December 30, 2008
Home Movie of 1956 Disneyland Trip Named to National Film Registry
Connecticut Filmmaker Recognized by Library of Congress
Each December, the Librarian of Congress names 25 films to the National Film Registry that are ‘culturally,
historically or aesthetically significant’ and deemed worth of preservation. This year, alongside “The Asphalt
Jungle,” “Deliverance,” and “The Terminator,” was a home movie of a Connecticut family’s trip to Disneyland.
Robbins and Meg Barstow of Wethersfield, Connecticut, along with their children Mary, David and Daniel were
among 25 families who won a free trip to the newly opened Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., as part of a ‘Scotch
Brand Cellophane Tape’ contest sponsored by 3M. The film follows the family as they visit Hollywood, Beverly
Hills, Catalina Island, Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studios and Disneyland, all accompanied by Robbins’ droll
narration.
“When we made this movie back in 1956,” Barstow said, “none of us could possibly have imagined that it would
come to this! It was just family fun, and such a neat story, about winning the contest.” The entire family was again
gathered at the Wethersfield Barstow homestead on Christmas night this year. “We enjoyed so much watching the
film again together on DVD, reliving that great family experience,” reports Barstow, “we are so excited and honored
to have it named to the National Film Registry.”
Several year ago, Barstow donated the film, along with eleven other titles in the “Robbins Barstow 20
th
Century
Family Home Movie Collection” to the Library of Congress, but has continued to show and distribute video versions
of his films at festivals, symposia, as well as on the local Wethersfield Public Access Community Television.
Barstow has also been an ardent supporter of Home Movie Day, the international amateur film event, and he showed
“Disneyland Dream” at the New Haven Home Movie Day in 2006 as well as at the Hartford International Film
Festival earlier this year.