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Liquid Gold

Accession number: 
1934.0003
Production Years: 
1934

Languages:

Film Properties: 
Length (feet): 
2244 (35mm)
Length (minutes): 
25
Holding Institutions: 

Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario: 35mm, VHS.
"Film about the refining, manufacturing and distribution of petroleum products in Canada by the McColl-Frontenac Oil Company Limited. It begins with a statement by the company president, John Irwin, about the company. Irwin states that "this is my first attempt at the talkies". The film shows: the company's head office in Montreal; ocean-going ships transporting company products overseas and company-owned tanker ships that travel the Great Lakes; the S.S. John Irwin; the S.S. Frontenanc; the S.S. [Cyclo Chief]; exterior and interior shots of the company's refinery in Montreal; company trucks and company-owned rail tanker cars; the blending of oils; testing oils for viscosity; chemists testing grease and lubricating oils; more tests in the company laboratory in Toronto; the canning of the company's Red Indian brand motor oil; packing cases of Red Indian motor oil; the marketing division in Winnipeg; the Winnipeg office and warehouse; barrels of motor oil in the warehouse in Winnipeg; company trucks; and the office staff at work. Tour of McColl-Frontenac service stations in various locations, including Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Montreal, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue and Kingston. The footage of the station in Ottawa is preceded by an aerial shot of Parliament Hill, showing a crowd gathered on the lawn. Specific station locations identified include the corner of Avenue Road and Eglinton in Toronto, the intersection of Portage and Main in Winnipeg, just completed in the spring of 1934, Osbourne Street in Winnipeg, Portage and Ruby in Winnipeg, and Decarie Boulevard and St. Mary in Montreal. Also shown are various billboards and signs for company products, including neon signs at night for Red Indians, Marathon Blue and Cyclo Ethyl brands as well as print advertising. The film shows uniformed gas station attendants, boats getting gas at company stations, types of dispensing pumps and an animated map showing the types of McColl-Frontenac services available across Canada."