This CBC article brought The Moving Past website to my attention today. Created by historian David Sobel, I didn’t know that Canada was the first country to have government sponsored films, nor did I realize that we lost so many of them during WWII when they were melted down for their silver nitrate. Here is a short video about the project:

I’ve watched a few today and I have to say that Sobel’s choice to speed up the videos and add music for modern audiences was a clever one. They are incredibly watchable morality plays addressing the issues Canada faced 100 years ago. I especially love the absolute panic of women being alone in the big city and …GASP…going dancing in 3-inch heels! Don’t worry though, those wanton women get punished by…tuberculosis? Which you get not from bacteria but from an unhealthy lifestyle. Choose carefully, ladies.

Overall, this site is a charming way to spend a couple of hours if you find yourself needing a break from the horrors.