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Want to support this channel and help us preserve old films? Visit Visit our website This offbeat and groovy short subject documentary from 1971 attempts to explain how people process information and language, access long and short term memory, and solve problems. A series of “experiments” are shown at a hip, happening party where a narrator (David Steinberg) and an associate professor of Psychology at the University of California, San Diego (Dr. David A. Norman) explain what is being seen. A group of improvisational actors - including John Amos (“Coming to America,” “Good Times”) and Swedish adult film star Uschi Digard - work the party and help to facilitate the experiments. There’s also a magician, a memory expert, some outrageous ’70’s getups, and a little ribald humor thrown in for good measure. Starring David Steinberg, Dr. Donald A. Norman, John Amos, Peter Bonerz, Booker Bradshaw, Sam Carlson, Harry Colomby, Uschi Digard, Corey Fischer, David Lander, Julie McWhirter, Dale Morse, Michael B. Skinner, and Arthur Bornstein, edited by Leonard South, and produced by Carole Hart and Bruce Hart for CRM Productions. Copyright 1971, Communications Research Machines, Inc. 00:30 TITLE CARD 00:55 Narrator David Steinberg introduces himself and the reason for the party 01:25 Improvisational actors introduce themselves 01:56 Actor Corey Fischer is told several numbers he attempts to memorize 02:58 Dr. Donald A. Norman introduced, explains what will be shown 03:26 Man engaging in multiple conversations at once experiences “information overload” 04:43 Steinberg joins Dr. Norman in the observation booth, watches people on a small Ampex television monitor 06:40 Actress Uschi Digard searches the party for her boyfriend 06:56 Digard removes her shirt, bra 08:15 Magician Michael B. Skinner performs a closeup magic trick 09:00 Dr. Norman reveals how he performed the trick 09:27 Actor John Amos has partygoers attempt to read colored words off a poster 10:07 Steinberg attempts to read the same poster 10:56 Clip of Chico and Groucho Marx from “A Night At The Opera” (1935) 11:19 More people give Fischer numbers to memorize; Steinberg and Dr. Norman discuss the nature of memory 13:36 Amos attempts to introduce a group of people to each other 14:31 Dr. Norman attempts to remember some of the actors while watching their introductions on the monitor 15:54 Waitress takes complicated drink order from a large group of people 16:34 Memory expert Arthur Bornstein introduced, explains his short term memory technique 17:55 Waitress returns with drinks 18:32 Actress Sam Carlson attempts to connect with partygoers; Dr. Norman explains long term memory 19:50 Dr. Norman helps Steinberg remember where he was at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, January 15, 1963 21:30 Partygoers remember details about the film “The Night Walker” (1964) 22:18 Another magic trick is dissected via the television monitor 22:55 Visual riddle involving the alphabet, woman attempts to build sandcastle with dry sand 24:27 Fischer writes down all the numbers he’s been told onto a drinking glass, a waitress takes the glass away 25:07 Party begins to wind down 25:35 Steinberg and Carlson connect, slow dance 26:07 CREDITS We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.“ 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
