How the 'sound man' did it in the 1950s

Well you have to remember that this is a "puff piece". It's a promo for Hollywood "magic". So for instance that "location" was probably a set, certainly the various "noises" were added in post. And even then they would not be recording footsteps, but doing them in Foley. Also the "bounce" in the handclaps are definitely from a MUCH larger room.

I also kind of doubt that on a real shoot they would be using white board tape to hold the mics in place. A) it's white and B) it doesn't hold all that well by design. It was probably chosen so it would show up well. I also kind of doubt they were bringing in big white panels but? Certainly on a narrative film the DP would have a problem with the sound folks adding large reflective panels on the set. Also no blimp on the camera so all the rest of those little sounds just got drowned out by the freight train coming from the camera.

Interesting film but I would take it with a few pounds of salt.

Acoustic tiles like that absorb some but are more about breaking up the flat surface so you don't get so much echo. If you really want to soak up sound build a 1X4 frame and fill it with roll fiberglass (with no backing) and cover the sides with burlap. You can also cover one side with thin plywood like Luan. If you put a ply back on them and build them in hinged pairs they stand on their own and store well.
 
The film did say they had the camera in a case, a 'blimp' as it were. Those film cameras were very loud.

Yep, it's a set piece to show how the sound men worked. I thought it was interesting. And I do have to admit I like the 4X8 panels with bracing in the back so they could be tilted at an angle. That's great for studio work, but transporting them would be tough.
 
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