In the 3 days since it was posted on YouTube, a “Lost Film” has rocketed around the internet.
Well, at least on Facebook groups filled with folks who grew up in Westport in the 1960s and ’70s.
The 4:30 color video — grainy and jerky, with scenes of teenagers, Weston center, downtown (including the old YMCA and Mobil station, now Vineyard Vines), a 1-light cop car and the 9-building, 1-story Staples High School — is made much more compelling by dream-like music. For those who lived here then, it’s almost like stepping into a time warp.
A scene from “Lost Film.” The Main Street building on the left — now the Gap — was then a furniture store.
It’s safe to assume that “Lost Film” — the YouTube title — means that whoever shot it finally found it, decades later.
The story is stranger than that.
It turns out that in 1970 or so, Staples Class of ’72 member John S. Johnson and 2 friends — Wayne Vosburgh and John Fisher — found the 16mm film on campus.
Because home projectors then were 8mm, they asked the librarian for help. She set them up in a room. They did not think much of what they saw.
For the past 46 years, the spool remained in Johnson’s dresser drawer. He sometimes thought about transferring the film to video.
Walking downtown, by Westport Taxi. It was located a few doors down from what is now Tiffany.
Last week — before leaving on a trip to Westport — he dropped it off at a local shop to get it done.
After viewing the digitized version, his perspective changed. Johnson realized each scene went by too quickly to dissect and reminisce.
He slowed it down about 50%. Then he added the ethereal music.
The video says “circa 1967.” Johnson now believes it was made around 1969.
It shows teenagers in Westport in a very specific point in time.
But it’s also timeless.
(Hat tips: Bill Scheffler and Mary Gai)
Click here for “06880+”: The easy way to publicize upcoming events, sell items, find or advertise your service, ask questions, etc. It’s the “06880” community bulletin board!