On Sunday March 23, 2025 Robert Kentos President of the Metuchen-Edison Historical Society [MEHS], hosted residents of the Menlo Park Veteran’s home at American Legion Post 435 for lunch and a presentation of the US Navy, Bureau of Naval Weapons, propaganda videos. Mr. Kentos also serves as the SAL 435 Post Vice Commander as well. The movie selections were from the Victory at Sea collection, in their original 16mm format and played on a 1940s and 50s projector.
Mr. Kentos stated “it was a great event birthed out of some confusion, when MEHS held its annual meeting at the 435 Post earlier this year, some emails did go out of who other than the MEHS members could attend. So we decided to hold a follow up presentation of the movies for the Menlo Park Veteran’s home since they missed out”
“These movies and not to far behind the projectors’ ages are approximately 70 – 80 years old. We recently had two of the 5 projectors repaired, they are all hanging on by a thread so to speak. These movies were modified and broadcast by NBC in the United States during 1952–53. They were condensed into a film released in 1954. To now have all 40 unclassified segments on 16mm in our collection is truly amazing” Mr. Kentos went on to say.
Mr. Kentos was asked how the feedback from the attendees was and he said “Let me try to sum this up, there is something so nostalgic about watching these old movies on an antique 16mm projectors, the smell of the hot light bulb burning the dust, the ticking and tacking of the film and reels winding, along with the mono tone one speaker, hissing and cracking, it just gives you the chills… and if that isn’t enough, the narrator of these live action war documentaries voice at times can convey, excitement, fear and triumph, all while a symphony of patriotic music plays in the background, it actually gives you a haunting feeling of what war was actually like for our soldiers in WW2”
“Overall it was a great event, to get the residents over here, and I thank the Commander of the Post Dave Tingle and the Ladies of the Auxiliary for helping out and the transport team at Menlo Park Veterans Home. I hope to do it again in the near future very soon.”
If your interested in joining the American Legion Post 435, whether a veteran, son of a veteran or looking to join our auxiliary team, please contact Dave Tingle or call or email 908-227-7957 / david.tingle.367@gmail.com, the post is located 43 Oakland Ave, Edison, 08817.
If you are interested in joining the Metuchen Edison Historical Society please visit http://metuchen-edisonhistsoc.org/
