Michael Holman Family Home Movie #30

This film is from a collection of home movies filmed by the family of Michael Holman, an important figure in the history of hip hop. The collection predominately contains family vacation footage shot when Holman's father, Lt. Thomas Holman, was stationed in Europe with the US Army. Most of the footage was captured by Holman's grandmother, Pauline Thompson Wood. In addition to the European vacation films, the footage shot by Pauline Wood documents her involvement with the Baha'i Faith and includes footage of Baha'i events and pilgrimages to holy sites in Israel and Palestine. There is also footage of the family at home in San Francisco and other sites in California.

This film is from a collection of home movies filmed by the family of Michael Holman, an important figure in the history of hip hop. It consists of a single reel of 8mm silent acetate film with color (a), an original metal film reel (b), and an original metal can (c).

The film begins with a shot of people sitting at a cafe in an unidentified location and a shot taken from a boat of an unidentified seaside town. Next, there are multiple shots of a group of people goofing around with a lifelike statue of a waiter. This is followed by a sequence of shots documenting a visit to Pisa, Italy. Included is an attempt by Pauline Thompson Wood who is wearing a pants suit, to take an amusing picture pushing over the the famous Leaning Tower. The subsequent series of shots depict street life in Siena, Italy. Particular emphasis is placed upon the produce and meat market. Shots taken of a group of people visiting an unidentified seaside town follow.

The next several shots appear to have been taken in Venice. Later, a wide panning shot depicts the Florence skyline from the Piazzale Michelangelo. A series of shots then depicts the various members of the tour group goofing around for the camera. The next sequence depicts tourist sites in and around Rome. Included are the Foro Italico [Mussolini], the Altare Della Patria, and the Coliseum. Pauline Thompson Wood appears in a shot at the Coliseum wearing a long light blue jacket. This is followed by a series of shots taken at a wedding. The Holman family appears in a number of the shots. Michael Holman is being held by someone, and he wears a yellow sweater, a cream cap, and grey pants. Alice Holman stands to his left wears a black coat over a royal blue dress and holds Linda Holman’s hand as she waves. Linda Holman wears a grey coat and a black cap. Subsequently, Alice, Linda, and Michael Holman the Holman family pose for the camera in an unidentified location with two unidentified women. One shot depicts Lt. Holman gardening in an unidentified location wearing army green coveralls and a cap. The film concludes with a series of shots depicting tourist sites around Paris with Pauline Thompson Wood wearing a grey skirt suit and waving at the camera.

An original metal film reel (b) with a brief content note and an original metal film container (c) with adhesive tape with handwritten information about its content also accompany the film.