" THE HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE " HOUSE PAINT PROVIDES PROTECTION VS. ATOMIC BOMB CIVIL DEFENSE FILM 28172

About

Produced by the Federal Civil Defense Administration and the National Clean Up-Paint Up-Fix Up Bureau, "The House in the Middle" is a bizarre civil defense film that attempts to show that a clean, freshly painted house (the middle house) is more likely to survive a nuclear attack than its poorly maintained counterparts (the right and left houses). Yes, good housekeeping and clean yards are the best deterrents to fires ignited by an atomic bomb! Note: In 2001, the Library of Congress deemed this film "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.

The film depicts a typical American town and highlights the potential doom of neglected houses in the atomic age. It explains civil defense tests conducted to understand the effects of atomic heat on homes, using miniature houses and common fire hazards at the Nevada Proving Ground. The tests show how easily decayed wood and trash can ignite, comparing cluttered and clean houses. The results emphasize the importance of housekeeping and maintaining houses to prevent ignition. Further tests on houses with varying exterior conditions demonstrate the impact of upkeep on fire safety. The film underscores the need for community action, encouraging local cleanup, paint-up, and fix-up campaigns to create better, safer communities. It concludes with a call to action for civil defense, highlighting the choice between neglected and well-maintained houses.

• 0:08-0:39: Introduction to the film and the depiction of a typical American town.

• 0:54-1:28: Description of neglected houses and their potential doom in the atomic age.

• 1:28-1:57: Explanation of civil defense tests to discover the effects of atomic heat on homes.

• 1:57-2:40: Tests on miniature houses and common fire hazards at the Nevada Proving Ground.

• 2:40-3:04: Ignition of fences built of decayed wood and surrounded by trash.

• 3:04-3:24: Demonstration of how easily some types of interiors can ignite.

• 3:24-4:00: Comparison of two miniature houses, one with clutter and one clean.

• 4:00-4:47: Effects of an atomic explosion on the two houses, showing the importance of housekeeping.

• 4:47-5:45: Further tests on three identical houses with varying exterior conditions.

• 5:45-6:45: Results of atomic heat flash on houses with different upkeep levels.

Human-made No record of this work says a model made it. What this means.

Archive

Internet Archive, in Ephemeral films

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