Carl Henry Levy was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 7, 1913 to a wealthy German Reform Jewish family. He attended a secular private college-preparatory school. During those years, he printed a magazine in his attic, was chief editor of his school newspaper, and was involved in a Jewish youth group. He was finishing undergraduate philosophy studies at Harvard just as Hitler rose to power in Germany. With his peers, he organized a demonstration against the rise of fascism and the arrival of German ships to the United States. He also led the North American Committee in Cincinnati to Aid Spanish Democracy during the years of the Spanish Civil War. He graduated from Harvard in 1934, Magna cum Laude. In 1941 he met and married Edith Entratter shortly before enlisting in the US Army. He served in Europe from July 1944 to September 1945, participating in the Battle of the Bulge and the liberation of Ohrdruf concentration camp. Carl used the office typewriter from his desk job as Warrant Officer to write to Edith every day. After his return, he founded Lucky Stride Shoes and retired in 1960. Carl Henry died in New York City on August 24, 2001.
Refer to files for a copy of the travel journal Carl Henry wrote as well as a DVD with the 1988 recording of Carl narrating his films of Europe.
June 27-29, 1927. Lucerne, Switzerland, views of the lake of Lucerne. 01:30:49 The Palace Hotel with mountains in BG. Covered bridge and the marketplace at Lucerne. Street scenes, bicycles, pedestrians crossing a bridge, Swiss flag on a building. Very brief CU of Carl. Lakeside views as the family travels to the Rigi tourist mountain with a cog railway. Brief MS of train at station. 01:32:19 June 29 to July 1, 1927. MS, Lake Como. Family members on a boat in Italy on Lake Como. Lakeside buildings, flag waving in wind on boat. 01:33:05 July 1-6, 1927. Hotel Excelsior at Lido Beach near Venice where the Levy family stayed for five days. The group poses together. At Piazza San Marco, Dora Hartman and August Levy feed the pigeons. Drinking and eating at an outdoor restaurant on an island nearby where glass and lace are made, street scenes. Gondolas along the canals in Venice. 01:35:20 Gondola ride. Lido Beach. Family at cabana. Ornate buildings at Piazza San Marco in Venice. View of the famous sights from a motorboat trip around the canals, including the Rialto bridge. 01:38:38 July 6-8, 1927. Aerial view of Florence, Italy, including Il Duomo. 01:39:02 July 8-13, 1927. The Colosseum in Rome. Sightseeing in Rome. 01:40:18 Ruins at Tivoli, the summer home for Roman emperors and Italian aristocracy. Waterfall. City of Tivoli. 01:41:17 Gardens of the Villa d'Este estate with fountains. 01:43:03 Roman forum. Ruins. City views taken from the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, first king of unified Italy, completed in 1925. Pan of the marble monument building. Robert Levy on the steps of the monument. Pan of church on the outskirts of Rome. Equestrian monument to Garibaldi. 01:45:56 Long aerial view of Rome including the Vatican and St Peter's Basilica. 01:46:16 Trevi Fountain. Closer view of St. Peter's Basilica exterior. Very brief glimpse of automobile.
Sightseeing in Switzerland and Italy