1944 Republican National Convention

This home movie, filmed by Ellwood F. Hoffmann (1885-1966) in 1944, captures the Republican National Convention held at Chicago Stadium from June 26-29, during the height of WWII. Shot on 16mm Kodachrome, the silent footage offers a vibrant, firsthand glimpse of the event where Thomas E. Dewey secured the presidential nomination to challenge Franklin D. Roosevelt. Hoffmann, a delegate from Philadelphia, positions his camera close to the stage, recording key figures like Dewey, Herbert Hoover, and singer Kate Smith in color—a rarity for the time. The reel, preserved by the Center for Home Movies with National Film Preservation Foundation funding, shows delegates waving banners, cheering speeches, and milling about the packed stadium, reflecting wartime patriotism and political fervor. Hoffmann’s amateur lens adds intimacy—crowd shots, bunting-draped rafters, and candid moments—offering a personal counterpoint to official newsreels. A lively historical artifact from a self-made filmmaker who turned his retirement into a cinematic odyssey across all 50 states.