Nifty 104 year old film!

**Guts3d** · April 6th, 2011, 01:57 PM

Link.

This film was "lost" for many years. It was the first 35mm film ever.

It was taken by camera mounted on the front of a cable car.

The number of automobiles is staggering for 1906.

The clock tower at the end of Market Street at the

Embarcadero wharf is still there.

**This film was 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.

**El_Squid** · April 7th, 2011, 12:41 PM

Awesome!

I love the total lack of traffic control, with people, cars and wagons just zipping around the trolleys. Makes you wonder at the accident rate.

**slgrieb** · April 8th, 2011, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by El_Squid

Awesome!

I love the total lack of traffic control, with people, cars and wagons just zipping around the trolleys. Makes you wonder at the accident rate.

Ah, just as there are no coincidences, there are no accidents. That's why I never leave my room and eat only foods such as crackers and pizza which my family can slide under the door. If God wants me run over by a bus, he's gonna have to work for it.