Weekend Historical Videos: the Holy Land 1911 to the 1930s

For my weekly Weekend Historical Videos, I thought it might be seasonally appropriate to show some video of the Holy Land in early travelogues and films. General Allenby entered Jerusalem on December 11, 1917, on foot (because the Kaiser had ridden a white horse, and many commented that Jesus had been satisfied with a donkey). Allenby, whose arrival in Jerusalem is shown on some of the WWI videos I've previously posted, said the taking of Jerusalem from the Turks was "a Christmas present for the British people." Thirty years later the British would not be so thankful for the Mandate. But taking Bethlehem and Jerusalem at Christmas, when the Western Front was still bogged down and Russia was leaving the war, was seen as symbolic. Allenby walking into Jerusalem is shown beginning at the 0:40 second mark on this clip:



Even earlier, this is alleged to be the first film of Palestine, made in 1911:



Most travelogues of the early Mandate era tended to emphasize Christian sites in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, so they're seasonally appropriate. The earliest ones are silent, of course. Many represent the classic travelogue view of the Holy Land (camels, donkeys, "just like in the Bible," unchanging people). I hope running these doesn't reinforce the stereotype; there are a few shots here which aren't as cliche-ridden.

Gethsemane and Bethlehem 1929 (also and inevitably, camels):



Hebron in the 1920s: Old pics of the Haram al-Khalil/Tombs of the Patriarchs, other sites, and of course lots of camels:



Jerusalem in the 20s: Jaffa Gate, Herod's Gate, old cars:



Damascus to Jerusalem, 1932:



Jerusalem 1930: Part Two; I couldn't find part one:



Another Jerusalem in the 1930s



And still stereotypical, Damascus and Jerusalem in 1938 (made for Western audiences, emphasis on camels, donkeys, and "time never changes" themes):



Just for contrast in narratives (and as a lesson in how to frame your message), here's a video presumably made in the Zionist Yishuv about Tel Aviv, an early color video, and clearly sending a completely different message:

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