Mackinac Island 1944.mov

I am fascinated by this newsreel short on TCM, just a time-filler between movies. Mackinac Island hasn't changed a whole lot since 1944, when this movie was produced, but it's still as beautiful as ever. It now dawns on me that when this movie was produced, we were still at war. The visitors to the famous island must have been those who had grown weary of the war, and were wealthy enough to visit.

[@BabyCharmander]

It has NOT been here for years and it does NOT need to be here. Tourist destination or not, Mackinac Island is all about preservation of history, and I cannot name a single islander that is happy about that Starbucks (OR that friggin' Harley Davidson store) being there. It's a chain. We don't want them here. You can go to Starbucks nearly anywhere else, but while you're here, VISIT A LOCAL COFFEE SHOP FOR GOODNESS'S SAKES. It's better than the crap Starbucks serves anyway.

[@mikesathome]

skipped Starbucks and went to the locally owned coffee shop all 3 days i was on the Island..

[@gatita804]

I agree! I love all the local shops. Forget the corporates. That’s what makes Mackinac so unique.

[@biagiomatani292]

GoContour o

[@kegangilpin21]

Lucky Bean woohoo!!

[@BabyCharmander]

@@kegangilpin21 Lucky Bean is great! Used to get stuff from there when I worked on the island.

[@hart444]

Amazing to see a community that was never destroyed by the automobile. Long live human powered transit.

[@LaninDT]

Mackinaw City has a museum of sorts about the Bridge. One of the previous plans was for a series of smaller bridges that would hop from Cheboygan across a chain of islands to the UP, among those being Mackinac Island. It would certainly have brought cars to the island if they'd gone with that concept.

[@ssilent8202]

The reason there are no cars is because the roads are quite simply too small to accommodate many cars. The only motor vehicles are emergency vehicles

[@unconventionalideas5683]

@@ssilent8202 They are no smaller than they were in most American Cities prior to the arrival of the car.

[@ssilent8202]

@@unconventionalideas5683 🗿

[@howardhegg5446]

I used to work for the Grand Hotel on this Island when i wasn18 & 19 years old Plus i went back when i was 21 yeaes old for the last time before i went back to California to Join the US Navy in San Diego .

[@juliam.mallen9019]

I absolutely love these nostalgic videos and it is indeed a grand old Island! 👌🇺🇸🦅👏

[@sierra813]

Why did I ever move off of this island 😭 should have stayed for the rest of my life

[@GreasyBaconMan]

That must have been one of life’s greatest regret. I’m trying to find a way to live there now.

[@caravanstuff2827]

Im sure the folks in1944 didn't think that in 2023 the place would still be pretty much the same... would be an amazing place to visit out side the holidays!!.❤️🇺🇲

[@TEWinkes]

We have been to the island as a “Fudgie” and have spent several extended stays also. Interesting to wake up to the sound of hoofs in the morning before the daily influx of the daily visitors.

[@englishteacherdon]

That is an amazing piece of history. Thank you for posting!

[@thelordofhellaz]

Came to watch this video because I'm a fan of Somewhere In Time, and then about 4 1/2 minutes in, was quite surprised to be reminded of another great film, 2001: A Space Odyssey :-)

[@knighttuttruptuttrup8518]

Our family visited in the late 60's. I was 7-8 years old. I really enjoyed that place. I hope to make it back there someday.

[@heatherbowlan1961]

ThNk you for posting this beautiful place , I’d love to see , it’s an amazing piece of beautiful history! 🙏❤️🇨🇦

[@grandmaoldschool7011]

The music and announcer are so gentle and old timey.

[@bjdon99]

It's a different world that in the 40s you would take a boat from Chicago up to Macinac.

[@shgarrett624]

bjdon99 I wish we still could...it would save me a car ride..lol

[@katakombi7229]

I’m a dumb 22 year old, how was this possible?

[@bjdon99]

@@katakombi7229 The big bridge wasn't completed till the late 1950s, Probably a lot quicker back then (in WWII no less) to take a boat than to use rationed gas to drive to Mackinaw City.

[@jackecker01]

Tomorrow I'm going to Mackinaw Island for cross country camp.....and this is an awesome video for the day before 😁😁😁

[@heatherbowlan1961]

I hope you know how very lucky you are , I’ve always wanted to go there , the closest I will ever get is by seeing these beautiful videos that wonderful people put on utube , God Bless them and you also I hope you had a excellent time ! 🙏❤️🇨🇦

[@jackecker01]

@@heatherbowlan1961 I totally forgot that I commented on this! I remember going now. I spent my 16th bday and cross country camp up there. Super nice. Got to spend my bday at the grand hotel and danced on the ballroom floor in the evening which was very spectacular. I miss it to this day and wish I can go back right away because quarantine can go away!! LOL I hope you're staying safe and one day get to see this in person!!!

[@gailsentoff4294]

Oh Lord I want to go there

[@grindlbebe]

Been a long winter everywhere. But spring is blooming everywhere. Great memories of Mackinac Island.

[@didee56]

Just really cool to look back.Sure lot less people and places back then,now can hardly see the island itself for all the shops and whatnot.

[@lenshawk]

My wife and I enjoyed the blacksmith shop. It's where we rent horses for our daily rides when we're there. We laughed that the blacksmith in the video is wearing a tie....

[@rand49er]

I love Mackinac Island. Looks funny not seeing the Mackinac Bridge out in the straits. I've been there on a three-day stay when the weather set records in the low 90s, but most of the time it can be quite chilly. It's always wonderful to visit there especially if you like fudge.

[@mara608]

Glad I’ve gotten to grow up there. :)

[@jimjones8268]

My gr gr gr Grandmother was born there

[@jimmytiler5522]

and that pool aint heated i know.The only time I was in that pool was on the night of the wrap party for the movie "Somewhere in Time" I was one of three thrown into it Jane,Chris and Jeff.

[@Mister8224]

You, Jimmy, get a "pants on fire" for your FIB about the pool not being heated. It's GRAND, as everything associated with Grand Hotel is.

[@jcnigam]

I have enjoyed the whole surroundings beautiful horse riding chariots lovely surroundings and The Grand Hotel where we stayed was beautiful.

[@sherrywhitmore7594]

Year of my birth. Love this place.

[@Pilot_engineer_19]

Things were very different then. My relatives worked on the ship North America which served many locations like this one.

[@ojtopntai]

I love that hotel, stayed there many times single and now married with our daughter

[@alanconrad8490]

That was awesome....I didnt know that clip existed

[@deandominguez8629]

Looks wonderful

[@JB1912JB]

Thank-you for posting this. If you happen to have any more of these FitzPatrick shorts, I'd love to see them. They're virtually impossible to see outside the U.S.

[@almeggs3247]

Beautiful thanks

[@bettyboop59able1]

Looks like heaven

[@lenshawk]

Snowmobiles are allowed during the winter, and I have heard they cross the channel on them when the lake is frozen over. There are only a handful of year-round residents.

[@dstorm7752]

Interesting to look back on what a great country America was...

[@alanconrad8490]

IS

[@JasonHeilmanMusicalRemedies]

Where’s has this movie been all my life?

[@taylorbrackrog6217]

I’ve been to Mackinac Island

[@gottathinkupanewone]

I love Mackinac Island and the Grand Hotel.

[@thebluesqueen]

Great old video

[@honeybadgerstudios21]

Prior to the war of 1812 it was already controlled by the Americans but it was captured by the British during the war

[@rand49er]

Yes, he missed saying that. The British landed at British Landing (how fitting!) and came up behind the Americans at Fort Holmes overlooking Fort Mackinac. They leveled a cannon at the Americans who then gave up.

[@jimknarr]

@@rand49erYou can tell that the speaker didn't do his history homework before creating this reel.

[@westend117]

very recognizable

[@vickilindberg6336]

It's said the 1st car in the island scared the horses so they banned cars. It's charming if you don't mind remnant of horse. If you can, watch Somewhere in Time with Jane Seymour & Christopher Reeve ,then pack your (required) evening attire & stay at the Grand Hotel at least once in your life. Almost everything comes in by boat so it's expensive.

[@beesnort3163]

I think it should be given back to the natives as a reserve. As much as I love the island and it’s tourist appeal, it should be given back.

[@theworm6870]

One inaccuracy I noticed in regards to Ft. Mackinaw. "During the War of 1812, it was captured by the Americans" - wrong, it was held by the Americans at the beginning of the War of 1812, (who took possession of it after the American Revolution made it part of the US), and the British captured it at the beginning of the War of 1812 (the American troops inside the fort didn't know that war had been declared) - The Americans tried to recapture the fort in 1814, but failed. They of course got it back when the war was over.

[@LaninDT]

That's true, and by holding the island, the Brits pretty much commanded the entire Great Lakes for the rest of the war. That's the way it goes.

[@vanhalen5625]

My family once owned this island

[@MW.-.-]

Very nice videos, gotta love all the negative comments, dang trolls

[@YesYesYouAreRight]

20 miles; wow ! 3:49 The house, now-a-days, has been re-clad, it seems as though the original house in now gone. The re-clad house is no longer the 1818 house. There is a replica of the original house on the original site. o0o

[@ToddleyProductions]

Just went last summer with my girlfriend. I made some vlogs so we have the memories for us to look back on

[@MrCMFields]

Mackinac is the French spelling and it's pronounced as he said (when he corrected himself). Mackinaw is the British spelling and pronounced the same way. Mackinaw City on the mainland is spelled w/ a 'w' at end while the island has the French spelling with a 'c' at the end.

[@geoffreylee5199]

MrCMFields looks like a nice place to visit.

[@aMiyafuji]

The only vehicles allowed on the island today are emergency vehicles, and I think after this video was snowmobiles. Wasn't that in the 60s? I can't remember

[@ahmadbinfadzil8258]

Richard Collier came back more earlier 1912.

[@1964GJH]

5:25 why is the blacksmith is working while wearing a tie!

[@lenshawk]

It was the 40s. Everyone dressed up for everything: coat and tie for dinner; coat and tie just to walk around; coat and tie to go "calling" on someone; and especially, a tie when the newsreel film crew was shooting in your shop!

[@veloise]

5:50 power lines and poles. Pretty sure everything is now underground. And I vaguely remember the unpaved streets.

[@valor101arise]

This could have been taken yesterday. Looks exactly the same

[@boomvlogs8609]

I love Tanner Lion

[@tedlawrence4189]

Visitors to island are called "fudgies" by the inhabitants and the workers.

[@jlturtle6700]

This is our beautiful home Mackinac Island! What they aren't showing you is how awesome the water is. We are out there everyday kayaking and stand up paddle boarding come visit us and we will take you out on the lake Great Turtle Kayak Tours mackinackayak . com

[@aMiyafuji]

There's Mackinaw City, Mackinac Island, and Fort Michilimackinac :3

[@reginabillotti]

Mackinaw City developed around Fort Michilimackinac, though. They're not really separate.

[@Lvaladez114]

Interesting to say the least. What spread the lilacs? 😆

[@mara608]

Reminds me of summer. (=. I go to my house there every year.

[@mikedunham8481]

Great movie reel. Was inaccurate on the War of 1812 part.

[@jimknarr]

Funny how he the speaker didn't know the history of the island before creating this movie. It pays to do a little homework.

[@kevinkantell7381]

Mackatraz! I did my time😆

[@johnlouisville]

1944 and not one single person in a military uniform? Wonder if the stated 1944 date is correct

[@Harey0407]

+johnlouisville I wondered the samething, but a look up on IMDB proves, yes it was made in 1944, but its possible that it was filmed before WWII had started.

[@johnlouisville]

+Harey0407 I'm guessing the stated date is a mistake....the correct one is probably the summer of 1946 or 47...If this really is the summer of 1944....it seems strange that not one uniformed man was anywhere in sight.

[@Harey0407]

johnlouisville Well if you really think about it, We were at war at that time, so no one would be there in uniform necessarily, since they were all busy with the war effort. At least this is my thought.

[@geoffreylee5199]

johnlouisville prepping for post war.

[@anthonyaiello6616]

Tourism suffered on the island during the depression and WW 2. I think it was more likely filmed in 46 or 47. The fashion would pretty much be the same as 44.

[@NonRider]

Seems funny this was made during ww2

[@mv3967]

What happened to American accent?

[@paulreeb9257]

1944

[@auntbecky]

actually, there are a few trucks on the island. i've seen them doing contstruction.

[@Idolmakercat]

It is pretty much still the same.

[@Nonayabizness360]

Now you have to be a millionaire to own a home on the island and have lots of money to even visit , what a shame that a normal working family can not even afford a night at the " Grand Hotel " a suite is 2,300 a night ! Up yours !

[@cosmic600]

Stay downtown it's much cheaper. The grand is nice to look at, but never felt like in had to stay there

[@Nonayabizness360]

@@jackstubbington387 Oh how wonderful. The prices have came down since I made that comment 2 years ago lol now it's a bit more affordable.

[@17thwhiteprince]

I just stayed at the Market Street Inn a week ago for a couple nights celebrating my 10th Wedding Anniversary and it was splendid!! 1852 Grill Room a must for those special dinner occasions!!

[@Nonayabizness360]

@@17thwhiteprince . I’ll have to check that place out, my heart was always set on the Grand Hotel growing up , it was so romanticized. If you look my comment was 3 years ago lol But I’m glad to know that there are more affordable places around there now because the island is absolutely beautiful and the business we did patronize while we were there treated us very well. We are only about two hours south of the bridge and planning a trip to lake of the clouds next month and a visit to my grandparents graves in Calumet.

[@Mister8224]

There are reasonable a ways to stay at the Grand. Are you sure you're name is not Debbie, Debbie Downer!

[@drinkwater319]

At the same time as this idyllic film was being made the concentration camps were in full swing. Soldiers were desperately fighting to the death in Europe and East Asia. Horrific atrocities were regularly committed. Those good people of Mackinac certainly looked fine in their costumes. Such lovely quaint scenes in colonsol old America, marvellous

[@blue2tang]

You must be fun at parties

[@rand49er]

You are correct. This is escapism ... entertainment ... a way to forget about those horrors.

[@tomturner7884]

Z

[@stevenbizzis6546]

Look at all the white folk!

[@Mister8224]

You probably think no white people are left, as you watch commercials with 80% minorities in them

[@TEWinkes]

Diversity now

[@lenshawk]

Starbucks has been there for years. It is a tourist destination, after all, and tourists want their Starbucks!!!

[@PeaceToAll-sl1db]

now the island has been destroyed by the 2-3 families that run everything - not worth going too

[@Mister8224]

And, 4 Pinocchio's goes to Amir Ali, who promised the island would be gone

[@markfancher5676]

If you've never seen the Great lakes you're missing out on something that is