This film was "lost" for many years. It was the first 35mm film ever that has come to light. It was taken by camera mounted on the front of a cable car as its travelling down the street. You feel as if your re al ly there, standing at the front looking down the street, amazing piece of historic film.
The number of automobiles is staggering for 1906. Absolutely amazing! The clock tower at the end of Market Street at the Embarcadero wharf is still there. ... How many "street cleaning" people were employed to pick up after the horses? Talk about going green!
Great historical film! This film, originally thought to be from 1905 until David Kiehn with the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum figured out exactly when it was shot. From New York trade papers announcing the film showing to the wet streets from recent heavy rainfall & shadows indicating time of year & actual weather and conditions on historical record, even when the cars were registered (he even knows who owned them and when the plates were issued!).. It was filmed only four days before the Great California Earthquake of April 18th 1906 and shipped by train to NY for processing. Amazing, but true!
No wonder there had to be laws created to regulate driving habits. This is insane. Good thing they couldn't go very fast.
This is a fascinating movie. A camera on the front of a street car 104 years ago. I watched it a couple of times. Look at the hats the ladies were wearing and the long dresses. Some of the cars had the steering wheels on the right side, I wonder when they standardized on the left? Sure was still a lot of horse drawn vehicles in use. Mass transit looked like the way to get around. Looks like everybody had the right of way.
Perhaps the oldest "home movie" that you will ever see!
-- Edited by Duh on Sunday 21st of April 2013 06:03:17 PM
GaryKelly said
03:14 AM Apr 22, 2013
Amazing stuff, Vic. No grey nomads though. You're right about no rules... total mayhem with cars, carts, bicycles and pedestrians going every which way, and a playground for kids. My dad was 2 years old then, born the same year the Wright Bros flew the first heavier than air machine. I remember my dad saying he used to follow the solid rubber tyre tracks of his dad's truck, a Renault, to see where he was. His dad was the driver, not the owner. They were too poor for that. But I suppose if my dad ever saw George St Sydney as a boy, it would have been a similar scene. He never really spoke about those years growing up. And I never thought to ask.
Duh said
04:58 AM Apr 22, 2013
I'ts happens a lot Gary, I did the same with my dad, wished I had asked him heaps of questions when he was around but we tend to think of these things later after they have departed this earth.....maybe a good reason for us still here to write as much history as we can to pass onto our siblings or others while we can ....
Grams said
05:36 AM Apr 22, 2013
Wow that is amazing. There is no way I'd ever get on those roads, too many near misses.
My parents weren't born for another 30 years. My grandparents were born around that time. Just amazing.
Duh said
05:40 AM Apr 22, 2013
Hairy stuff Grams, I thought that kid in front of the tram was going to get his wheel caught in the tram track rut like I have done in the past, lol !
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=NINOxRxze9k
105 YEAR OLD FILM CLIP
This film was "lost" for many years. It was the first 35mm film ever that has come to light. It was taken by camera mounted on the front of a cable car as its travelling down the street. You feel as if your re al ly there, standing at the front looking down the street, amazing piece of historic film.
The number of automobiles is staggering for 1906. Absolutely amazing! The clock tower at the end of Market Street at the Embarcadero wharf is still there. ... How many "street cleaning" people were employed to pick up after the horses? Talk about going green!
Great historical film!
This film, originally thought to be from 1905 until David Kiehn with the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum figured out exactly when it was shot. From New York trade papers announcing the film showing to the wet streets from recent heavy rainfall & shadows indicating time of year & actual weather and conditions on historical record, even when the cars were registered (he even knows who owned them and when the plates were issued!).. It was filmed only four days before the Great California Earthquake of April 18th 1906 and shipped by train to NY for processing. Amazing, but true!
No wonder there had to be laws created to regulate driving habits. This is insane. Good thing they couldn't go very fast.
This is a fascinating movie. A camera on the front of a street car 104 years ago. I watched it a couple of times. Look at the hats the ladies were wearing and the long dresses. Some of the cars had the steering wheels on the right side, I wonder when they standardized on the left? Sure was still a lot of horse drawn vehicles in use. Mass transit looked like the way to get around. Looks like everybody had the right of way.
Perhaps the oldest "home movie" that you will ever see!
-- Edited by Duh on Sunday 21st of April 2013 06:03:17 PM
I'ts happens a lot Gary, I did the same with my dad, wished I had asked him heaps of questions when he was around but we tend to think of these things later after they have departed this earth.....maybe a good reason for us still here to write as much history as we can to pass onto our siblings or others while we can ....
My parents weren't born for another 30 years. My grandparents were born around that time. Just amazing.
Hairy stuff Grams, I thought that kid in front of the tram was going to get his wheel caught in the tram track rut like I have done in the past, lol !