[Five Day Bicycle Race raw #27]

This video contains raw footage shot for "Five Day Bicycle Race," a project comprised of live in-studio commentary and taped edited coverage of the 1976 Democratic National Convention in New York City. Produced by independent videomakers calling themselves The Image Union (including many members of TVTV and Videofreex), it aired on Manhattan Cable for three hours per night for five days during the convention. In this video, we watch as the videomakers make their way into Madison Square Garden to document the Democratic National Convention.

00:00Copy video clip URL This tape begins with a blue screen.

00:28Copy video clip URL Cut to footage from outside of Madison Square Garden where the Democratic National Convention is being held. One of the videomakers interviews a man dressed in a peanut outfit about the convention. He states that he endorses Edmund Muskie for Vice President.

01:38Copy video clip URL The videomakers make their way into Madison Square Garden. We watch as they go through security and record the transit of the camera through the x-ray machine. They they make their way up an escalator towards the convention floor.

03:15Copy video clip URL Cut to a shot of a George Wallace supporter on the delegate floor. The enthusiastic man talks about his time spent at the convention. He says that he’s been working for Wallace but that he’s been “drinking a little beer on the side, though.”

04:22Copy video clip URL Cut to a shot of a delegate in the stands. He expresses his excitement at hearing Senators George McGovern and Hubert Humphrey speak at the event. “I would expect that the talk would revolve around what’s obviously prevalent within this convention: a great sense of unity, a great sense of dedication, and a great desire to go out and win an election in November and turn this country around and get it on the right track.” He then refers to himself as a “born-again Democrat” and predicts that “Carter will win the Presidential election in a landslide.”

05:37Copy video clip URL The videomakers speak with a woman about her experience at the convention. When asked to share her thoughts on Jimmy Carter, the woman replies with a very smug laugh. She states that Carter will win the Presidential election in November, but emphasizes her hopes for his platform including everyone in the country. When asked whether she likes the fact that a southerner will be the democratic candidate, the woman states that she’s “more concerned about the individual than the locality of where they’re from.” She then says, “I’ve met him. I can’t say that I know him and I don’t guess that I’ll ever know him and I don’t guess I’ll ever know him unless he’s up there functioning because we’ve not had an opportunity to know him on a national level.” When asked if Carter is a compromise for her, the woman responds with a swift “Yes.”

06:48Copy video clip URL Cut to a shot of Delaware State Chairman Henry Topel and New Castle County Councilman Joe Toner. The two talk about their time spent in New York and at the convention. Toner talks about meeting Carter. “I consider him a fine gentleman. He’s been my choice for President ever since he indicated that he would run. I don’t see how we could go wrong with him. Great man!”

08:07Copy video clip URL The videomaker speaks with a Missouri delegate about her experience in New York. She shares her views on Carter’s wife and refers to her as a “southern belle.” The videomaker moves on to talk to an Arkansas delegate about Carter. She ends up revealing that she is a second cousin of Carter. She emphasizes his honest characteristics.

09:51Copy video clip URL A New York delegate talks about his experience at the convention. He talks about one of the procedural votes that he and the other delegates had just voted on. He then states that his preference for a Vice Presidential candidate is Walter Mondale. He then cuts his interview short as Senator George McGovern takes the stage.

12:00Copy video clip URL The videomakers gather footage from around the convention as McGovern speaks. They asks a number of delegates about their thoughts on McGovern while he is speaking. When asked about their preferences for President, many are reluctant to answer. Others talk about their support for McGovern and Carter very openly. This lasts for several minutes.

16:58Copy video clip URL Cut to footage from the ABC cafeteria in Madison Square Garden. The videomakers speaks with a number of ABC employees about the food.

18:07Copy video clip URL The videomakers stumble upon a secret bar in the Garden. They then gather exteriors of the stadium. They make a little conversation with the security guards outside. The tape ends shortly afterward.

19:59Copy video clip URL Tape ends.