:35:29,933 --> 00:35:32,000 or be going to have a child and get married. 667 00:35:33,333 --> 00:35:35,566 Can't figure. I mean that's, there's no way I could, 668 00:35:35,566 --> 00:35:37,000 I mean I'd never be ready for that. 669 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:40,266 And even my mom, just like her age, I mean she, 670 00:35:40,266 --> 00:35:42,066 she's telling me how when she was a senior in high school, 671 00:35:42,066 --> 00:35:45,000 like, I mean it wasn't, it wasn't just her, it was a lot 672 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:47,766 of girls her age we're like looking forward 673 00:35:47,766 --> 00:35:49,266 to like getting married. 674 00:35:49,266 --> 00:35:50,733 Like she couldn't, she was hoping 675 00:35:50,733 --> 00:35:52,800 that she'd get married soon and then have kids 676 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:54,600 and I'm no way. 677 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:56,800 I mean, no, that's not what I'm thinking of. 678 00:35:56,800 --> 00:35:57,933 I'm thinking more of college 679 00:35:57,933 --> 00:35:59,733 and still I feel so much more young. 680 00:35:59,733 --> 00:36:02,433 I don't feel like I should be that old yet. 681 00:36:02,433 --> 00:36:04,266 Still feel like a kid. 682 00:36:04,266 --> 00:36:05,766 - A lot of the, a lot of boys 683 00:36:05,766 --> 00:36:08,033 that live out in the country work on their dad's farm. 684 00:36:08,033 --> 00:36:11,700 So I'm sure they'll be taking over their farming once, 685 00:36:11,700 --> 00:36:15,300 you know, the dads get older, can't be, aren't able to do 686 00:36:15,300 --> 00:36:17,033 as much as they are now. 687 00:36:17,033 --> 00:36:20,666 So I suppose kids will be taking over. 688 00:36:22,466 --> 00:36:24,500 That's what I think right now anyway. So. 689 00:36:24,500 --> 00:36:26,533 - So what do you think is your future 690 00:36:26,533 --> 00:36:27,700 in, in terms of farming? 691 00:36:29,200 --> 00:36:31,433 - Well I hopefully plan as of right now, I hopefully plan 692 00:36:31,433 --> 00:36:33,933 to come back here after I get outta college 693 00:36:33,933 --> 00:36:37,600 and work live on this farm and probably work on this farm. 694 00:36:37,600 --> 00:36:39,333 - Women are, have play a whole different role. 695 00:36:39,333 --> 00:36:41,233 I mean they're just not gonna, I'm, 696 00:36:41,233 --> 00:36:43,233 I don't plan on living in Britain 697 00:36:43,233 --> 00:36:44,933 and getting married with someone 698 00:36:44,933 --> 00:36:46,533 who works on a farm and having children. 699 00:36:46,533 --> 00:36:48,600 I mean we're, we're all have different ideas for 700 00:36:48,600 --> 00:36:49,800 what we're gonna do for careers 701 00:36:49,800 --> 00:36:51,066 and what we're gonna do in our lives. 702 00:36:51,066 --> 00:36:53,200 And basically we make that for ourselves 703 00:36:53,200 --> 00:36:55,066 before we follow the men. 704 00:36:55,066 --> 00:36:57,866 And a lot of these, well a lot of them just, not a lot 705 00:36:57,866 --> 00:36:59,766 but some of the guys in my class will stay on farm probably 706 00:36:59,766 --> 00:37:02,233 with their, with their dads a great place and stuff. 707 00:37:02,233 --> 00:37:05,133 I mean definitely it's a perfect place to do that. 708 00:37:05,133 --> 00:37:08,566 And just the women just aren't playing that role 709 00:37:08,566 --> 00:37:12,600 as just being the mom and wife and that sort of thing. 710 00:37:13,900 --> 00:37:15,300 - Well I'll tell you one thing 711 00:37:15,300 --> 00:37:17,800 that really impressed me when I came back to Britain, 712 00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:19,200 the mayor was a woman 713 00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:21,433 and the president of the Chamber of Commerce 714 00:37:21,433 --> 00:37:24,033 or chairman, whatever she is, was a lady at that time. 715 00:37:24,033 --> 00:37:26,400 And I thought this is the kind of place to come back to. 716 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:28,700 And I really don't think at the time 717 00:37:28,700 --> 00:37:30,766 that I left Britain this would've been the case. 718 00:37:30,766 --> 00:37:34,133 So I feel like that's a certain degree of progress 719 00:37:34,133 --> 00:37:35,366 - Over the last 50 years. 720 00:37:35,366 --> 00:37:37,300 There's been a great deal of progress. 721 00:37:37,300 --> 00:37:39,633 Young people have more educational opportunities 722 00:37:39,633 --> 00:37:41,100 than ever before. 723 00:37:41,100 --> 00:37:42,566 New and improved roads 724 00:37:42,566 --> 00:37:45,600 and highways make for speedier getaways out of town. 725 00:37:45,600 --> 00:37:48,933 But probably the biggest progressive influence on small 726 00:37:48,933 --> 00:37:51,633 towns like Britain has been the media. 727 00:37:53,600 --> 00:37:57,666 - We, we went to our days when when radio came in 728 00:37:59,133 --> 00:38:01,066 people stayed home, listened to the radio 729 00:38:01,066 --> 00:38:02,933 and that was their entertainment. 730 00:38:02,933 --> 00:38:05,766 And it was cheaper than going to a movie of course. 731 00:38:05,766 --> 00:38:09,600 And we come out of that in good shape. Everything was fine. 732 00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:13,533 - Well the first television was, was very poor. 733 00:38:13,533 --> 00:38:17,766 We had to get reception from Fargo, 734 00:38:17,766 --> 00:38:21,000 which is quite a pull or Sioux Falls. 735 00:38:21,966 --> 00:38:23,366 So it took a while 736 00:38:23,366 --> 00:38:27,333 before it got so that television was, 737 00:38:27,333 --> 00:38:29,200 was real good, 738 00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:33,866 but it, it was a very promising business. 739 00:38:33,866 --> 00:38:35,733 Then we sold lots of TVs 740 00:38:35,733 --> 00:38:39,166 and I didn't realize at that time that I would 741 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:41,733 be climbing roofs 742 00:38:41,733 --> 00:38:43,933 and putting up the antennas on top of houses. 743 00:38:43,933 --> 00:38:48,400 But I've probably been up on, oh, 744 00:38:48,400 --> 00:38:53,400 75% of all the houses in this town putting up antennas. 745 00:38:54,566 --> 00:38:56,566 - TV hit of course down it went again. 746 00:38:56,566 --> 00:39:00,933 But it was on its way back until this BRC deal came in 747 00:39:00,933 --> 00:39:02,433 and you would 748 00:39:03,933 --> 00:39:07,966 put a reel on your TV set and invite all the neighbors in 749 00:39:07,966 --> 00:39:12,000 and have a party and, and that's what hit hard. 750 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:16,400 - Well the cable system covers, I think we have 600, 751 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:20,300 a little over 600 houses that we supply water to. 752 00:39:20,300 --> 00:39:21,800 That's what I'm going by. 753 00:39:21,800 --> 00:39:25,700 And I, and cable television has over five, 540 I think 754 00:39:25,700 --> 00:39:27,333 of those homes. 755 00:39:27,333 --> 00:39:29,800 So I think that it covers almost all the, 756 00:39:30,700 --> 00:39:31,833 almost all the town. 757 00:39:33,000 --> 00:39:35,800 - Well the Strand is viable, it's open 758 00:39:35,800 --> 00:39:37,866 and we have weekend movies 759 00:39:37,866 --> 00:39:41,400 and basically we operate from show to show 760 00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:43,700 a town of 1400. 761 00:39:43,700 --> 00:39:46,300 We don't get that many people on some weekends. 762 00:39:46,300 --> 00:39:49,000 And hopefully we have one good movie a month 763 00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:50,600 that keeps us going 764 00:39:50,600 --> 00:39:55,500 and enable us, us to repair, do repairs in the building and 765 00:39:55,500 --> 00:39:57,133 and upkeep and maintenance like that. 766 00:40:02,666 --> 00:40:04,900 - Everybody loves Saturday night. 767 00:40:04,900 --> 00:40:09,366 Everybody, everybody, everybody loves Saturday night. 768 00:40:09,366 --> 00:40:12,966 Everybody, everybody, everybody. 769 00:40:12,966 --> 00:40:14,700 The two Wando, 770 00:40:16,100 --> 00:40:18,366 everybody loves Saturday night. 771 00:40:19,600 --> 00:40:24,500 - Well the Old Britain of course was larger 772 00:40:24,500 --> 00:40:27,166 and a lot more population 773 00:40:27,166 --> 00:40:31,866 and Saturday nights 774 00:40:31,866 --> 00:40:35,433 the streets would be full of people just solid 775 00:40:35,433 --> 00:40:39,933 and they'd stay open until 12 1 2 o'clock at night. 776 00:40:39,933 --> 00:40:41,900 The stores would, before they close 777 00:40:41,900 --> 00:40:44,766 and now of course they close earlier. 778 00:40:46,100 --> 00:40:49,166 - A lot of the old older people like my parents age 779 00:40:49,166 --> 00:40:50,533 and stuff 780 00:40:50,533 --> 00:40:52,033 and they don't usually come 781 00:40:52,033 --> 00:40:53,966 to town like they did in the films, 782 00:40:53,966 --> 00:40:56,966 like on week nights they all gather on Main Street. 783 00:40:56,966 --> 00:40:58,933 They don't do that now. So 784 00:40:58,933 --> 00:41:00,166 - What, what do people do now 785 00:41:00,166 --> 00:41:01,600 on Saturday night do you think? 786 00:41:01,600 --> 00:41:04,133 - I, I don't know. They watch TV or go at the lake 787 00:41:04,133 --> 00:41:07,000 or something I guess, you know, summertime. 788 00:41:07,000 --> 00:41:08,800 But even in the wintertime there used to be quite a lot 789 00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:10,966 of people in town on Saturday night. 790 00:41:12,866 --> 00:41:17,333 - And I don't know, I, I've always thought that the theater, 791 00:41:18,566 --> 00:41:20,600 like out here in the sticks is actually the 792 00:41:20,600 --> 00:41:22,533 center of the community. 793 00:41:22,533 --> 00:41:25,200 I don't think television will ever take the 794 00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:26,700 place of the big screen. 795 00:41:26,700 --> 00:41:31,400 I maybe I'm too much of a theater man and just dream that. 796 00:41:32,266 --> 00:41:33,266 But I think in the long run I'll 797 00:41:34,133 --> 00:41:35,400 still go back to the movies. 798 00:41:36,866 --> 00:41:38,900 - How much TV do you think you watch All the time? A day? 799 00:41:40,766 --> 00:41:43,300 Quite a bit. I don't know, three or four hours. 800 00:41:44,600 --> 00:41:45,900 So how many TVs do you guys own? 801 00:41:50,400 --> 00:41:54,166 Let's see. Or 802 00:41:54,166 --> 00:41:55,400 how often do you go to town? 803 00:41:56,966 --> 00:41:58,800 - I try to get there at least once every weekend, you know, 804 00:41:58,800 --> 00:42:02,133 just to hang out with my friends and just to be with them. 805 00:42:02,133 --> 00:42:05,033 'cause I'm usually not in every day 806 00:42:05,033 --> 00:42:06,900 and during the summer I'm hardly 807 00:42:06,900 --> 00:42:08,166 in during the summer at all. 808 00:42:08,166 --> 00:42:10,233 But when I do, I like to hang out with my friends 809 00:42:10,233 --> 00:42:13,033 and you know, just see what's happened in town 810 00:42:13,033 --> 00:42:15,200 during the week and see what they've been doing. 811 00:42:20,366 --> 00:42:23,633 - I think TV has a large influence on people 812 00:42:23,633 --> 00:42:27,900 and that's why they stay out of the town area 813 00:42:27,900 --> 00:42:31,333 because they, there's nothing 814 00:42:31,333 --> 00:42:34,266 to really do on Saturday afternoon. 815 00:42:34,266 --> 00:42:37,033 Saturday nights, there's a lot of activity out here. 816 00:42:37,033 --> 00:42:39,366 - This thing, what he said about tv that's true too 817 00:42:39,366 --> 00:42:42,833 because it's not, they don't have to probably pay as much 818 00:42:42,833 --> 00:42:45,800 to see a movie and they like to watch TV 819 00:42:45,800 --> 00:42:48,000 and just stay home. And 820 00:42:48,000 --> 00:42:49,700 - How much do you think television 821 00:42:49,700 --> 00:42:51,833 and movies have influenced the way you dress 822 00:42:51,833 --> 00:42:53,933 and the way you talk and and that sort of thing? 823 00:42:56,333 --> 00:42:58,433 - Definitely the way you dress. 824 00:42:58,433 --> 00:43:00,700 Like fashion magazines and television. 825 00:43:00,700 --> 00:43:02,600 No one's gonna dress different than they do 826 00:43:02,600 --> 00:43:04,766 'cause everybody's gonna wanna be in. 827 00:43:04,766 --> 00:43:08,900 And so, but as far as the way you talk, I don't know if 828 00:43:08,900 --> 00:43:10,800 that's made that much difference. 829 00:43:12,200 --> 00:43:14,233 - Well this like a, like a movie, like Pretty Woman. 830 00:43:14,233 --> 00:43:15,533 I mean someone sees that 831 00:43:15,533 --> 00:43:17,300 and then they just want to be like that person 832 00:43:17,300 --> 00:43:19,833 or I mean it could be any other movie but, 833 00:43:19,833 --> 00:43:21,100 - But she was a prostitute. 834 00:43:21,100 --> 00:43:22,466 I mean why, why would you wanna be like 835 00:43:22,466 --> 00:43:23,966 - Her? 836 00:43:23,966 --> 00:43:25,400 She's so, oh but she turns out to be so nice in the end 837 00:43:25,400 --> 00:43:28,600 of course and beautiful and all that and the hair 838 00:43:28,600 --> 00:43:31,233 and the thin body and the clothes 839 00:43:31,233 --> 00:43:32,900 and you know, everything like that. 840 00:43:32,900 --> 00:43:35,300 That just, that influences a lot I would say. 841 00:43:35,300 --> 00:43:37,700 I mean just different shows, different fads 842 00:43:37,700 --> 00:43:38,900 that people wear and stuff like 843 00:43:38,900 --> 00:43:40,166 - That. 844 00:43:40,166 --> 00:43:41,133 Nobody really knows where I was a prostitute 845 00:43:41,133 --> 00:43:42,966 and they just know as what is 846 00:43:42,966 --> 00:43:45,500 what she is just be, I mean she played that part. 847 00:43:45,500 --> 00:43:48,500 Yeah. But they look at more of how she was change, 848 00:43:48,500 --> 00:43:50,166 how she changed at the end of the show 849 00:43:50,166 --> 00:43:54,033 and the dresses she wore and her hairstyles woman 850 00:43:55,133 --> 00:43:57,266 - Walking down the street. 851 00:43:57,266 --> 00:44:01,266 Woman, woman. 852 00:44:11,100 --> 00:44:14,400 - Another thing I notice then more than I see now, 853 00:44:14,400 --> 00:44:16,700 of course styles have changed, I realize that. 854 00:44:18,566 --> 00:44:21,500 But you see women with their hair fixed, 855 00:44:21,500 --> 00:44:24,033 just like they come out of a beauty parlor 856 00:44:24,033 --> 00:44:27,233 and most of them were sure didn't they fixed it themselves 857 00:44:27,233 --> 00:44:29,500 or a neighbor come in and help. 858 00:44:29,500 --> 00:44:33,300 But almost all the ladies you see that are uncovered, 859 00:44:33,300 --> 00:44:34,866 they got out of the street, 860 00:44:34,866 --> 00:44:38,366 hair's all fixed up now they don't seem to care. 861 00:44:38,366 --> 00:44:40,100 Hair goes every direction 862 00:44:40,100 --> 00:44:42,200 or they have so many different styles. 863 00:44:44,400 --> 00:44:48,533 - It's - Changed. It's just, well it's just so weird 864 00:44:48,533 --> 00:44:50,100 because I know that they probably spent just 865 00:44:50,100 --> 00:44:53,066 as much time on their hair as we do now. 866 00:44:53,066 --> 00:44:55,366 It was just like, well it's not ugly, you know, 867 00:44:55,366 --> 00:44:57,033 but just, just the way they did things. 868 00:44:57,033 --> 00:44:58,900 I mean, who would leave a curl in their hair 869 00:44:58,900 --> 00:45:00,100 like that or whatever it was. 870 00:45:05,233 --> 00:45:07,200 - What more do you want in terms of entertainment? 871 00:45:11,233 --> 00:45:13,133 - This is hard when you ask it. I, I don't know. 872 00:45:13,133 --> 00:45:17,933 I guess shopping malls like Asha said, and I don't know 873 00:45:17,933 --> 00:45:22,333 because I guess in small town, like here in Britain it's, 874 00:45:22,333 --> 00:45:24,600 you know, there's not a lot to do 875 00:45:24,600 --> 00:45:27,000 and I mean you have to like, it's either this or this, 876 00:45:27,000 --> 00:45:30,133 but in, it seems like in larger towns, I mean there's 877 00:45:30,133 --> 00:45:31,666 so many places you could go. 878 00:45:31,666 --> 00:45:35,066 It'd be like, you know, it'd be to, it wouldn't be that hard 879 00:45:35,066 --> 00:45:36,700 to make a decision because I mean, 880 00:45:36,700 --> 00:45:38,166 or it would be harder to make a decision 881 00:45:38,166 --> 00:45:39,966 because there's so much more to do I guess. 882 00:45:39,966 --> 00:45:41,633 I don't know. 883 00:45:41,633 --> 00:45:43,833 - I left it tric up to them, you know, the time 884 00:45:43,833 --> 00:45:45,300 that I was married 885 00:45:45,300 --> 00:45:48,433 and made my life it, I wanted to live in Britain. 886 00:45:48,433 --> 00:45:50,433 But they don't, they don't choose to do that. 887 00:45:50,433 --> 00:45:51,433 But that's fine. 888 00:45:52,966 --> 00:45:57,533 - There's so much new in the world where, yeah, 889 00:45:57,533 --> 00:45:59,533 not in Britain, things aren't new in Britain 890 00:45:59,533 --> 00:46:01,900 as when in the thirties new things are coming to Britain 891 00:46:01,900 --> 00:46:03,633 and things are staying the same in Britain right now. 892 00:46:03,633 --> 00:46:05,766 So people are leaving to find the new things. 893 00:46:07,300 --> 00:46:08,800 - Times have really changed 894 00:46:08,800 --> 00:46:10,866 and like just the way 895 00:46:12,366 --> 00:46:14,566 like people grow up is totally different from what they did 896 00:46:14,566 --> 00:46:18,900 before and they probably think that it's not as good 897 00:46:18,900 --> 00:46:22,300 or it, I don't know, just 898 00:46:22,300 --> 00:46:24,166 that we are growing up in a total 899 00:46:24,166 --> 00:46:25,433 different way that people used to. 900 00:46:26,600 --> 00:46:28,400 - That's all they knew in the thirties 901 00:46:28,400 --> 00:46:29,833 and that's all they ever thought about. 902 00:46:29,833 --> 00:46:32,700 But now with TV and movies 903 00:46:32,700 --> 00:46:37,200 and just communication lines, they know what else there is 904 00:46:37,200 --> 00:46:38,500 to see do. 905 00:46:38,500 --> 00:46:39,600 So they wanna move on. 906 00:46:41,300 --> 00:46:42,866 - Do you think it's good or bad 907 00:46:42,866 --> 00:46:46,066 or, well I don't, I don't know what it was like back then. 908 00:46:46,066 --> 00:46:51,000 So a lot of people think it's bad, but for us it's okay. 909 00:46:51,000 --> 00:46:53,966 - And I think now we miss a lot. 910 00:46:55,233 --> 00:46:58,533 I know our young people do an awful lothan 911 00:46:58,533 --> 00:47:01,066 and I were talking about storytelling 912 00:47:01,066 --> 00:47:04,833 and how you don't tell stories to kids anymore, 913 00:47:06,066 --> 00:47:08,700 things of the past or anything like that. 914 00:47:08,700 --> 00:47:11,300 And the kids haven't got time to listen anyway. 915 00:47:11,300 --> 00:47:14,533 We're busy watching TV or running to school 916 00:47:14,533 --> 00:47:16,566 and a million things. 917 00:47:16,566 --> 00:47:18,933 We're just getting, I think we're gonna 918 00:47:18,933 --> 00:47:20,666 run ourselves to death. 919 00:47:20,666 --> 00:47:21,666 I really do. 920 00:47:23,133 --> 00:47:25,866 - So - What except me, I'm, I'm a slow book. 921 00:47:25,866 --> 00:47:26,966 I don't think I will. 922 00:47:28,933 --> 00:47:31,433 - So what's the future for Britain do you think? 923 00:47:31,433 --> 00:47:33,366 - Well, time will tell. 924 00:47:33,366 --> 00:47:36,100 I guess Britain's a county seat that helps. 925 00:47:37,466 --> 00:47:40,566 And so there's a certain amount of of county employees 926 00:47:40,566 --> 00:47:42,466 that are still used in town. 927 00:47:43,666 --> 00:47:45,400 But it's, it's harder than it used to be 928 00:47:45,400 --> 00:47:48,400 because the roads are so good now that it used 929 00:47:48,400 --> 00:47:50,400 to be quite a trip to go to Aberdeen now 930 00:47:50,400 --> 00:47:51,400 they run to Aberdeen. 931 00:47:51,400 --> 00:47:52,866 Like it was nothing to it. 932 00:47:54,066 --> 00:47:56,600 - I don't see us growing at any great extent, 933 00:47:56,600 --> 00:47:58,766 but I don't think we're gonna get any smaller either. 934 00:47:58,766 --> 00:48:01,666 And I feel that it's very important that 935 00:48:01,666 --> 00:48:03,200 because we are the county seat, 936 00:48:03,200 --> 00:48:04,866 that's an advantage Britain has. 937 00:48:06,400 --> 00:48:09,166 - If Britain wasn't the county seat 938 00:48:09,166 --> 00:48:12,233 and the school is there, well now Horton's is north 939 00:48:12,233 --> 00:48:14,833 of town there, it would die out. 940 00:48:15,933 --> 00:48:18,500 Bri Britain will disappear eventually. 941 00:48:18,500 --> 00:48:20,066 - It's kind of a pretty place 942 00:48:20,066 --> 00:48:21,800 and people have been real nice. 943 00:48:21,800 --> 00:48:24,666 It, my impression of it comes totally from the films 944 00:48:24,666 --> 00:48:28,233 and that's, I have to confess that it's a bit strange 945 00:48:28,233 --> 00:48:30,833 because in a certain way when you compare the Britain 946 00:48:30,833 --> 00:48:32,933 of today to the Britain of the thirties, 947 00:48:32,933 --> 00:48:35,733 there were more people around the center was more active. 948 00:48:35,733 --> 00:48:38,266 People would come to town to trade and to shop 949 00:48:38,266 --> 00:48:39,566 and to take in a show. 950 00:48:39,566 --> 00:48:44,233 - We've all got to pull together and work hard 951 00:48:44,233 --> 00:48:49,233 because a small town in this complicated technical 952 00:48:50,100 --> 00:48:52,666 day and age can't just sit. 953 00:48:53,866 --> 00:48:56,266 - They're kind of disintegrating slowly. 954 00:48:56,266 --> 00:48:58,633 Pretty soon they'll probably be all just big cities 955 00:48:58,633 --> 00:49:01,066 and like Britain might, you know, like 956 00:49:02,333 --> 00:49:03,866 that'll probably be here yet. 957 00:49:03,866 --> 00:49:06,566 But most of the big cities will be keep growing and growing 958 00:49:06,566 --> 00:49:09,933 and most of the smaller towns will keep, you know, 959 00:49:09,933 --> 00:49:12,133 disintegrating people moving away 960 00:49:12,133 --> 00:49:14,366 and moving to the big city. I think 961 00:49:15,833 --> 00:49:20,266 - There's nine farmstead in this township, which is six 962 00:49:20,266 --> 00:49:23,800 by six, six miles per six miles. 963 00:49:25,966 --> 00:49:28,733 So there are there very, very few. 964 00:49:30,733 --> 00:49:34,366 And I'll, well I don't wanna make any predictions, I guess. 965 00:49:35,266 --> 00:49:37,000 - And what is your prediction 966 00:49:37,000 --> 00:49:38,700 - That there'll be 10 years from now? 967 00:49:38,700 --> 00:49:41,500 There'll be less than nine in Hamilton ownership 968 00:49:41,500 --> 00:49:42,566 there might be three or four. 969 00:49:44,566 --> 00:49:46,666 It it's going to be less yet. 970 00:49:49,000 --> 00:49:52,366 - Well I foresee a future here as long 971 00:49:52,366 --> 00:49:55,166 as people want this kinda lifestyle. 972 00:49:55,166 --> 00:49:57,033 If people don't want this kinda lifestyle, 973 00:49:57,033 --> 00:49:59,200 then they aren't going to stay here 974 00:49:59,200 --> 00:50:03,500 and the town will not be, as we know today, it's 975 00:50:03,500 --> 00:50:05,500 - Worth keeping a small town alive. 976 00:50:05,500 --> 00:50:08,300 Sure. I think that it's a necessity. 977 00:50:09,433 --> 00:50:10,933 You gotta have people in small town. 978 00:50:10,933 --> 00:50:14,366 Lots of people are, are moving back to Britain. 979 00:50:14,366 --> 00:50:16,233 They keep buying a house here and there. 980 00:50:16,233 --> 00:50:19,300 Come from California, from the east coast, west coast 981 00:50:20,500 --> 00:50:23,000 and buy homes to retire here. 982 00:50:23,000 --> 00:50:26,933 And it's a good place to retire and 983 00:50:26,933 --> 00:50:30,700 and enjoy yourself and nice quiet life, that's for sure. 984 00:50:32,366 --> 00:50:33,566 - Oh, they'll always be Britain. 985 00:50:35,366 --> 00:50:37,766 They'll always be the real small town. 986 00:50:37,766 --> 00:50:40,666 It won't, hopefully it will stay. 987 00:50:40,666 --> 00:50:43,700 I'll be here, I'll be here working. So 988 00:50:43,700 --> 00:50:46,000 - How long do you think your family will farm here? 989 00:50:47,700 --> 00:50:51,933 - Probably till my little brother grows old, I guess. 990 00:50:51,933 --> 00:50:55,133 I don't know. Hopefully that, 991 00:50:55,133 --> 00:50:57,266 but technology is changing 992 00:50:57,266 --> 00:50:59,633 and times are changing, so I think more people will be 993 00:50:59,633 --> 00:51:01,033 moving to the cities probably. 994 00:51:02,200 --> 00:51:03,200 - Do you wanna move to the city? 995 00:51:04,100 --> 00:51:05,100 - As of right now, no. 996 00:51:06,333 --> 00:51:07,866 I don't think I could live in a big city. 997 00:51:07,866 --> 00:51:11,766 - Why not? - I like to be outside in the, in the air 998 00:51:11,766 --> 00:51:16,033 and I like to be outside doing something that, you know, 999 00:51:16,033 --> 00:51:18,500 in a big with no people around. 1000 00:51:18,500 --> 00:51:21,500 If you're in a city, you're like, you got a house, 1001 00:51:21,500 --> 00:51:25,600 they're 20 feet from you and not much privacy 1002 00:51:25,600 --> 00:51:27,066 and not much freedom. 1003 00:51:28,300 --> 00:51:29,600 I, that's what I think anyway. 1004 00:51:33,200 --> 00:51:37,833 - The pace I believe was slower in those days 1005 00:51:39,266 --> 00:51:43,600 and I think people worked closer together than they do now. 1006 00:51:43,600 --> 00:51:46,166 Perhaps it's a changing in times. 1007 00:51:46,166 --> 00:51:48,200 Maybe it's the speed in which we live, 1008 00:51:49,733 --> 00:51:52,600 but a little town like ours, you had to work together 1009 00:51:52,600 --> 00:51:54,266 to hold a town together. 1010 00:51:57,233 --> 00:51:58,866 - Keeping small towns together 1011 00:51:58,866 --> 00:52:01,866 by working together is not a new concept. 1012 00:52:01,866 --> 00:52:03,100 People of Britain knew 1013 00:52:03,100 --> 00:52:05,600 that 50 years ago they worked together 1014 00:52:05,600 --> 00:52:07,200 to survive the great depression. 1015 00:52:08,666 --> 00:52:12,766 Maybe life was simpler than small towns are no longer immune 1016 00:52:12,766 --> 00:52:14,600 from big city problems. 1017 00:52:14,600 --> 00:52:18,333 Crime, healthcare, pollution, joblessness, 1018 00:52:18,333 --> 00:52:20,900 and our world is now linked through the media. 1019 00:52:22,133 --> 00:52:24,466 Perhaps we are speedier. 1020 00:52:24,466 --> 00:52:28,066 Perhaps family farms will continue to disappear. 1021 00:52:28,066 --> 00:52:31,866 Perhaps young people will always look for greener pastures. 1022 00:52:31,866 --> 00:52:35,133 Perhaps the coming changes in information technology will 1023 00:52:35,133 --> 00:52:37,100 reshape the way small towns work. 1024 00:52:38,466 --> 00:52:41,766 One fact remains, the Britain films will continue 1025 00:52:41,766 --> 00:52:44,566 to be a testament to those simpler times. 1026 00:52:44,566 --> 00:52:47,900 And hopefully that old concept of working together 1027 00:52:47,900 --> 00:52:51,766 to keep the town together will once again be heard all over 1028 00:52:51,766 --> 00:52:56,066 these United States as a challenge to solve our problems. 1029 00:52:56,066 --> 00:53:00,600 So small hometowns like Britain can survive and thrive 1030 00:53:00,600 --> 00:53:04,100 and remain a hometown forever until the 21st century.