TREE IN A TEST TUBE

Other videos (1)
A USDA film. In this color film Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy point out the many things that are made of wood. The Forests products laboratory at Madison, Wisconsin, has been developing new and better uses for wood, thereby releasing new metals for war needs. Shows some of the tests to which these new products are subjected before they are offered for public or war use. Stresses the need for public caution to prevent forest fires.
Complete catalog record
THE TREE IN A TEST TUBE, a low-budget one-reeler produced by the Department of Agriculture, was a forgotten film until Richard Bann discovered its existence in 1967. For many years, published sources stated that the film was made and distributed in 1943; Bann's later research, however, determined that Laurel and Hardy's footage was filmed on November 29, 1941, eight days before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The purpose of the short was to promote all the wonderful products made from wood, which was easily adapted into a plea for wartime conservation when the film was assembled for distribution. Shot on 16mm Kodachrome stock, THE TREE IN A TEST TUBE is notable for being the only extant footage of Stan and Babe in color, save for some home movies from the '50s and a few short clips from the long-lost THE ROGUE SONG. Laurel and Hardy's contributions are silent, as they rummage through their belongings to find wood-based products while narrator Pete Smith makes wisecracks.
Transcription

[Music] [Applause] hey you mugs I mean gentlemen well well it's Laurel & Hardy as if I didn't know hello boys this is Pete where as if you didn't know hey I'd like your help here for a minute see of mine no of course not I just want you lad to show the audience how much what the average person told work got any no like most guys you don't realize how many articles made of wood products you carry around for instance that newspaper job that newspaper is largely made of trees wood pulp of course most people know that but many people don't know that a lot of other objects come from a wood base takes and glasses the rims of plastic about 60% of plastic is wood flour powdered what's the friend got a fountain pen just as I thought plastic barrel okay yes anything else in your pocket be careful official Stan a billfold imitation leather made with cellulose acetate a wood product Oh what's up why mr. Laurel oh sure your wife support anyway there rayon another wood product well what else boys a cigarette case a planting also a cigarette holder more planting any more wood Malad Nova there's what in his hand the sweatbands right for imitation leather a new spring head a touch more yup a pipe the full of which is worth the stem plastic book matches these matches a wood pulp so is the cover it's amazing the amount of what we use ain't it the truth and now a penknife the handle plastic let's see what's in the suitcase boys the suitcase do you mind that's it let's see what we have here any slippers yes here we are they're real leather like your shoes and belt but canned and may durable by tanbark from the forest then to the counters and insoles or wood fiber okay Olli let's proceed Wardell bottle well hardy Oh hardly no pun intended anyway witch hazel and cat Cara are just two of several hundred drugs and remedies from trees next an imitation leather toilet case mara with plastic back brush back is plastic bristles are both brushes that cellulose plastic this bottle top is plastic so it's not container [Music] best bunch of cellulose plastic and I'm not at all surprised hey Stan what else you got come come fellas don't tell me you're running out of plastic let's take a look at some more of your junk huh I mean your nice thing Oh a razor handle is plastic is our most electric shavers that blade ain't no plastic bump and now writing-paper scratchpad envelope and book all would fall Kitty [Music] the jam is a rayon rayon is a wood product remember hey what you got that job oh hey Nuria and now a shirt tie and stop all Rea on day the suitcase job even that's made out of laminated wood covered with canvas and it's a good thing these lads didn't come around here with a trunk would be here for days oh boy you can go now goodbye Dan so long Oliver and thanks very much guys darn nice of you to help hey oh well they need exercise anyway goodbye now and thanks to you peach Ness mrs. Lee Vickers carrying on well Laurel and Hardy little realized the importance of ward to their daily lives and I wonder if most of us know just how important for us and research are to the winning of this war the answer may be found at Madison Wisconsin where the United States Forest Service maintains its forest products laboratory here for years has been carried on abroad program of research to increase uses of forest products and find new uses for waste materials here's where they figuratively put the tree in a test tube [Music]

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Sources

  1. 16mm Filmography (legacy record) — title, year, creator, format, video
  2. Educational Film Guide 1946 — title, year, creator, length, format, sound, description, catalog record
  3. 3434 U.S. Government Films — title, year, creator, format, description, catalog record
  4. Internet Archive · record ↗ — title, year, creator, length, color, sound, description, catalog record, video
  5. 16mm Filmography editors — genre, catalog record