Akron 1957

Richard Mitten's 1957 home video shows downtown Akron in 1957.

(Mark Mitten)

AKRON, Ohio -- Akron was a happening place in 1957. In the midst of a tire boom fueled by the automotive age, Akron's population was approaching 300,000, placing the city among the nation's 50 largest.

Rare color video, shot by Richard Mitten that year, offers a unique and intimate look into the zenith of America's rubber capital. On his handheld 16mm camera, Mitten captured a bustling Main Street that summer, lined with neon signs and department store windows.

His nephew, film maker Mark Mitten, found the collection of old videos and assembled the collection online.

"It was a treasure trove of footage that resided in canisters that my cousin had," Mark Mitten said. "It's sort of timeless it just gives me a strong sense of nostalgia. It seems like it was just a pretty magical place to live at that time."

As the driver travels down Main Street a smoky B.F. Goodrich factory makes an appearance, followed by Firestone's iconic factory.

Wooden cruisers are docked along the Portage Lakes, where women in one-piece bathing suits ready themselves for a day in the sun.

Perhaps the most spectacular part of Mitten's home video is the footage of downtown Akron that December. Polsky's department store is lined in garlands and tinsel, accompanied by figurines portraying shepherds and a manger.

Bows of holly and ribbons criss-cross Main Street and a light snow dusts the sidewalks.

While the 16mm was digitized, the image was mirrored, Mitten said. For this reason, cars in some scenes might appear on the wrong side of the road.