This page holds links to mp4 files converted from old home movies made by my grandfathers, Theodore A Olson (TAO) and Peter J Pankratz (PJP) from the 1930s to the 1960s. The movies are also available from an unlisted gallery, Home Movies 1930s-1960s, on my photo sharing site, which has some convenient viewing tools (e.g. click the info button to get details on each movie).
There have been three different conversions from the 16mm films to mp4 files. In increasing levels of quality, they are: DVD conversion (~2000), Kodak conversion (2022), and MNHS conversion (Minnesota Historical Society, 2023). The MNHS conversion is high resolution and may be slow in loading.
I described the process of obtaining these files by previous blog entries: What to do with (really old) home movies, and Home Movies from Mid-20th Century.
The files are arranged in approximate chronological order based on labels found on the reels and containers, processing dates stamped on the mailing boxes, addresses, film expiration dates, and indicators within the movie (such as the ages of young children).
There are some additional files that contain metadata created during this project, starting with a spreadsheet in which the film reels were initially catalogued and identified.
| Description | Link | |
| Excel spreadsheet summary | 16mmMovieReelsSummary.xlsx | |
| Pankratz movie descriptions | Movies_by_Peter_J_Pankratz.docx Movies_by_Peter_J_Pankratz.pdf | |
| Olson movie descriptions | Movies_by_Theodore_A_Olson.docx Movies_by_Theodore_A_Olson.pdf |
The converted movies have been consolidated on a photo sharing location. Here are the links to see them there:
| Movie gallery folder | Home-Movies-1930s-1960s |
| Movies by Theodore Olson | 16mm-Movies-by-Theodore-Olson |
| Movies by Peter Pankratz | 16mm-Movies-by-Peter-Pankratz |
The following links will show in a Dropbox mp4 preview window. The movies may also be found in an unlisted gallery at the SmugMug location 16mm Home Movies by Theodore Olson.
Olson Movies
| TAO-01.Lundberg_Family 1932 DVD conversion | TAO-02a.Tod_age_0-7 ~1932-1939 DVD conversion | TAO-02b.Tod_Age_0-7 ~1932-1939 Kodak conversion |
| TAO-03.Travel_Scenes ~1937 DVD conversion | TAO-04a.TodAndTomOlson ~1938 DVD conversion | TAO-04b.TodAndTomOlson ~1938 Kodak conversion |
| TAO-05a.Lundberg_Christmas ~1938 DVD conversion | TAO-05b.Lundberg_Christmas ~1938 Kodak conversion | TAO-06a.4752_House ~1940-1942 DVD conversion |
| TAO-06b.4752_House ~1940-1942 Kodak conversion | TAO-07.HenryAndAnnaOlson 1953 DVD conversion |
The following links will show in a Dropbox mp4 preview window. They may also be found in an unlisted gallery at the SmugMug location 16mm Home Movies by Peter Pankratz.
Pankratz Movies