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Join this channel to get access to perks: Want to learn more about Periscope Film and get access to exclusive swag? Join us on Patreon. Visit Visit our website “The Kingdom of Plastics” is a short informational film shot in Technicolor. It dates to the mid-to-late 1940s and discusses how plastics are made and their importance to many industries, specifically its important contributions to World War II as a manufacturing material. The film was likely made as part of a public relations effort to change the public's mind about plastic products, which were often perceived as “cheap“ or “imitation“. This perception owed itself to war rationing, as copper, aluminum, steel, and zinc all became precious metals that were only allocated for military use. Desperate fabricators and manufacturers begane to use plastics, including cellulosics, acrylic, nylon, and especially phenolic and polyethylene, as a substitute. A whole campaign began after WWII to convince the American public of the value of plastic, and a National Plastics Exposition (NPE) was held at the Grand Central Plaza in New York City in April 1946. This film was produced by the Jam Handy Organization, and is part of General Electric’s “An Excursion in Science” series that began in 1936 as a syndicated radio series. “The Kingdom of Plastics” features clips of various plastic products, interiors of chemical labs, and some historical footage from World War II. Opening credits (0:10). School-aged kids play a game in a living room: young boys dressed in suits and little girls in formal dresses and bows in their hair (0:40). Girl kneels behind her dad reading a book and borrows his handkerchief (1:03). Girl returns to her friends blindfolded so they can play a guessing game, young boy holds plastic thimble above her head (1:40). Kids gather around the father figure as he holds up the plastic thimble, begins explaining the plastic material to the kids (2:40). Close-up of high celluloid collar sits on vanity (2:49). Man with 19th century handlebar mustache fiddles with collar (2:52). Celluloid collar catches on fire (3:16). Close-up of man lighting pipe with a match (3:19). Lit match rests on plastic ashtray - emphasizing fire-resistant quality of plastic (3:23). Scenic view of lake lined with fall-colored foliage (3:31). Field of mature corn stalks (3:39). Perhaps tall iron towers at a limestone production plant (3:44). Chemist conducts experiment in lab using beaker filled with clear liquid (3:50). Camera zooms into the clear liquid in the beaker (4:10). Configuration of building blocks used to convey idea of molecules and how combination of molecules produces plastic (4:25). Chains of building blocks hang in front of camera (5:17). Resin distributed into heating pan that resembles waffle iron to demonstrate how it is heated and molded to take certain shapes (5:35). “Plastic waffles” removed from the waffle-iron (5:58). Plastic melted once more and put into round-shaped waffle iron to convey idea of plastic malleability (6:03). More chains of blocks hang in front of camera to show how molecules become linked and produce new kinds of plastics (6:23). Thermosetting plastic or Bakelite: An orange colored resin mold taken from waffle-iron; cannot be melted (6:49). Filler added to tray of melted blue resin (7:08). Various plastic products and crystal-ware laid out on revolving blue-satin fabric: make-up brushes, telephone, radio (7:21). Close-up of gears turning (7:54). Close-up in chemical lab of beaker over flame (8:04). Close-up of bright orange flames (8:09). Montage of industrial factory equipment overlaid image of factory smokestacks (8:16). Camera pans red table with different plastic products laid out (8:27). Two soldiers stand back as they fire 75 mm gun M2-M6 (8:39). World War II light tank drives past camera, dust fills the screen (8:43). B-25 Mitchell in flight (8:47). WWII-era U.S. Navy ships in convy at sea (8:50). Camera pans red table with different plastic military equipment, mortars, antennas, switchgear (8:55). Montage of scenes of fall foliage by lake, trees with red leaves (9:12). Close-up of hands as they sketch elaborate car model design (9:30). Fashion illustrator looks over work while cleaning off brush (9:44). Painter holds fabric up to still life (9:58). Scene of home interior: house plants, large beige sofa (10:05). Kitchen: white lacquer kitchen cabinets contrast red backdrop wall (10:11). Exterior of mid-century modern home (10:22). Closing credits (10:32). This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit
