Most severe storm spotters (like me) received their first training in front of a film or slide projector in a darkened auditorium.

Some handouts were provided during my first training session in the early 90s in Texas, including this monochrome booklet.

The slideshows at “Skywarn” spotter training events became better and better as more storm spotters, chasers, researchers, and members of the public began documenting tornadoes in the field using still cameras.

Mind you, when I began learning how to spot severe storms, Doppler radar as we now know it was in its infancy with the nationwide network of NEXRAD radars being having begun its rollout.

Since then, with careful study of radar, the work of research crews, and the proliferation of video cameras (first handheld videotape cameras, now digital), we know more about the life cycle of tornadoes than ever before.

But back in the 1970s and 1980s, often-grainy films were the only way for the eager to visualize the severe storm environment.

Here is “Tornado: On the Spot Training” from the 1980s, a great look at the past.  The audio and video quality is sub-par, but I have boosted the audio as well as heightened contrast and saturation as much as practicable.  You might still need to boost your computer/speaker audio.

Link to Morgan's video: "Tornado: On-the-spot training"