Eric G.E. Scudder (1887–1975) developed a passion for travel early in life: "Two of the most memorable happenings in my life occurred in 1906, one the great earthquake and fire in San Francisco on April 18th, the other a trip around the world. The one brought about the other." In his 1906 diary, which is part of this archive, Scudder explains he was attending high school and selling soap door-­‐to-­‐door when the great earthquake shook San Francisco, leaving much of the city in shambles. Rather than take a job moving rubble, he managed to gain work on a cargo ship and began his first global expedition. Later, Scudder became a prominent Los Angeles lawyer and longtime leader in Southern California musical circles. His father was Rev. William Henry Scudder, a minister and missionary in Madras, South India. He is descendent of Rev. Dr. John Scudder, Sr., the first medical missionary in India. The Scudder family has been missionaries in India for five generations, continuing to this day. Scudder met his Latvian-­‐born wife, Marie Kaplan Lazarus (1890–1973), at Oakland High School. They both graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. Marie worked as a teacher, while Eric graduated from Hastings College of the Law.

Upon receiving his law degree, Scudder and his wife moved to Chicago, where they lived for nearly two decades. They did not have any children. For a time, he was the vice president for the McJunkin Advertising Company and served as advertising manager for the Orange Crush Company. He worked alongside the popular orange soft drink’s inventor, Neil C. Ward, and patented the design for the distinctive “krinkly” bottle used by Orange Crush from 1920 though 1955. He later became president of Citrus Products Company, which manufactured popsicles before moving to Los Angeles to practice law.

Despite a demanding professional career, Scudder continued his travels with his wife. Together they wrote detailed journals and he shot thousands of hours of film. Scudder’s approach to filming was as bystander, setting up his tripod and camera in a bustling market or on a busy street corner and watching as the world passed by. The grainy, black and white film from Manchuria shows the native people passing by on foot and in horse-­‐drawn buggies. Film from Moscow reveals an unpaved Red Square and men, women, and children digging ditches to build a subway. The Hong Kong in Scudder’s film lacks the skyscrapers and hustle and bustle now associated with that city.

Source: Brad and Jennifer Johnson, owners, The Book Shop, Covina, California