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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 short, black-and-white animated film from the early 1950s was produced by Transfilm Incorporated for McGraw Hill Book Co. for use as a training film for salesmen. It offers advice for approaching prospects and securing a sale. The film titled “Approach” is part of a larger film series called the Salesmanship Series made in correlation with The Textbook of Salesmanship by Frederic A. Russell and Frank H. Beach and was part of the overarching McGraw-Hill Text-Films collection. The film is completely animated and features various cartoon caricatures meant to represent the various prototypes of “salesmen” seen out in the field as well as an animated character named “Mr. Wilson” who, in this film, is the main “prospect.” The film details how to best approach prospects to secure a sale from manners and how they treat the secretary, to what they choose to wear, and how much research they should do on the individual they are propositioning. Opening credits (0:10). Animation of animal keeper and lion in ring similar to one seen at a circus (0:39). Trainer uses whip, chair, and raw meat to train the lion (0:51). Scenario of salesman in the office of a prospect - salesman treats prospect likes lion and tries to “train” him into the deal (1:09). Salesman cozies up next to prospect who is now wearing protective medieval armor (1:34). Close-up of animated open notebook page with names of “prospects” listed (1:41). Animated secretary sits at desk in front of line of salesman (2:05). Montage of various salesman caricatures and profiles as told from the perspective of the secretary (2:41): “The breezy boy” (2:45). “Breezy boy” sits on sofa and flips through “racy” magazine (3:09). “Big time operator (BTO)” (3:14). “Apologetic type” (3:42). Camera pans office waiting room with different salesmen prototypes (4:04). Camera zooms into “the gentleman” (4:22). The boss, an animated Mr. Wilson, describes how he decides which salesman to allow into his office (5:03). A cannon appears from within Mr. Wilson’s desk to shoo away an annoying salesman (5:33). Mr. Wilson has a positive interaction with a man who “appears to have all the positive attributes of a good salesman” (5:53). The good salesman sits down for coffee with a salesman who was successful in selling Mr. Wilson explains how he made the sale (6:34). Mr. Wilson stands at the head of a conference table (7:53). Mr. Wilson stands beside disgruntled dairy cow (8:14). Mr. Wilson’s grandchildren laugh as the disgruntled cow runs away and leaves Mr. Wilson with an empty milk bucket (8:47). Camera zooms-in on face of Mr. Wilson’s application for life insurance (10:45). Closing credits (10:49). 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
