Vintage Stock Footage
1938 California
307 clips filmed in California in 1938, from 1 source reel, 5 to 6 seconds long. Every clip on this page licenses directly from Stockfilm for $149, royalty-free.
$149 flat license · royalty-free worldwide
About this footage
These 1938 California reels follow a mountain camping trip, with typed title cards such as "Breaking Camp" and "End of the Trail" between scenes. A reel label lists the stops as "bucks lake, lake tahoe, emerald bay, martins lodge," and the footage matches. At Bucks Lake a canvas tent sits among the pines, a woman bathes her dog, and a lone rower crosses the water. Men in wide-brimmed hats load pack horses and a mule, and riders in cowboy hats move through the woods.
A log building carries a sign for Martin's Dining Room, and a Forest Service sign marks Lower Angora Lake. Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay appear from the ridges above. Near Oroville, cars wind through a stone road tunnel. On the coast at Fort Ross, waves break over dark rocks and a small cabin cruiser cruises past.
Part of it is black and white and part is color with a heavy blue cast. Useful for stories on Sierra camping and pack trips in the late 1930s.
Fort Ross California (1938): Old Camera Footage Of Nearshore With Multiple Waves
Oroville California (1938): The Video Shows A Map Of The Lands In The Region Where
Oroville California (1938): Sign Reads Feather River Bridge And View Of Map
Angora Lakes California (1938): The One And Only Lower Angora Lake in California
Bucks Lake California (1938): Buck Lake Northern California Plumes County Pines
California USA (1938): A Man Is Standing Near The Dam,Opening For Agriculture
Angora Lakes California (1938): View Of Black And White Lower Angora Lake
Bucks Lake California (1938): A Boat Far In The Middle Of The River Is Sailing In
Bucks Lake California (1938): Water Seen Coming From Out Of A Mountain Side Cliff
Bucks Lake California (1938): This Big Blue Lake Is Home To May Fish And Wildlife
Bucks Lake California (1938): Dusty Road In Lake Tahoe
Fort Ross California (1938): Fort Ross Built By The Russians In 1812 In The Hills
Fort Ross California (1938): Life Seen In Black And White In A Rural Area
Fort Ross California (1938): We See A Sign That Is High Up Then A Building Both
Oroville California (1938): Mountain Stream And Bridge
Oroville California (1938): Car Driving Across Bridge
Oroville California (1938): View Of River And Trees On A Bright Sunny Day
California (1938): Water Damn In The Mountain Shown From Two Different Angles
California USA (1938): Old Footage Farmers Lashing Equipment To A Horse Or A Mule
California USA (1938): Older Video Sample Of Man Getting On A Horse And Riding It
California USA (1938): Dam Being Shown In Full View To Display How Much Water It
California USA (1938): Large Water Dam Bridge View
California USA (1938): Dam Across The River In The Valley Between Mountains
California USA (1938): The Two Small Deer Running In The Forest And Playing
What is on the reels
The subjects tagged most often across the 307 clips on this page, with how many clips carry each tag.
- nature140
- trees77
- water75
- people71
- lake56
- view52
- mountains43
- forest42
- animals41
- horse41
Source reels
1 physical reel behind this page. Years and places are quoted as written on the reel record where one exists.
- Reel 11531938 / california
Frequently asked questions
What kind of 1938 California footage is available?
307 clips of home movie footage filmed in California in 1938, scanned from original 8mm reels. The subjects tagged most often across these clips are nature, trees, water, people and lake.
What format was 1938 California footage shot on?
The source reels behind this page are Standard 8mm (1 reel). 1930s home movies were shot on Standard 8mm. Super 8 did not exist until 1965. We scan original reels at 4K and color-correct each clip while keeping the film grain.
How many of these clips can I license directly?
All 307. Each one licenses directly from Stockfilm for $149, royalty-free, with the 4K master delivered after checkout.
Which reels did this footage come from?
1 physical source reel, including reel 1153. Each reel page lists the film gauge, reel size, and the years and places written on the original reel where that record exists.
Can I license 1938 California stock footage commercially?
307 clips on this page are available for royalty-free direct licensing from Stockfilm. Commercial use, including advertising and branded content, applies only to clips marked Commercial; clips marked Editorial only are limited to documentary, news, educational, internal and organic social use. Each clip page and grid card shows the status.
Where can I download 1938 California archival footage?
Open a clip from the collection above, choose License Direct, and complete checkout to receive the licensed master download from Stockfilm.