Here’s a 1949 home movie of New York City’s Times Square at night. The focus is on lighted signs, billboards, and marquees. 

The clip begins with a quick day shot of a West 42nd Street sign and a Broadway Street sign, right at their intersection. 

After a wide, long shot of Times Square, we see a Camel Cigarettes billboard, then a Budweiser billboard, then a Bond Clothes billboard. 

We then see the marquee for the 1949-released MGM musical feature film, “The Barkleys of Broadway,” which featured Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. 

Then there is a sign for “Philco, The Leader.” Part of the sign includes a marching band leader twirling his baton like the hands of a clock. “Philco” is short for the Philadelphia Storage Battery Company, which was known for making electronics, especially radios. 

Next, we see a billboard for Ruppert Beer. The company was also known as the Jacob Ruppert Brewing Company. Above the Ruppert billboard is a billboard for Kinsey, the name of a whiskey but also a short name for the Kinsey Distilling Corporation. 

We then see a Pepsi-Cola billboard, which is followed by a billboard for Planters Peanuts featuring Planter’s mascot, Mr. Peanut, who is wearing a top hat and wielding a pointer. 

There is then a billboard with red lettering that appears to say, “Miss Youth Form,” as well as “Cannot “Ride-Up”” in pink lettering.  

A marquee for the Embassy, a movie theater, suggests that newsreels are being shown. Part of the marquee reads, “CHINA REDS EXECUTED” and ““WISH YOU WERE HERE”” and “MARCH OF TIME.”  

Another marquee is for two feature films: One film is “HOME OF THE BRAVE,” produced by Stanley Kramer, and another film is “WE WERE STRANGERS,” featuring Jennifer Jones, John Garfield, and Pedro Armendariz. 

Next is a marquee for the Hotel Astor. Street traffic passes in the foreground. 

We then see a billboard for “REM”; this is likely the name of the over-the-counter cough remedy/syrup brand, which was popular during the middle of the 20th century

Next, we see a wide shot of Times Square. Many of the billboards and marquees noted above are visible. 

Pedestrians stroll near the entrance to the theater showing “The Barkleys of Broadway.” 

People sit in a diner and a waiter stands behind a counter, talking to a colleague. Neon lighting is reflected in the diner’s windows. 

Next, the movie theater called Brandt’s Mayfair advertises “The Wizard of Oz” featuring Judy Garland on its marquee. 

A lighted marquee for McGinnis, a restaurant, is shown. 

The clip’s final shot is another wide shot of Times Square. A billboard for the Capitol Theater is visible in the distance.