Image: A film still of Iva and Dwain Foster admiring fruit trees (SPRA 449.01.07, Fonds 449: Foster Family fonds)
Movie Monday highlights videos from the Archives’ film collection. Every week, an archival film will be featured on our YouTube channel and here on our blog. The Movie Monday project is made possible with the generous funding support of Swan City Rotary Club of Grande Prairie
Today’s Movie Monday takes us on the longest journey to be featured in our vacation series. Destination? Florida!
In 1952, Raymond and Iva Foster took their three young children on a holiday to the southern states. The trip took place over Christmas and extended into the new year, and the family appears to have found a happy balance between experiencing the area as tourists and living as locals.
In terms of enjoying ‘typical’ tourist activities, the Fosters visited attractions such the Kolomoki Mounds (an archeological site and recreational area in Georgia), a circus put on by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and the 1953 Motorama auto show. Having the ocean nearby would certainly have been a novelty for the Albertan family, and adults and children alike are seen reveling in the laid-back beach life.
In order to settle in and make the trailer park seem a little more like home, toys were set out for the children and potted plants were added as a finishing touch. And let’s not forget the Christmas tree! As hard as it is to believe, this footage of gorgeous sunshine and warm weather was taken over the Christmas holidays. Birthdays were also observed while in Florida, and the children appear to have no shortage of friends to celebrate and play with.