Original Historical Motion Picture
Poplar Bluff — 1939
This historical motion-picture recording, identified as dating to 1939, offers a rare opportunity to experience Poplar Bluff's past through moving images.
The film was provided to Bill Clanahan by Charles Forister and subsequently shared with Historic Poplar Bluff by Bill Clanahan, who generously granted permission for its inclusion in our public digital archive.
Unlike modern historical presentations, this recording preserves authentic motion-picture footage from the period, offering a visual record of the community as it appeared more than eight decades ago.
Historic Poplar Bluff is pleased to make this material accessible for historical research, education, and public enjoyment.
As this film is studied, we will add timestamped notes above identifying streets, buildings, businesses, and people so each moment connects back to the rest of the archive.
Archival Record
- Archive reference
- HPB-FILM-1939-001
- Date of footage
- 1939, as identified by contributor
- How the date is known
- The 1939 date comes from the contributor, Bill Clanahan. The film itself carries no title, date, or credits.
- Media type
- Historical motion picture
- Original film title
- Unknown
- Runtime
- To be determined
- Original format
- To be determined
- Original film held by
- To be confirmed
- Previous source
- Charles Forister
- Contributed by
- Bill Clanahan
- Permission to archive and publish
- As reported by the contributor
- Copyright status
- Undetermined
- Digitization
- To be determined
- Public access
- Online streaming
- Collection
- Historic Poplar Bluff Digital Archives · Poplar Bluff in Motion
Provenance
The film was provided to Bill Clanahan by Charles Forister, and Bill Clanahan then shared it with Historic Poplar Bluff. It is not yet known who originally filmed it, or whether Charles Forister was its original owner, so no ownership is asserted here.
Permission
Permission to archive the film and publish it online, as reported. Written documentation has not yet been obtained.
Copyright
Bill Clanahan's permission documents his consent to archive and share the film. It does not by itself establish ownership of the film's copyright, which remains undetermined.
Archival master
The complete file supplied by Bill Clanahan is preserved as the archive master. If a higher-quality source element becomes available, it will replace the master while the streaming copy stays in place.
Rights and reuse
Provided to Historic Poplar Bluff by Bill Clanahan, who received it from Charles Forister, with permission to archive and publish online. Copyright status is undetermined. Please contact Historic Poplar Bluff regarding reuse.
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