Rio de Janeiro, 1938

[Music] along the tropical Southern shore of the Bay of guanabara is Rio de janiro capital and largest city of Brazil it is superbly situated on the Atlantic Ocean dominated by the renowned sugara rock at the harbor entrance perhaps the most famous landmark of any city in the world the Sugarloaf is one of the finest points from which to view Rio the Summit is reached easily and comfortably by way of an Alpine trolley small cars suspended on cables transport passengers from the ground to the Top of the Rock in a few minutes unfolding a continuous Panorama of towering mountain peaks which rise more than 3,000 ft above the sea and make the great Latin American city one of the most beautiful in the world [Music] from the Top of the Rock The Great city is seen in its entirety to the left the Atlantic Ocean breaks upon the Sands of the beautiful Copa gabana Beach the better residential sections cluster about the bases of the mountains in the shadow of cavado a dominating Pinnacle Rising above Boga Bay and surmounted by the gigantic Stone figure of the [Music] Christ the residential area stretches on to the right until it meets the modern downtown section of skyscrapers and public buildings Rio de Janeiro once Jewel of Portugal's Colonial Kingdom then for 67 years imperial capital of an independent Empire is today seat of the government of Brazil a country the area of which is greater than the 48 United United States of America and the fourth largest country in the world Rio is fast developing into one of the greatest of sea ports its peers and warehouses stretch along a harbor whose 30 square miles can accommodate any ship that float and make even the world's largest liner appear like a toy boat in a pond the peninsula upon which was once built the entire city is today the downtown business area Castle Hill where the foundation stone of of Rio was laid in 1567 Rose from the center of this area but to make room for City Improvement it was leveled in the distance can be seen the always prominent sugaroa Rock within the downtown district are parks which in the tropical climate always present pleasing green appearances Paris Park bordering the bay is the largest [Music] one of the show spots of Rio is a celebrated mangu Canal lined with four rows of towering Royal Palms the canal was constructed mainly to drain away tropical rains and lessen the breeding of mosquitoes and also as a Waterway for the transportation of produce for practical reasons it was never completed as planned but is preserved as a beautifying asset of the city there are numerous other Palm lined Avenues in Rio notably among them is a Rua pandu bordered with 199 slender Giants it leads from the foga bay to the Isabella Palace a mansion used as a residence for distinguished guests of the government among Rio's modern improvements was the demolition of 638 houses and the completion within 6 months of the superb aena Rio Branco the Tree Line Avenue divides the business district and is the main thoroughfare of the city it is the pride of the Brazilians and presents a picture of busy activity from early morning until late at [Music] night intersecting the aveno Bronco is the renowned Ru do idor said to be the most famous street in South America and one of the most noted in the world it is less than 1/2 mile long and not 10 ft wide from Curb to curb and through it no wheel vehicles are allowed it is a shopping street which caters to elegant and expensive taste and it is claimed no finer articles than from the fashionable shops of the ubor can can be found anywhere in the world through the aeno Rio Bronco no commercial vehicles save buses and taxis are permitted after 400 p.m. the Avenue is a favorite prominade of the Brazilians there is an old law that prohibits one walking in the street without a coat and though it is not enforced passengers are forbidden to ride in first class tram cars without Colin tie shoes and socks persons not properly attired must ride in second class cars to the rear near the end of the avenita fronting upon a small Park is the municipal theater and grand opera house which was built at the cost of over $5 million facing upon the park are also a group of tall buildings Motion Picture houses and cafes an amusement block called Candia at the end of the square is Monroe Palace in honor of the fifth president of the United States James Monroe whose Doctrine so strongly matter to Def friendly attitude of the United States toward Brazil and all South American countries before it as in other parts of the city are black and white Mosaic Pavements copies of the sidewalks of Lisbon in Portugal they are not only pleasing but durable for the first paving stones came from England over 75 years ago and many of them are still in use today the city is lavishly embellished with monuments and statues surrounded by four original figures symbolizing the four Great Rivers of the country is the statue of Dom Pedro proclaimer of Independence and the first emperor of Brazil the aena Rio Branco ends at the aena barar a beautiful Waterfront Boulevard which follows the curving Shore for more than 6 miles and from it is had Vista after Vista of the familiar sugara Rising beyond the B of Fogo Bay along the barar which means Sea Coast in English there are numerous bathing areas trowed on Pleasant days with Rio [Music] deanans the most beautiful bathing site of Rio is the curving Copa Cabana Beach not many years ago sand dunes and wilderness today it has been developed into one of the most desirable residential sections of the city and the beach is a yearr round playground for Brazilians and foreigners [Music] the second of the two outstanding landmarks of Rio is the peric rocky Peak cavado The Hunchback which looks down upon the city from a height of 3,312 Ft its Summit is crowned by a colossal modern statue of the Christ with arms outstretched in an attitude of Welcome from a lookout Terrace at its base he had one of the world's most famous Urban panoramas historians disagree as to who was the discoverer of Rio but most give the honor to Andre consales who entered the bay on January the 1st 152 and believing it to be the mouth of a Great River named the place Rio de Arrow River of January since the first permanent settlement in 1558 the shores of the Bay of guanabara have slowly been changed from forest and jungle to become one of the great capitals of the world and one of the most beautiful cities of all time [Music]