Historic Travels US - In the Grip of the Great Depression - Volume II DVD
	See how the people of Britton, South Dakota faced up to the challenges thrown at them by the great depression of the 30s. Witness their resolute spirit and never-say-die attitude, in the fascinating films on this fabulous and historic DVD, our second in this series on South Dakota.

The history of Britton, South Dakota dates back to the 1800s when native Americans from Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and other northern states along with some Scandinavian and German immigrants moved to the dusty plains of South Dakota in search of a new home.

Even as late as 1882, the broad expanse of land, which is now the town of Britton, was just a wide expanse of wilderness prairie land, without a home in sight. In the spring of 1883, a few men of Fargo settled on this sight and thought that it would make a splendid sight for a town. Named after its founder, Col. Isaac Britton, the town of Britton grew quickly.

Dependent largely on farming for their sustenance, the people of Britton survived a recession in the 1890s, an economic disaster in 1919 and the great depression of the 30s with customary resilience. The town has undergone many changes in the past few decades. One thing remains unchanged though - the indomitable spirit of the town's people.


This DVD, the second of our two volumes covering life in South Dakota during the Great Depression, contains a set of historic films, which preserve this admirable determination in a captivating manner.

Amateur films: Ivan Besse collection: Britton, South Dakota Shot by Ivan Besse in the late 30s, these films depict daily life in the town of Britton, South Dakota, during the Great Depression. You will catch glimpses of some lively children, pretty young ladies and the dashing men of Britton along with shots of parades, sports meets, and daily chores that kept citizens of Britton busy. Sponsor: N/A Producer: Ivan Besse Year: 1938 Audio: Silent Color: BLACK & WHITE

Running Time:
DVD One : 01:03:09

EDITORIAL REVIEW:

"Rarely do you see a DVD devoted to the portrayal of a single theme in as comprehensive and enchanting manner, as this one. Amateur photographer Ivan Besse's passion for filming is more than evident in these films, which depict a wide variety of activities that kept the town of Briton busy for the better part of the year.

These films were shot at a time when people were still unused to being caught on film can be seen by the reactions of many people who do all they can to shy away from the lens man. Besse's enthusiasm leaves little to imagination, as his busy camera captures just about all the activities in Britton - from scurrying housewives and busy shopkeepers to young men waiting for some action to come their way. Graphic images of parades, and sports competitions speak of the fun-loving spirit of the towns' people, and rarely do you sense that all this was happening at the peak of the great Depression.

The films on this DVD convince you that the people of South Dakota and especially those living in Britton were a tough and tenacious lot who did not easily give in to circumstances.

I found the films in this rare and remarkable DVD to be of immense historic significance, and was informed, entertained and amused by their contents. I am certain that they will prove to be a valuable addition to all collections of historic DVDs."

CUSTOMER'S REVIEWS:

"As an amateur photographer, I was fascinated by the vivid images captured by another amateur lens man. Besse has captured a lot of images of people, objects and events that a professional photographer may have written off. This is what makes the clips invaluable, as they provide an uninhibited perspective of the town."

Customer's Name : Kitty Redwood (Madison, South Dakota)