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Want to support this channel and help us preserve old films? Visit Visit our website Dating to the early 1970s, “The Road to Adventure” follows the fishing adventures of Walt Connors and Larry as they travel south of the Mexico-United States border on the Pan-American Highway. They drive to the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of Tehuantepec, and the Sea of Cortez in a crimson red Dodge truck, towing their new travel trailer along (2:16). This advertising film was narrated by Paul Harvey. In the opening scene, the camera transitions from a long stretch of road to a jet plane in the sky to a group of men hunting a bird (00:11-00:36). The “road to adventure,” as the narrator explains, can be found in Mexico along the Pan-American Highway (00:44-00:52). This network of roads is the world’s longest motorable highway, stretching from Prudhoe, Alaska in North America to Ushuaia, Argentina in South America. “Get out and go” was the motto of the mid-nineteenth century, however, the advent of motor vehicles allowed people to traverse farther distances and vast terrains (1:25-1:43). At (2:27), a 1967 Dodge Charger pulls an Airstream trailer. At (2:33), a Dodge D100 or D200 pickup truck is shown with a camper shell in the rear. The first stop for Walt, Larry, and Larry’s wife Sandy was El Salto, a beautiful waterfall in the forests of Mazamitla (3:30). The first camp was at the waterfall’s base, where they met Scotty—a young Scottish man (4:08-4:21). Walt and Scotty swapped fish stories, then went fishing in hopes of catching some trout. Unfortunately, they lucked out and sat in front of a campfire as they listened to Scottish folk songs (4:44-5:12). Walt invited Scotty to stay the night in their camper, and the camera pans to highlight its various features such as a bunk bed, indoor shower, and a spacious kitchen (5:15-6:06). Walt, Larry, and Sandy headed toward Tehuantepec to continue their fishing adventures (6:09). The following morning, Berkley Bedell—Larry’s business associate who flew in from Iowa—had met them at Tehuantepec (6:36). Berkley catches the first fish of the day—a trucha or Mexican trout (8:06). Walt gets the next fish—a grouper that weighed about fifteen pounds (8:50). These waters are filled with a wide array of fish such as sea trout, sea bass, grouper, red snapper (9:38). After Tehuantepec, the travelers headed toward Mexico City (12:26). The travelers pass through Oaxaca, which is famous for its blacksmiths that make world-famous knives from steer horns (12:49). The camera pans to the intricate details on the handles of the knives and the various forms they come in (12:50). The camera transitions to black pottery makers that create urns made from volcanic ash clay (13:25). The second stop was Salina Cruz—the second fishing stop in Tehuantepec Bay (13:34). Walt, Larry, and Berkley met Red Hastings—a high school football coach from Sacramento—who took them to the best spots for fishing (13:44). Berkley caught the first fish, a pale silver. Larry caught the next fish—a trout. Red caught a fish then tossed it back in the water. Walt caught the next fish, an amberjack. At (18:41) the entrance to Mexico City is shown. The camera pans to logos of famous brands such as American Airlines and Canada Dry (19:20). At (19:38) mariachis serenade. As the narrator notes, Larry marvels at the comfort that comes with traveling in a travel trailer (19:49). They visit the city center of Mexico City, including the: beautiful fountains and parks, Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, Palace of Fine Arts, and Aztec Pyramids (20:05). They travel to Acapulco, a beach resort town known for cliff diving, for their next fishing stop (21:51). Walt catches a bull dolphin. Larry catches a marlin, his first big game fish. Berkley uses mullet as bait and catches a marlin too (26:22). As they head north to go back home, the camera pans to the beaches of Acapulco, the Mexican countryside, a group of children, and a sailfish (27:09). This newsreel was produced for Dodge Trucks (part of Chrysler Motors Corporation) by Galaxy Productions, narrated by Paul Harvey, written by Donald W. Thompson, production by R.B. Hufstader, editing and sound by Stephen B. Kim, associate producing and script coordinating by E.M. Bates, produced and directed by C.L. Bates, and produced by Galaxy Productions Inc (27:50-28:14). 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
