INDUSTRY ON PARADE 1960s BUSINESS OF RELIGION IN USA CONSTRUCTION OF CHURCHES 66804b

This black and white film is one of a 1950-1960 television series Industry on Parade, produced by the National Association of Manufacturers. Instead of the usual multiple segments, this is a single segment on religious freedom in the United States. 1950s well-dressed people shop in a department store for fabric, ties, socks, and suits (:37-1:14). Men and women in 1950s dresses and hats walk up the stairs to enter a church. A collection plate is passed (1:15-1:48). A large mill wheel turns. A blacksmith works on a carriage wagon wheel (1:49-2:08). Women wearing headscarves enter and kneel in pews at the “Our Lady of the Skies Chapel” at New York International Airport. A woman prays, holding a rosary. Two soldiers enter (2:09-2:54). The back of a camper says the “Chapel of the Good Shepherd” as it enters a construction site with campers in Ohio, pulled behind a 1950 Mercury Coupe. A tall cross is raised. Inside the chapel camper, communion is given (2:55-4:25). A chaplain works out of a non-denominational chapel at a steel mill in Lone Star, Texas. A worker prays at the altar (4:26-5:14). Elderly workers at a box company in Plymouth, Indiana had a weekly church service in the shipping department during lunch. Well attended, the company built a chapel large enough for all employees to attend a weekly service on company time (5:15-5:55). Different styles of church buildings are shown (5:56-6:29). A factory makes worship candles, shown being mechanically lifted out of a wax vat and manually hung to dry (6:30-6:44). Church pipe organs are shown being manufactured, including the pipes and the keyboards (6:45-7:07). A craftsman uses a chisel and hammer to carve wood decorations, shown up-close, s is a carved wood relief of the Last Supper. A replicating machine is used to mechanically duplicate finished carved pieces (7:08-8:01). An artist in a smock and smoking a pipe paints a more abstract religious picture. A stained glass artist uses paper cutouts to cut out the various shapes. Bees wax is used to temporarily hold the stained glass design together while lead is added (8:02-9:20). A Jewish synagogue is shown under construction in the suburbs of Cincinnati. It uses prefabricated sections designed by US Steel Homes. City temples are shown, followed by a service inside the new Goodis Israel Synagogue. The Torah scroll is removed from its Holy of Holies place and the cover taken off. Jewish children sit in a classroom (9:21-11:38). Seminary students from the Massachusetts Theological School work for a railroad gang during breaks (11:39-11:58). Clergymen meet with businessmen and industrial leaders to discuss common issues over lunch (11:59-12:53). A large statue of Jesus Christ, His hand reaching out, is backed by a sky full of clouds (12:54-13:08). The NAM (National Association of Manufacturers) logo is shown (13:19).

Agudas Israel synagogue of Cincinnati is now Golf Manor Synagogue. In 1957, it was noted that Golf Manor Synagogue had dedicated the first pre-fabricated synagogue. This episode of Industry on Parade likely aired in 1958 or 1959, and contains footage originally filmed for earlier episodes (121, 181, 289, etc.).

[@StonesAndSand]

Sadly, the "business" of religion is much different today. All points in this video, were modest examples of the needs of the day being supplied by artisans and craftspeople who generally had religious convictions. Today, any profit seeker will gravitate to this type of interest, regardless.

In 1958 NAM, declining in membership, canceled IOP. At around the same time the AFL-CIO got jealous of IOP and created their own program. This prompted NAM to renew IOP almost immediately after they canceled it. To save money, they recycled previously filmed footage into single theme episodes. The multi-segment format was abandoned in the 1958, 1959, and 1960 "seasons" of IOP.

mystery episode not documented by sova Smithsonian guide to IOP

[@foxcub2yo108]

Back when religion was the order of the day.

back when America opposed persecution of non-Christians