1950's, Capital Airlines, promo film, Lockheed Constellation and Douglas DC-4 aircraft

This is a promotional film that was distributed by Capital Airlines (merged into United Airlines in 1961 and NOT to be confused with Capitol Airways) to illustrate how an airline operates circa 1952-53. Capital Airlines is probably best known for being the first U.S. airline to operate jet-turbine powered aircraft when it introduced in March 1955 the Vickers Viscount, a British built four engine turbo-prop airliner. This film, however, predates that time by a few years and the aircraft used by Capital here are the Lockheed 049 Constellation, Douglas DC-4/C-54 and Douglas DC-3.
Capital Airlines merged with United Airlines in July 1961.

[@bryanweston7737]

This Capital Airlines film provide great insights into how an airline - or many other businesses - were run back in the early 1950's. The human power and amount of paper, handwriting, tickertape, adding machines, telex, and other office machines / procedures are amazing - anyone under 40 would find it mind-boggling if they saw what was required to conduct business in the largely pre-computer / pre-desktop / laptop computer era!!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Good point about how businesses required so many more people back in the day.

[@suzanneterrey4499]

Yes, there were well paid jobs for everyone and it didn't require a college degree

[@PRH123]

Amongst other things, a fascinating look at how data flowed then.

[@kimjungun4038]

I WAS BORN IN 1944. I REMEMBER THESE PLANES FLYING AROUND THE LATE 40'S THROUGH THE FIFTIES INTO THE SIXTIES GREAT AIRCRAFT AT THAT TIME. GREAT TO BE A KID IN THOSE DAYS.

[@WitchidWitchid]

Me too. I remember the.Constellations rumbling overhead on their way to Idlewild and LaGuardia airports.

[@soco13466]

Born '54. Flew in DC3's, Connies, Electra, etc. Over time it was Convair 550's, DC8's, 707's, convair 880, etc.

[@jamesm.taylor6928]

When my dad first started flying for American he was fortunate enough for this to be his first plane as co pilot or first officer. This was the last prop airliner American operated and my dad was soon off to the 727. I know he was grateful to have the opportunity to fly this aircraft and experience the tail end of this era in aviation, who wouldn't really. After all, as others have mentioned, it is the most graceful and beautiful transport aircraft ever. In my opinion as far as Grace and pure beauty are concerned it's the F4U-1 Corsair and the Connie, no others come close really

[@BobbyGeneric145]

American operated the L188 Electra into the 60s I think.

[@jmstowe]

My Dad was a Connie FE who flew for Capital in the late 50s and early 60. This even pre-dates him a few years, but thank you.

[@JessRenee91481]

My grandfather was an FO for Capital out of Minneapolis until they merged with United.

[@jmstowe]

@@JessRenee91481 God bless them both.

[@JessRenee91481]

@@jmstowe perhaps they flew together at one point or another. Small world.

[@WitchidWitchid]

Nice. When I was a kid many of these planes were still in service. Whenever I watch these videos it makes me wish I could go back in time to this Golden Age of air transportation.

[@scottsummers6357]

OK, so Capitol merged with United.

[@haimbenavraham1502]

The Constellation seems like a very reliable and safe well built aircraft. Everyone happily occupied with work and responsibility, in those days.

[@garnerjazz58]

Grateful to be working

[@chesterroaden2428]

In The fall of 1962, I flew a Capital Constellation from Charleston SC to Tripoli Lybia in my first overseas assignment. The flight took over 16 hours with three fuel stops. Came back to the states in 1964 on a 707 in 8 hours, nonstop.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Chester, thanks for relating your long, 16 hour flight on a Constellation to Tripoli, , Libya. You probably flew on a Capitol Airways Constellation versus a Capital Airlines one in the Fall of '62. Capital (with an "a") Airlines became part of United Air Lines on July 1, 1961. In fact, Capital Airlines had already retired their Connies in the Spring of 1960 and they were not operated by United after the merger. Capitol (with an "o") Airways of Nashville, TN operated a total of 18 Constellations at one time. Capitol used their Connies from 1957 to 1968. They were the largest nonscheduled operator of the type and were used for civilian and MATS charters. If my memory serves me right, Capitol would also operate the Douglas DC-8.

[@tracer740]

Lockheed's Constellation, still one of the most beautiful aircraft ever designed.

[@spiff8862]

Yep!

[@williameudy6615]

My first airline flight was in a Pan American Constellation from Miami to New York. I think that was their only domestic route in those days. I was only 5 and I got to visit the cockpit thanks to the stewardess and I fell hopelessly in love with her.

[@williameudy6615]

I grew up near Asheville, NC. Capital and Piedmont were the airlines that served the Asheville/Hendersonville Airport. With DC-3s and later with Convairs, Viscounts, and YS-11s. Both companies provided excellent service until they were absorbed into larger carriers. Air travel was such a joy and privilege in those days.

[@tombrown1898]

I grew up in Lynchburg VA and Marietta OH. Piedmont Airlines served both towns, for years with the Martin 404. What great planes! Loud, slow, and rough, yes, but when you put one in the air, it tended to stay there. Legendary safety record.

[@banksidematt]

The Lockheed Constellation was a very safe aircraft I would have loved to have flown on one. They were retired long before I was born.

[@NetCerpher]

Check online. Seems I recall someone still flying the airshows and may offer a ride for a donation.

[@stratus262j2]

My first flight on a commercial plane was in 1958 --- an Aeronoves De Mexico DC-4 from NYC to Mexico City with several stops along the way. Never got to fly on a Connie but did fly on a Continental Airlines Viscount. Never flew on Capital Airlines -- was a little before my time. Interesting story here, no doubt those were the greatest times for airline travel.

[@suzanneterrey4499]

I flew Capital Airlines several times as a child from Albuquerque, NM to Washington D.C. and it was always so much fun being on the "Connie" which was my favorite plane.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Capital Airlines only flew as far west as Minneapolis/St Paul. I gather you flew out of Albuquerque on perhaps a TWA Constellation to a city such as Chicago to connect with a Capital Airlines flight onto Washington D.C. Thanks for your comment!

[@suzanneterrey4499]

@@WAL_DC-6B Perhaps it was a connecting flight. Maybe I connected at Montgomery or Birmingham Alabama. I know I didn't go North. I remember Capital because I got airsick on the flight (as a 5yr. old, flying alone lol).

[@WAL_DC-6B]

@@suzanneterrey4499 Back in the days when airsickness bags saw more frequent use because the propeller airliners back then flew lower and consequently more exposed to rough weather.

[@granskare]

in 1957, I flew on an air force C-121 to Libya. I was amazed to see a ship heading into the Mediterranean - a kid who had never been beyond the middle west of USA.

[@erikhertzer8434]

granskare : C-121 being the Air Force version of the Constellation...

[@johnshields6852]

I loved that plane, great design, only dad thing is one of them collided with another plane over the grand canyon, both planes slammed into the canyon, those poor souls🙏

[@WAL_DC-6B]

One also collided with another plane over New York.

[@sarjim4381]

Imagine having an airline flight being met by a deer today. I flew on a couple of Capital Connie flights in the early 60's. They let out huge clouds of black smoke on start up. New flyers were sure the engines were on fire. You had to balance the meal tray on your lap because there weren't any tray tables. The food was pretty good, and some of it was actually prepared in the galley. Not only were you allowed to smoke, you got as many little 4 packs of smokes that you wanted. My dad used to walk off with 20 packs of them. It was different world back then.

[@747-pilot]

Wow!! Thanks for that trip back in time. I was born in 1978, but like to vicariously "reminisce" about "those times" through the lives of those who actually got to experience stuff back then! :-)

[@TheAvenstar]

I was inside many a Connie because in 1965 I was a student pilot at American Flyers in Ardmore, OK and they had a small fleet of them -- along with a couple of Lockheed Electras. I never got to fly in one but remember the cockpit like yesterday -- tiny, cramped, windshield so small and high-set you couldn't see the ground a hundred yards ahead of you. BUT the single most beautiful aircraft ever conceived of in my opinion.

[@bendover9411]

Deer???

[@BobbyGeneric145]

It reminisces as glamorous, but the airlines like Pan Am were losing a 707 every few months. The ticket cost nearly as much as a small country house, etc.

[@kiwitrainguy]

17:33@@bendover9411

[@eelb53]

The only memories I have of Capital, is that United bought them and inherited their fleet of Vickers Viscounts. An odd ball airplane in the U S, and it stood out within United's fleet of Boeing's and Douglas'.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

It fit right in with United's French built, Sud-Aviation, Caravelle jetliner from the same time period. Continental Airlines, Aloha Airlines and Northeast Airlines were the other main U.S. operators of the Viscount.

[@eelb53]

@@WAL_DC-6B I never had the chance to fly on either one. The only Caravelle I ever saw was at MSP in 1965. I frequented MEM in the same era, and United ran Viscounts on a DCA-MEM milk run, and it wasn't hard to find one at a gate at any given time. The other airlines you mention were out of my geographical range. I do remember Braniff and Continental had an interchange same aircraft route between STL-MKC-DEN, which operated with a Viscount. I was in STL quite a bit, but the flight arrived and departed late in the evening, and I never got the chance to see it.

[@gefloigle]

“Merely pick-up the telephone and dial a number. It’s that easy to start a flight!” Yep. Computers have made life more difficult, not less.

[@quentinkirk3870]

I'm Not Even gonna Ask You if You're Being Facetious 😜

[@gefloigle]

I was serious. All it used to take was a phone call. 😊

[@therandomytchannel4318]

Lol it's not hard to make a flight online! 😁

[@Keithbarber]

I can book my ticket on my smartphone on my way to the airport these days- font even need to make the call

[@5850terry]

The Constellation was a very comfortable plane.

[@williamsamolis9155]

As a young teenager my friend and I saved up and took our first flight from Cleveland Hopkins to Detroit Willow Run in a Capital Connie with the round windows. It was very loud and I loved it all. The return was made on a Capital Viscount that was sleek and silent. I even balanced a quarter on the food tray just as in the Viscount ads. Great to see the passengers back then in coat and tie, when now you get slovenry unshaven tattoo laden neanderthals in shorts and flip flops. Was an aviation nut then and still am now. The only decent US airline left now is Alaska Airlines.

[@johneddy98033]

Capital Airlines was founded in 1926 when Clifford Ball, a car dealer in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, began operating an airmail license between Pittsburgh and Cleveland, Ohio. In 1930, Pittsburgh Aviation Industries Corporation acquired the company and renamed it Pennsylvania Airlines. Six years later, it merged with Central Airlines, another Pittsburgh-based airline founded three years after Clifford Ball began his company. The combined company was called Pennsylvania-Central Airlines back then. It was renamed Capital Airlines in 1947 after it moved to what is now Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia six years earlier, becoming one of its first tenants. To the best of my knowledge, United still maintains a presence at DCA as well at Dulles International Airport (IAD).

[@WAL_DC-6B]

+John Eddy Thanks, John, for the information regarding the beginnings and first two decades of Capital Airlines.

[@alienhuman]

Really? All he did was paraphrase Wikipedia.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Is the founding year the giveaway?

[@sarjim4381]

Dennis, it's more than you did.

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

National Airport replaced the forgotten Hoover International Airport when it opened in 1947. The Pentagon is now located at the site Hoover used to be.

[@robertcarillio9126]

When flying meant high standards. We go from this, to what is now essentially a public bus in the sky, aka the budget carriers serving vending machine food wrapped and served in all plastic. Can you imagine anyone in this video showing real passengers behaving on flights the way these creatures do today? Night and day difference!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Those early 1950s passengers would also be astonished at how low air fares have come to be (after factoring in inflation).

[@oucutie1]

The beautiful, beautiful Connie!

[@alienhuman]

My Dad started with IBM in 1949. In 1953 he left to join Capital Airlines. I should have sued him for lost inheritance. LoL.

[@rachels594]

The deer was so sweet and amazing!!!

[@DogFace69]

So many hands involved in every step. Thank goodness for automation.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Yeah, this was back in the days were you literally had to think for yourself to get the job done.

[@mbazell]

I flew a Capitol Airlines Vickers Viscount turbo-prop from Midway to Lansing, MI in 1965. Landed in the middle of a snow storm. The flight crew did a fine job with a 20 KT cross wind and blowing snow across the runway.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Thanks for relating your Viscount experience! By the way, did you mean to say 1955 as Capital Airlines disappeared when it was merged into United Airlines in 1961.

[@mbazell]

@@WAL_DC-6B It was 1965. Perhaps Capitol was already owned by United but I do recall the Viscount still flying in their own colors till about 1968 when I saw my first Viscount in United colors.

[@ShakespeareCafe]

Narrator Hugh Beaumont Beaver’s dad

[@stugrant01]

It sounds like him, but it says "McGarry" at the beginning.

[@listohan]

All done without a single barcode.

[@MH-fb5kr]

Not quite… most bars had to close @ 2AM

[@TRONABORON]

Late 60's till early 70's I remember flying was a big deal for my mom- she would dress up and always put in a suit. Great times!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Indeed, back when flying was more of a conveyance for the well to do, businessman or those who really saved their pennies.

[@soavioes153]

Very good promo film.

[@jllee9189]

Now I know why Air travel was so expensive in the earlier days of commercial aviation, so many folks involved with just booking one passenger!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

And planes didn't carry as many passengers not to mention the reciprocating piston engines on these airliners were more difficult and expensive to maintain.

[@PRH123]

There's still quite a few people involved nowadays. The web interfaces are an attractive shell, but often behind them is a mainframe, and behind that people banging on keyboards.

[@truthful3777]

Lockheed Constellation is beautiful. I am amazed how they can construct that shape repeatedly. Is there a jig to shape out the curvy body? For tubular form like today airline is easy. Those shape are hard to fabricate.

[@MultiRabe]

Just think, all the equipment used for reservations in 1952, were considered HI TECH, and STATE OF THE ART back then! Now days, it’s considered ancient technology...like the rotary dial telephones!

[@worseto1]

A plane that pretty makes people want to fly.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

I gather you mean the "Connie."

[@worseto1]

@@WAL_DC-6B yes I would gladly get a ticket to travel in the Connie just to bad most planes today are not designed for looks

[@vernalc2449]

Old enough to remember getting a complete, hot meal on a flight. Lucky to get a bag of peanuts now.

[@mikedrown2721]

It's nice to not to hear the word LIKE in this video. I miss the 1950s

[@Mark_Ocain]

You can see from this how easy it wasfor an airline back then to go bust...so many things they did themselves , even upholstery.

[@BobbyGeneric145]

No outsourcing at all... Everything was done in-house.

[@AndrewTubbiolo]

Free smokes!!!??? Why have I been flying Delta all these years?

[@alienhuman]

Yeah, I recall seeing mini 4 packs of cigs. Kinda matched the booze minis. LoL.

[@kathymyers-host6187]

😂😂

[@BirdogL19]

I worked for Capital as a mechanic 1956-1961 until the end and the UAL takeover. Was a great airline to work for. However, having to import all their spare parts and engines ate their lunch, especially when Eastern & American started Lockheed Electra service. Too much debt killed them.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Paul, thanks for your comments regarding your employment with Capital and some factors that led to the downfall of Capital leading to the merger with United. Too many Vickers Viscounts purchased, 60 total, seriously hurt the airline financially in the late 1950's. This didn't leave money to purchase newer airliners Capital wanted and needed, but couldn't afford, such as the Lockheed L-188 Electra and Convair 880.

[@alienhuman]

Paul ~ where did you work? My dad was a Red-Tail mechanic in DCA.

[@billlawrence1899]

PAUL!! You're still tickin! Great! Remember me? Billy, the smartass line boy from old Manassas airport. What a small world.

[@paulbombardier6161]

Billy, I am still ticking. Retired 20 years now. don't fly anymore. Had a great run. living in Stephens city VA 15 yrs. Nice to hear from you. I remember your dad flying the Connie.

[@paulbombardier6161]

Dennis, i worked DCA. DC-3 & DC-4 ovhl. Then Viscount Mods & updates. Then DCA Piedmont 62-64.

[@casper01713]

The ticketing process used to work better back then in comparison with today's computers. Technology made things somewhat better but it made us loose the human touch that airlines provided on those days. Also noticed that food trays were placed on the passenger's lap. Interesting to see that.

[@fredrickdouglassmccoy2608]

I dont think some frequent flyers of today would set foot in a vintage propliner

[@WAL_DC-6B]

I bet most frequent flyers today have never seen a vintage propliner.

[@kathymyers-host6187]

I know "I" would! I was born in 1965😉

[@waltcraig8098]

I beg to differ. I had zillions of miles in the late nineties and early 2000’s and would gladly have flown again on a Connie or a DC3. Those were airplanes, not buses that fly. However, those Connies took forever to get from NY to Paris.

[@footsuk5593]

I love at 22:50 ... complimentary items such as cigarettes. Smoking was encouraged during flights....not like today. I miss the good ole' days.

[@kimjungun4038]

WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU MISS SMOKING ANYWHERE, SUCH A TERRIBLE HABIT CONFRONTING EVERYONE AROUND YOU WITH THIS CRAP!!!

[@pete5668]

nothing was ever free. flying was much more expensive back then. everything was figured into the price.

[@pete5668]

oh, be nice

[@charlesm.9858]

Not to mention the knifes on the planes!!! Man how things changed

[@HC-cb4yp]

Was the tail of the Constellation more for looks? We never really saw that approach again in aviation, have we?

[@WAL_DC-6B]

No, I know of no airliner that was built for "looks." The triple tail allowed for the Constellation to be parked inside a hanger whereas if it had one single, tall tail it wouldn't fit into many period hangers.

[@pietrogazzera5733]

At the end, a very sad story!

[@daveconerly1450]

The man says on the video, luxury and confort in people's surroundings as they exit the huge plane. I flew on this airplane way back when. I flew first class. Luxurious yeah at the time, but my then wife continuously complained that we always had to exit thru the rear of the plane. She kept nagging saying " We are first class , why do we always have to deboard the plane in the back of said vessel " ? For she always was complaining in my ear as also saying " we have to go thru the back section walking thru the mere common people who are third class common people and that's unfair " ! So , I asked the stewardess if my wife could go thru the front door to exit the plane for she is above everybody else and wants to be first class. For I'm ok going thru the back . Stewardess says , well I guess we can open the front door to let her out but the blade engines are still going and it will strike her and chop her up into little pieces ! " I said , yes I know open up the front door.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Back in the days when four engine propeller airliners were powered by radial piston engines, coach class, if there was a duel class, was up front where the engine noise was the loudest. When jetliners came along in the late 1950s, coach moved to the rear where again, engine noise was the loudest.

[@jenswadsten]

Jag var på Malta år 1972, vill minnas att jag såg ett sådant plan på flygplatsen.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Looking very nice.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank you.

[@davidc4219]

Capital likely would have done well in the current deregulated industry. Capital pioneered bargain fares, redeye fares. The CAB forced them to continue servicing unprofitable lines. Capital overextended itself with the purchase of 60 Viscounts. They would have been better off ordering about half that many. The Viscount did give them a competitive advantage, albeit a brief one. Capital also pioneered the folding tray table -- now a staple on all airliners.

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

I remember the long defunct Civil Aeronautics Board.

[@JohnstonJohnston-kq9vc]

The most beautiful airline at that time, I would give anything to do Be on this plane, in addition,I love the uniforms of these flight attendants and the passengers who knew how dressed in the smartest way. Nothing like today where passengers are dressed in street clothes,

[@newmanc6619]

I wondered what kind of aircraft that was In the movie invasion USA you see a constellation landing in San Francisco right before a Soviet attack in one scene. I recognized the three tail design from having seen one in that movie

[@lesamisdelacuisineprovenca9534]

The tray on the passengers knees.... So funny...

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Yeah, back before bayonet trays and the eventual fold down trays, passengers had to do a bit of a balancing act with their meal trays atop a pillow on their legs. Bet this could have been pretty challenging back then seeing that the old propeller airliners flew at lower altitudes (especially non pressurized aircraft such as a Douglas DC-3) and consequently passed through rougher and bumpier weather!

[@alfredobowenbobenrieth7164]

😂😂🤣

[@mshotz1]

IN the 60's My dad took a group of students to Rome on a Capital Charter. He has slides of the the flight and the plane.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

That most likely would had been Capitol Airways. Capital Airlines (with an "a") became part of United Airlines on July 1, 1961.

[@valvlog4665]

23:26 Chicken pot pie in-flight meal. Where do I sign up?

[@kathymyers-host6187]

I know, right! REAL food w REAL SILVERWARE😉😁

[@noway5590]

juan terry trippe started up capital airlines

[@keithwaites9991]

A hot food table on your lap combined with the turbulence you'd likely get cruising at 20.000 ft or less...what could possibly go wrong?

[@WAL_DC-6B]

I actually have a complete Capital Airlines meal service as seen in this film (compartmentalized tray, all the plasticware and silverware). The main entrée was in a round dish that was made of thick plastic. Consequently, the meal was at best warm so as not to melt the plastic dish itself. But, I agree, a meal tray on a pillow on your lap is a bit of a balancing act at lower altitude flying and that bumpy flying also increases the odds of having to reach for that air sickness bag!

[@keithwaites9991]

@@WAL_DC-6B I flew a lot in 80's and 90's and I had a collection of airline sick bags (unused I hasten to add) ..why? Now, I can't say..I binned them all several years ago. I found that collecting duty free booze was more satisfying. Never flew on a prop plane, turbo or piston, much to my regret. Thanks for responding, stay safe

[@maskedavenger2578]

One of the best looking piston aircraft ever built .I have a very detailed die cast model of one in TWA trim as liked the aircraft that much .They had style & class back then ,people dressed properly & the stewardess looked smart .Not like the scruffy bunch of misfits you see nowadays herded on to cheap tacky budget airlines ,

[@WAL_DC-6B]

I bet that's a nice TWA "Connie" model. I have quite a few Constellation models myself including a 1950 1/43 scale, travel agency, 0649 Constellation model in Delta Air Lines markings (It was originally decaled Chicago & Southern Airlines).

[@maskedavenger2578]

@@WAL_DC-6B My model is made by Corgi part of their Aviation archive collection of Authorised die cast replicas in 1:144 scale Adult collector models .I have owned it about 20 odd years or more .I think they did them in other period airline logo ‘s .on sale in U.K. .It’s a nice model & can be displayed with undercarriage up on stand in flying mode ,or free standing on its undercarriage .

[@WAL_DC-6B]

@@maskedavenger2578 I have the Eastern and Braniff 1/144 Corgi Lockheed Constellations. They are pretty good models of a Connie. And speaking of Constellation models, I recently picked up a very heavy 1/140 scale Constellation model at a flea market in the Chicago area for $20.00. It has no markings, but for its size, it's quite heavy!

[@maskedavenger2578]

@@WAL_DC-6B Any good models you can get for as little as $ 20 •00 USA has got to be good .I paid about £ 35 •00 U.K. must of been around 1997 for my model .I reckon that’s at least doubled by now ,,although I don’t buy due cast models of aircraft or vehicles as investments .If I see one I like I buy it .I also liked the Douglass DC 3 Dakota model in the same range .You have some fine models , I think the old prop airliners had more class & character than the cloned modern 2 big turbo fan driven variations of the Boeing 707 design .

[@WAL_DC-6B]

@@maskedavenger2578 I'm with you regarding the old propliners versus the jetliners.

[@georgeplagianos6487]

Wow at 2:45 into video she's using one of those first touchscreen white back screen monitors I didn't know they had them over 60 years ago. Well their head of their time.🙂 and 6:11 into video makes me wish I was a pencil manufacturer and sharpener salesman. I would make a fortune

[@gregcleeve6810]

Oh! what we did before computers and time efficient business practices. The paper work and dual/triple documentation that was required just to get someone in the air and to their destination...all those people employed in jobs, makes you wonder how the airlines made any profit at all. I know the cost of tickets was expensive then.....but it makes you think.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

I'm a retired railroader and you should have seen all the clerks that were required years ago to make the trains "run on time."

[@chriscalderin6677]

I would fly those for the free drinks if I could

[@McRocket]

That was more diverse than I thought it would be. Also - did no women in 1950 have either long hair or straight hair? It's like every woman has some sort of curled, short/shortish hair style. Thanks for posting this video.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

I suppose this promo movie is also a reflection of early 1950s women's hair styles.

[@kiwitrainguy]

Perhaps that fashion was a holdover from WW2 when a lot of women worked in factories and had to have their hair short to prevent it being caught in machinery.

[@McRocket]

@@kiwitrainguy Possibly. Whatever the reason, it's creepy. Like you were almost not allowed to have your hair any other way. I noticed something else about the people... obesity was clearly a rare thing back then. Now it's (sadly) common. ✌️

[@ShakespeareCafe]

"Lockheed rides the airways with a thrust of bright propellers and the flash of gleaming wings" The narrator sounds like Hugh Beaumont...(Ward Cleaver, Beaver's dad)

[@bluecollarguy67]

The announcer is Don Stanley, a career staff announcer for NBC radio and television, from the 1940's - 1970's.

[@jjgreek1]

See? Who needs computers?

[@WAL_DC-6B]

The flight engineer was the computer!

[@poshsteve3583]

Me , Thats how im watching this video

[@coastercrafter1productions300]

I would invent some handheld games without tech is possible

[@briananthony4044]

That booking system seemed so complicated and labour intensive.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

"State of the art" for the time, but today, all those people in reservations would have been replaced years ago by a computer system.

[@princessmalabar1834]

This is fantastic aircraft, you can see it on my video here on KZbin

[@kathymyers-host6187]

I will check it out😉

[@Canada-q6y]

1957 my dob time go fast2023

[@richardwright8189]

We had an emergency.landing with capital in july 1975. It left boston had to turn back 1/4 of the way over atlantic and land at laguardia

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Rich, Capital Airlines disappeared as an airline when it merged with United Airlines on July 1, 1961. Could that have been Capitol International Airways that had the 1975 inflight emergency you experienced?

[@richardwright8189]

@@WAL_DC-6B oh ok must have been. It was originally pan am but the travel agent changed it last minute. The airline paid for the hotel.in new york and i remember the italians wanting to cut tbe travel agents throat calling him a mafioso. Lol

[@kathymyers-host6187]

Look how beautiful the "flight Hostesses" were!❤️No "fake" ANYTHING then😉... REAL food with REAL silverware! ... WOW! What into all of that work to initiate "hand written/typed" plane tickets! A "TELETYPE?"😳 AMAZING 😉 I'll bet my bottom dollar there were LESS mistakes back then, then there are "today"! People actually used the BRAINS❤️..."COMPIMENTARY" Cigarettes?😳WOW!😁...It was nice to see some REAL Maintenance being done, as well! Much safer to fly back then! I LOVED the Fashion, too❤️💅👔🧥👒🎩💼

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Thanks for your comments on flying back in the early 1950s! In fairness to the airline industry, it is a much safer mode of transportation today than ever before. Admittedly, you were pampered way more when flying back in the early 1950s, but you payed accordingly for that extra comfort which isn't mentioned in this film. At the time, flying was pretty much a form of conveyance for the "well to do." Today, when flying to our destinations, we pretty much get what we pay for.

[@kathymyers-host6187]

@@WAL_DC-6B just out of curiosity, what did a plane ticket cost back then? Coach?

[@WAL_DC-6B]

@@kathymyers-host6187 Great question. I have a January 1951 Capital Airlines timetable, but it doesn't list fares (the film seems to be from around 1952). So, I pulled out my Official Airline Guide (OAG) from September, 1956. A Capital Airlines one way fare from Chicago to Washington D.C. was $37.80. Additionally it says, "All Fares Apply From Airport to Airport And Are Subject to 10% Federal Transportation Tax." Also, it reads, "Capital-ize on Family 1/2 Fare Plan, 1/2 fare for Children 2 to 12 yrs. Free Travel for one Child under 2 yrs. Special Aircoach Service." $37.80 may not sound like much today, but it was a pretty good some of money back when earning $3.00 an hour was considered very good pay.

[@kathymyers-host6187]

@@WAL_DC-6B right! My Grandparents and my parents would agree with that...lol($37.80 being alot of money)... wouldn't it be nice to have those prices "today" but yet STILL earn according to "today's" standards?😁🤭😉...I'm Day Dreaming again! Thank you for looking into that for me! And I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the video! I may watch it again😉

[@jimbranca1565]

I remember flying a Capitol Air Dc 10 to philly in the 80s I know it was a different company all together I wish I could find a video of that airline they were known as the "skysaver" and their livery was red white and blue i believe the fares was reasonable but we still got dinner with our ticket and could check at least 2 bags free!!!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

That was Capitol Airways you flew on. The Capital (with an "a") Airlines seen in this film merged with United Airlines in 1961.

[@kevinmalone3210]

I love Connies so much, I even married a woman named Connie.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Now that's true love!

[@Stllno]

What could possibly go wrong?

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Engine failures were much more common on radial piston engines than today's jet engines.

[@dave1001]

The good old days when passengers were important unlike these days were they are an hinderance with some airlines

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Yep, back in the days when you were treated royally because you paid "royally" for your airfare especially when this film was made.

[@admiralcraddock464]

Flyin now is an endurance. I hate it

[@michaelfleming40]

Meals from a bygone era. 😥

[@videopokernetwork6824]

Not one support animal to be found.

[@sparky6086]

Except for that deer, who greeted the passengers!

[@slatkismedenjak]

Golden time when passenger was treated like "president" with all benefits.Delicious FREE food been served with NATURAL SMILE AND BEHEVIOUS.TODAY FLYING IS HOROR for ECONOMY CLASS passengers with TIGHT ,CROWED CABIN AND POOR SERVICE.Airlines RUNNING FOR PROFITS PUSHING AWAY PASSENGERS,CUTTING FOOD AND POOR SERVICE.😥😫😫😫🤚👎👎🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@gw5033]

All these people are dead now, what a hoot.

[@RayhanAhmed-qr3vz]

Capital capital - a phrase I remember from a series of staptoe and son were They both are trying to buy a house From an estate agents by putting there old home at old trum lane Shepards bush for sale and trying to move into a middle class area we’re members of the neighbourhood committee convince them by not Buying house by giving them a back Hander this then makes the two father and son get the trousers down Off other people in other neighbourhoods to pocket more Money .😂

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Des Moines is the capital of Iowa.

[@RayhanAhmed-qr3vz]

?????

[@WAL_DC-6B]

@@RayhanAhmed-qr3vz?????

[@yacaattwood2421]

It seems, from the experiences of and complaints regarding current air travel - and I’m not unsympathetic; I’ve often been tempted to ‘moo’ when moving through a Jetway to an aircraft, fully expecting to see cubes of alfalfa on the seats 😛 - that the Elon Musks and such of the world should make Transporter technology a reality, so that travelers could be directly beamed to their destinations…

[@camagnew9191]

Graphic Artist, Boss looks like a pain in the a**.....😂

[@CB3ROB-CyberBunker]

clearly nobody at capital airlines got the bright idea that if you want to run an irl point of sale, such as oh eh, all their booking offices displayed, they must have a parking place for the customers... they're all at shitty overpriced locations where the customers cannot park lol. "busiest crossing in the world" yeah that's exactly where you don't want to have your shop. unless your target audience is 'pedestrians' lolol. customers select suppliers on criteria such as 'can i park in front of the door'. not how overpriced their shop may look. :P

[@JeffGR4]

I'm captivated by these vintage aviation movie-shorts. I have the utmost respect and admiration for the management and rank & file employees that run a successful airline.

[@topherbec7578]

This guy had the market cornered in narration during the 40's and 50's.

[@johnfarr2738]

Topher Bec he was probably a known voiceover guy all the airlines hired back then to narrate there promo videos

[@davef.2811]

Ohhh, and that music, straight from the gov's military training films...

[@bellelaverne7887]

How times have changed. I miss being on a aeroplane wearing my high heels, hat and gloves. So much more refinement and sophistocation. Just being glamorous.

[@maskedavenger2578]

You sound like you have style class & elegance ,great qualities that make a lady .but unfortunately is sadly lacking in much of today’s society .

[@maskedavenger2578]

@@Hartley_HareIf your intending to conduct business to earn a living ,its even more important to dress the part & create a good first impression . You can come from humble working class surroundings & still dress decent & have class .

[@bellelaverne7887]

@@Hartley_Hare You are so wrong dear, I’m talking about times when those things were typical for classy people.

[@bellelaverne7887]

@@maskedavenger2578 You are so right dear. Nowadays I don’t fly anymore. So much rudeness and antisocial behavior in planes. Class isn’t involved here anymore.

[@maskedavenger2578]

@@bellelaverne7887 It’s a shame but it appears standards have dropped to a low level these days .Decent people should not have to run a gauntlet of rude & antisocial behaviour just to take a flight in an airliner . I looks like the golden age of air travel has been & gone .

[@Oliverdobbins]

If you ever needed an example of how computers have changed the way we do things, this film is it.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

That's for sure!

[@kdkatz-ef2us]

The unique shape of the fusilage was expensive to design and produce, but what beautiful results!

[@simonf8902]

The Connie. Most beautiful plane. EVER.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

I wholeheartedly agree!

[@edwardauerbach8036]

I flew on an Eastern Airline Lockheed Electra to Miami from Laguardia and returned on Super G Constellation in 1959. I liked the ride on the Constellation better. I was only13 years old but I still got my little pack of cigarettes with a small book of matches.

[@JasonFlorida]

Wow, that's crazy to think that ever happened in this day and age. Did you actually smoke them and your parents didn't mind or did you go alone?

[@edwardauerbach8036]

@@JasonFlorida I flew to Florida from JFK on Eastern Airlines in 1959 to visit my grandparents in Miami Beach. I was 13 years old. I did not smoke on the flight but was given the cigarettes and matches anyways. I traveled with my 5 year old cousin with no adult supervision. I could have traveled by jet but it would have cost 50% more than the way I traveled.

[@EricCVoice]

I miss buying "Flight Insurance" that I used to always purchase before boarding my flight. You fill it out, pay the fee and then drop it in a mailbox (postage included) and off you go! I believe my relatives would get $10,000 theoretically, if my plane crashed. How much fun flying used to be!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Those were the days!

[@willyboy3581]

Thanks for another great posting, Dan! My family returned to the U.S. just about the time of United's taking over Capital, so never got to fly it, but remember seeing pictures/ads. for them. (I especially remember full-age, color ads for the Viscounts; I may not have ever flown on Connie, but I did on the Viscounts, one of my favorite planes.) And while all aspects of commercial aviation are touched upon in this film - and all of it interesting - what impresses me the most here is seeing the way people once-upon-a-time dressed up for a flight (my God, the close-ups of those nifty well-polished shoes of those men disembarking, ca. 1.24-1.37). So different from today. Again, Dan, my thanks: this brings back so may wonderful memories.

[@timmorris245]

People just doesn't smile like that anymore.

[@charlesm.9858]

“New parts”!?!? Yeah right that don’t happen today!! Lol

[@MrDastardly]

Wow, times past 😭. Thank you for posting.

[@TheAvenstar]

I remember Capital -- I think they were bought out by United -- not sure -- BUT the Constellation has always been (to my mind) the most beautiful aircraft ever conceived of. Absolutely glorious! I know why it has 3 tails: In order to maintain that beautiful sweeping look from front to rear, the nose gear had to be extended by more than a foot! For the sake of symmetry -- the empennage is also raised. With a standard size vertical stabilizer (such as on a DC 6 or DC 7) the rear height of the plane would have been TOO TALL for the plane to enter the available hangars of the day. SO, to get the square footage of area needed to control this airplane onto a short rudder, you needed three of them to gain the needed space AND keep the overall height low enough for the plane to be hangared. ...NOW -- that's what I was told! If that is NOT true, and I'm the victim of a fable, someone please let me know.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Another reason for the Connie's tall landing gear is due to the large diameter propellers used on it. According to the book, Lockheed Constellation, by Curtis K. Stringfellow and Peter M. Bowers, on page 23 it states under Tail Surfaces: "The three-fin arrangement on the Connie, instead of Lockheed's customary two, owed much to the Douglas DC-4E and met TWA's requirements that the airplane fit into existing hangars."

[@TheAvenstar]

@@WAL_DC-6B I never thought of that -- I always figured they were about the same size for all the big transports of that day. ..............makes sense, though. Now my curiosity forces me to investigate. I'll be back later ...LOL

[@diamonddog257]

true

[@JHGwjesusLuv]

I know that I'm an a different view point than all the comments I've been reading, but it seems that the long landing gear seems to be just what the Air Force needed when they refitted With a Radar Dome lower and then upper to protect the North American DEW Line as AWACS 121"s models it was a beautiful aircraft through its whole career it was a pleasure to have seen it .

[@johnmajane3731]

It’s sad in a way seeing these young women who are my departed mothers age. So pretty yet most have left us. They are living on forever in these videos.

[@hugejohnson5011]

How many nuts and bolts in those P&W engines? All of 'em! Man, what a conglomeration of parts in those big 'ol engines! Those old aviation engines always remind me of my Harley Davidson engines. What a cool promo film!

[@rzu7120]

That food looked like chicken pot pie. I’m getting hungry!

[@alfredobowenbobenrieth7164]

🥳

[@kathymyers-host6187]

@@alfredobowenbobenrieth7164 yes! REAL food! And REAL SILVERWARE😉😁😂

[@AfricanFlightStar]

Fascinating look into the history of aviation, thank you for sharing this with the world 👍🏻🙏🏻

[@mbazell]

That chicken pot pie with peas and corn looked pretty good!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Kinda' reminds me of the internal "guts" of a Banquet brand, chicken pot pie!

[@hans-ulrichschneider3227]

Sad, that the german Lufthansa was not able to restore her Starliner because of the costs.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Yeah, I was hoping that project would literally get off the ground. Now for sure that won't happen with the state of the airline industry.

[@WhiteActivist]

The "Air Hostesses" were pretty, female, polite, etc. Today, an airline would be sued for that. I flew alot in the 1950's, being born overseas, and it was calm, polite, dignified. Today, air travel is a big stinking Greyhound Bus with wings and "mystery meat" staff.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

That was back in the days when an "Air Hostess" had to be between the ages of 20 and 27 to be hired, be no shorter than 5'-2" nor taller than 5'-9," weigh under 140 lbs., not be married (though you could be divorced or widowed), have a slender "well proportioned" figure (no "Jane Mansfield" types), agree to "retire" at age 32, not have any children (even from a previous marriage), and never, never be pregnant. As for "big stinking Greyhound bus with wings," well, that's the price we all pay for low airfares versus Federally regulated airfares.