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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 This mid-1940s episode of a black and white newsreel style film series titled “Woman Speaks” highlights the post-war careers of women across industries such as figure skating, gemology, illustration and cartooning, as well as fashion. With the end of World War II in 1945, veterans were returning home and women laborers were being let go from their war-time jobs. At the same time, magazines and newspapers targeted these women and invited them to become post-war consumers which coincided with the national expansion of television in 1946. Chicago-based film producer H.A. Spanuth, who made his living distributing vaudeville performances, was one of the first postwar film-makers to take advantage of television to address women. From 1945-1949, he broadcasted this combination newsreel show “Woman Speaks“. It aired on television in the early era of broadcasting. Opening credits, Statue of Liberty in the background (0:10). Foreword (0:15). World War II fundraiser Ice show in Chicago featuring Chicago Figure Skating Club (0:27). Individual performers (0:49). Bovid Family (Cows) comedy animal show (1:09). Lonnie DeVore dances on ice (1:29). Little Miss Knickerbocker, Donna Jean Popsicle (1:37). Star of the Ice Capades, Ann Robinson (2:04). The Sonja Henie Show (2:18). Phyllis Legg from the Ice Follies (2:27). Adele Inge the acrobatic ice skater (2:43). Chicago’s Ice Queen, Elaine Burtnick being presented on a float with her attendants of honor (2:55). Comic artist and author of “Cartooning for Fun and Profit,” illustrator of the popular “Marge of Sunrise Mountain,” and creator of “Dumb Dora,” Lois Fisher speaking to an audience and drawing cartoons on a board (3:02-5:24). Susanne Steinem Patch, professional gemologist at work (5:25-6:52). Quartet of California apparel creators: Viola Dimmitt (6:54). Model, Joan Powers, displays a raincoat of Dimmitt’s design (7:34). All-weather evening wrap (7:46). Fashion designer Agnes Barrett with her model Barbara Bushman (8:06). Patio dress (8:27). Fashion designer Pat Primo with her model Jackie Lambert (8:48). Fashion designer Mary Duis and her model Tony Doyle (9:15). Beach coat and bikini (9:38). Closing credit (10:26). Viola Dimmitt was one of the pioneers in the California ready-to-wear industry, and one of the earliest name-recognized designing manufacturers in Los Angeles. She was one of the first Los Angeles–based fashion designers to create dresses, particularly evening and wedding dresses, for a national market. Sonja Henie was a Norwegian figure skater and film star. She was a three-time Olympic champion in women's singles, a ten-time World champion and a six-time European champion. Henie has won more Olympic and World titles than any other ladies' figure skater. Susanne Steinem Patch, a graduate of Smith College, was an American gem expert and staff lawyer at the Federal Trade Commission. 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
