General Motors Propaganda from 1955

This is a promotional film showing the building and celebration of the 50 millionth General Motors vehicle - from November of 1954.  The event took place in Flint, Michigan - which at the time was at the peak of its prosperity as a community.  I grew up just about 50 miles to the west in Lansing - also a GM town, but with a little more diverse economy.  Flint's December 2009 unemployment rate topped 16 and a half percent, but is probably closer to 20% - no longer the example of U.S. prosperity - more an example of the hollowing out of our nation's industrial base.  From a high of 200,000 population to the current 120,000, it is a shell of its former self.  Anyway, enjoy this glimpse into the past of U.S. manufacturing might.