1970s - Rediscovered Treasures: The Remastered 8mm Film from Iraq
- Found History
- Apr 18, 2024
- 2 min read
This time we're going on an adventure to Iraq circa 1973. The film wasn't exactly in good shape. Lots of scratches, loss of color and, what a shame, part of the film was shot with poor focus. I'm awaiting a new better scan camera, I'll definitely try to scan this film again then. There are many architectural and historical treasures in these frames, some of which don't exist anymore.
00:00 Original vs. remastered version
00:28 Beginning of reel
00:32 Great Mosque of Samarra
02:13 Al-Askari Shrine
04:16 Al Rasheed Street in Baghdad
05:13 Circular building by Rifat Chadirji
05:30 Murjan Mosque
07:16 Hotel Baghdad
07:41 Baghdad Airport
10:41 Close up of circular building by Rifat Chadirji
In the beginning we will visit the Great Mosque of Samarra. The mosque was commissioned in 848 and completed in 851 by the Abbasid caliph Al-Mutawakkil who reigned (in Samarra) from 847 until 861. At the time of construction, it was the world's largest mosque. It is known for its 52 meters (171 ft) high minaret encircled by a spiral ramp. The mosque is located within the 15,058-hectare (37,210-acre) Samarra Archaeological City UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in 2007.
From the top of the Great Mosque of Samarra we can see Al-Askari Shrine. It is a Shia Muslim mosque and mausoleum in the Iraqi city of Samarra 125 km (78 mi) from Baghdad. It is one of the most important Shia shrines in the world. It was built in 944.[1] The dome was destroyed in a bombing by extremists in February 2006 and its two remaining minarets were destroyed in another bombing in June 2007.
If you want to read about these mosques more, on the bottom are links for wikipedia.
Al Rasheed Street in Baghdad with the famous circular apartment building. Architect of this building was the well known and famous Rifat Chadirji. Al Rasheed Street origin dates back to the Ottomans who ruled Iraq from 1534 to 1918. In 1917, Al Rasheed Street was the first street to be electrically illuminated in Baghdad city.
Next to the circular building is Murjan Mosque. It is a historic mosque on Al Rasheed Street in the Shorja marketplace in Baghdad, Iraq.
There are so many interesting cars. I would be really happy if someone could identify a few of those?
01:35 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air
07:25 Cadillac Series 75 limousine or 1954 Chrysler Crown Imperial?
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