Gizmo!
Encyclopedia
Gizmo! is a 1977 documentary film
produced and directed by Howard Smith
about improbable inventions, and uses old newsreel
footage about these inventions. Early examples of parkour
and buildering
are also featured, including footage of urban acrobat John Ciampa
, the "Brooklyn Tarzan".
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
produced and directed by Howard Smith
Howard Smith (director)
Howard Smith is an Oscar winning film director, producer, journalist, screenwriter, actor, and radio broadcaster.-Early career:Howard Smith started his career as a photographer...
about improbable inventions, and uses old newsreel
Newsreel
A newsreel was a form of short documentary film prevalent in the first half of the 20th century, regularly released in a public presentation place and containing filmed news stories and items of topical interest. It was a source of news, current affairs and entertainment for millions of moviegoers...
footage about these inventions. Early examples of parkour
Parkour
Parkour is a method of movement focused on moving around obstacles with speed and efficiency. Originally developed in France, the main purpose of the discipline is to teach participants how to move through their environment by vaulting, rolling, running, climbing and jumping...
and buildering
Buildering
Buildering is the act of climbing on the outside of buildings and other artificial structures. The word "buildering" is a portmanteau, combining the word "building" with the climbing term "bouldering".If done without ropes or protection far off the ground, buildering may be dangerous...
are also featured, including footage of urban acrobat John Ciampa
John Ciampa
John Ciampa was an Italian-American autodidactic stuntman and entertainer known by the stage names of the Human Fly, the Flying Phantom and the Brooklyn Tarzan....
, the "Brooklyn Tarzan".