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San Francisco - 1906 film, 4 days before earthquake

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bobheck

Disco still sucks.
OK, don't have anyway of verifying the below story about this film. Does it matter?

This is really, really cool.

YouTube - Air - La Femme D'Argent

This is the story with an email currently circulating:

This is well worth viewing and filmed 4 days before the '06 earthquake.
You'll appreciate the research that it took to date this film so be sure
to read this first.....

Here's a neat opportunity to enjoy some time travel. The film is
from a streetcar traveling down Market Street in San Francisco, four
days before the big earthquake/fire that destroyed the area. You
can clearly see the clocktower at the end of the street at the
Embarcadero wharf that's still there... The quality & detail is
great, so be sure to view it full screen.

The 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 quake and shipped by train to NY for
processing. Amazing but true!
 
I'm not a man that hankers for the past or sees it as a golden age. Gotta say though, the thing that really strikes me in the vid (apart from I can't rip it :( ) is the slow pace of people. Compare it to ANY city in the world today! Rushing around, lights flashing....sensory overload. The copper in the first minute looks like a hired thug ready to bludgeon someone. I'd thank you twice for this one. Great link :D
 
The good ol' days...before traffic-lights, tire-alignment, and leather-queers.


Leather queers?! lol I was imagining the size of the bush the ladies were packing under those skirts...the bikini wax was yet to be invented. A guy might have taken a compass when exploring them thar parts :D
 
Here's some cool footage of Moscow around 1908'ish.

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Man, that street car didn't stop for anybody! What struck me was the co-existence between the strteet cars, autos, horses, and people, all getting out of the way at the last minute. That was fun. Thanks.
 
That was a blast! And the newsboys! Dude, seriously, thanks for posting. That is one of the absolutely coolest things I have seen in a long time.
You deserve a hundred thanks for this one.
 
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