An 8 mm film capturing a critical moment in American history—the rush of President John F. Kennedy's motorcade to a Dallas hospital after his assassination—has surfaced and is set for auction, CBS News reported.
Dale Carpenter Sr. captured this rare historical artifact on camera, and the auction will take place in Boston on September 28, offering a fresh perspective on the tragic day of November 22, 1963.
On that fateful fall day in Dallas, Dale Carpenter Sr., an amateur film enthusiast, recorded what would become a seminal moment in U.S. history. As the presidential motorcade sped along Lemmon Avenue and onto Interstate 35, his 8 mm camera captured the urgent drive to Parkland Memorial Hospital immediately following JFK’s assassination.
Although Carpenter’s footage did not capture the assassination itself or the moments on Lemmon Avenue when JFK and Jacqueline Kennedy were in the limousine, it provides a dramatic look at the immediate aftermath. Notably, the film shows Secret Service Agent Clint Hill, who had famously leaped onto the back of the limousine during the shooting, shielding the stricken president and the First Lady.
History remembers Clint Hill's quick reaction that day; as the chaos unfolded, he jumped onto the moving vehicle, uncertain if the gunfire had ceased. "I did not know that there were not any more shots coming," Hill later recounted, highlighting the intensity of the moment.
The urgency of the situation is palpable in the footage, with the presidential limousine speeding at approximately 80 miles per hour towards the hospital—a detail described by Bobby Livingston of RR Auction as remarkably vivid and full of motion. "This is remarkable, in color, and you can feel the 80 mph," Livingston explained.
The film remained a family possession for decades, stored unassumingly in a milk crate along with other home movies. It wasn’t until around 2010 that James Gates, Carpenter’s grandson, projected the film and fully grasped the significance of what his grandfather had captured.
Seeing the footage for the first time, Gates expressed shock at the vividness and immediacy of the scenes on I-35. His reaction was not uncommon among those who have viewed the footage since. "That was shocking," Gates said, reflecting the emotional impact of witnessing such a pivotal moment in history.
Historians and enthusiasts of presidential history did not overlook the discovery and significance of this film. Farris Rookstool III observed that the film presents the rush to Parkland more completely than other, more fragmented footage he has seen. The continuous nature of the footage provides a new, clearer perspective on the events immediately following the assassination.
This newly emerged film complements the numerous other photographs and videos from that historical day but stands out due to its color and sequence. Stephen Fagin, a curator involved with the auction, emphasized the importance of these finds and suggested they provide a tangible connection to past events previously thought to be fully documented. "These images, these films and photographs, a lot of times they are still out there," Fagin said.
As the film prepares for auction, it evokes a scene filled with urgency and dread, capturing a raw portrayal of a national tragedy. According to historian Lisa McCubbin Hill, witnessing the footage is a powerful experience: "To see the footage of it happen ... just kind of makes your heart stop."
This film is expected to attract significant interest from collectors and historians because it adds another layer to the visual historiography of one of the most documented moments in American history, despite its grim content. As new historical artifacts continue to emerge, the narrative of JFK’s assassination evolves, offering fresh material for understanding and reflection.
The auction of Dale Carpenter Sr.’s JFK assassination footage represents not just the sale of a rare historical artifact; it symbolizes the ongoing discovery and reinterpretation of a pivotal moment in American history. As new materials surface, they contribute to the complex mosaic of narratives that surround JFK’s assassination, offering new avenues for education and understanding.
As the film goes to auction this September 28 in Boston, it invites both reflection on the past and speculation on what other undiscovered pieces of history lie in wait. This footage, with its stark portrayal of a critical moment, serves as a poignant reminder of the unexpected ways history can come to light, long after the dust has settled.
