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THE EXCITING HAMMER OF DEMOLITION: THE VIDEO
Dynamic American Cities by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (ca. 1956)
“There
could be no better film than this to show how old, character-filled
neighborhoods in cities across the nation were wantonly destroyed
during the "new is better" 1950s. The term used was "URBAN RENEWAL"[a.k.a. “URBAN REMOVAL"]. Cities across
the United States are shown, in old, established residential and
business districts of great charm, and new, "urban renewal"-inflicted
areas of equally great ugliness; the camera keeps cutting from some
beautiful old Victorian structure to some drab, ugly 50s utilitarian
structure which served as it's inferior replacement.”
—Internet Archives
IT’S INCREDIBLE HOW exactly half a century later, El Paso’s pseudo-progressive politicians and multibillionaire developers are spurting the same old outdated rhetoric the public was
fed in the fifties. And once more, they will tear down the most
culturally and historically interesting part of our city to build
anti-septic “Lifestyle Outlets,” parking garages, big-box retail stores and bland yuppie strip malls that look like any and every other city in this country. All in the name of “progress.”
Part I of the “Dynamic American Cities” film
starts out with three White men in black suits (the 50s version of the
PDNG group) introducing their “exciting urban development”
plan. “You will see patterns and trends in your city to make the job of making your city better for the people that are your city,” they announce with somber, gramm atically awkward earnestness. Surely, Mr. William Sanders must have felt quite at home during this time period. (We recommend you skip Part I if your tolerance for bureaucratic monotony is low.)
In Part II of this U.S. Chamber of Commerce film you will see images of demolitions of buildings that are so sturdy that the wrecker's ball barely makes a dent in their brickwork after several hits. Meanwhile, the narrator adds the following triumphalist commentary:
“Increasingly we
are seeing large-scale demolition as the first step in building the
modern cities. Often the substance of our urban structures is such as
to resist the power of the demolition hammer. As a people, however, we
are steadfast as we tackle these problems and the hammer of demolition
will be sure to swing with determination! In this Jet Age, events move
fast, faster indeed than we sometimes realize, and or progress is
certain to be steady as we clear away the structures that block
progress. Obsolescence runs through all types of properties including some of our finest mansion homes. These too will bow to demolition as they pass from the American scene! Strategic land will be cleared for new use.
"We
live in a day of bold planning! From now on we shall be seeing much
demolition, the first step in making our cities better places to work,
better places to live. It will take great effort and real leadership,
but as a people we can do the job. And as we see here the rubble of
demolition at the
feet of [a statue of] Columbus, let us remember that in many ways the
continent is still before us. Surely if we can recapture the courage
and forward-looking spirit of the discoverers and pioneers of America,
building better cities will be assured!”
Haven't we been hearing these bureaucratic platitudes of "progress" recently? Haven't we've been told that it will take great effort and real leadership to tear down El Paso's oldest neighborhood to build strip malls and parking garages?
Apparently the leadership will be provided by self-proclaimed "urban pioneers," Paso Del Norte Group "creative class" individuals who award themselves "The Conquistador Prize" (we're not making this up) every year for their efforts on behalf of progress and against obselescence. Let the demolition hammer swing with determination! Enjoy the film.
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