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talkpoliticsIf it's inappropriate, I understand, but I think it's really, really cool and I wanted to share this.
Here in San Francisco, when people refer to ”that film about Market Street,” most of us know immediately what film that is. Apparently in 1906 – just days before the quake – the Miles brothers mounted a camera in the front of a streetcar and filmed the trip from 8th street down to the ferry building. It was meant as a promotion, so in some ways it’s an atypical glimpse of Market Street. They’d hired several cars to make Market look busier and more “modern” I suppose, and you’ll see the same automobiles circling about and weaving in and out of traffic. Many of the people they pass are probably reacting, not only to the sight of the camera, but to the parade of autos, which were still something of a curiosity. I especially love the newsboys who keep running in and out of traffic, at one point pursuing one of the cars. Watch the film and you’ll be struck by the apparent nonexistence of traffic laws or crosswalks. Market Street was apparently used almost as much by pedestrians as it was by streetcars, drays, bicycles, and the occasional horseman.
There are numerous versions on Youtube, but this is my favorite because I think the music captures a certain “ghostliness.” If, indeed it was done just days before the ’06 quake, then many of the people we see were no longer alive a week later. One survivor of the quake who could conceivably be in this film is my great grandmother, the beautiful "Tuce" who was visiting San Francisco and staying at the St. Francis.
0.34: What’s that on the left crossing Market? An early motorcycle? A bike going really, really fast?
1.51: Guy walks across Market, apparently changes his mind, mid-street, and then almost walks in front of a streetcar.
2:36: Patrolling cop right out of Keystone studios, complete with billy club and helmet.
3.41: Getting closer to the Ferry Building which is probably why newsboys appear and will be seen dashing in and out of traffic for the rest of the film.
3.45: On the right, a pedestrian distracted by the sight of the camera, is almost hit by one of the cars.
4:16: Horseman galloping down Market.
4:36: Workman in apron in a hurry, runs across Market very close to the streetcar. Where was he going, I wonder? What was his errand? Immediately after, a horseman (possibly the same one? In both cases, the horse is white) crosses Market in the opposite direction.
4.57: A boy skylarks back and forth across the road in front of the streetcar. Immediately after, a man in a cap, carrying what looks like an envelope (Western Union maybe) appears dumbfounded and amused by the camera. Exits frame on right.
5.10: Newsboys chasing one of the cars, even gripping the canvas roof, which has been folded back. I love the dignity of all those derbied figures in the car contrasted with those galloping boys. We can't see any of their faces, but I think there's no question, those boys were shouting. Were the men amused, and/or angry and shouting back? Oh for sound!
6:07: Dignified, rather stout woman crosses to catch a cable car, steps onto it just as the camera passes. Just one no-doubt forgotten moment in someone’s life (especially given what came in the days after) but for some reason, that’s the instant that stays with me.
6:32: A dray pulls in front, and a boy throws aside the oiled curtain in the back and stares steadily at the camera.
7:51: On the right, you’ll see the first sign of the puddles that led a researcher to pinpoint this film as being shot, not only in April, but just before the quake. Originally it had been dated September ’05. It doesn’t rain here in September (and didn’t in 1905.) It does rain, and it did rain in April ’06.
8:41: People waiting at the Ferry Building turnaround. The nicely dressed young woman in the hat who rather grudgingly moves aside at the last moment could easily be Tuce. Or not. I’d like to think she is.
8:46: Old guy with beard rippling in the wind. Who was he waiting for?
9.05: Newsboys hopping up and down waving at the camera. More unheard shouting. Where were they a week later?
Hope you enoyed it as much as I did.
Here in San Francisco, when people refer to ”that film about Market Street,” most of us know immediately what film that is. Apparently in 1906 – just days before the quake – the Miles brothers mounted a camera in the front of a streetcar and filmed the trip from 8th street down to the ferry building. It was meant as a promotion, so in some ways it’s an atypical glimpse of Market Street. They’d hired several cars to make Market look busier and more “modern” I suppose, and you’ll see the same automobiles circling about and weaving in and out of traffic. Many of the people they pass are probably reacting, not only to the sight of the camera, but to the parade of autos, which were still something of a curiosity. I especially love the newsboys who keep running in and out of traffic, at one point pursuing one of the cars. Watch the film and you’ll be struck by the apparent nonexistence of traffic laws or crosswalks. Market Street was apparently used almost as much by pedestrians as it was by streetcars, drays, bicycles, and the occasional horseman.
There are numerous versions on Youtube, but this is my favorite because I think the music captures a certain “ghostliness.” If, indeed it was done just days before the ’06 quake, then many of the people we see were no longer alive a week later. One survivor of the quake who could conceivably be in this film is my great grandmother, the beautiful "Tuce" who was visiting San Francisco and staying at the St. Francis.
0.34: What’s that on the left crossing Market? An early motorcycle? A bike going really, really fast?
1.51: Guy walks across Market, apparently changes his mind, mid-street, and then almost walks in front of a streetcar.
2:36: Patrolling cop right out of Keystone studios, complete with billy club and helmet.
3.41: Getting closer to the Ferry Building which is probably why newsboys appear and will be seen dashing in and out of traffic for the rest of the film.
3.45: On the right, a pedestrian distracted by the sight of the camera, is almost hit by one of the cars.
4:16: Horseman galloping down Market.
4:36: Workman in apron in a hurry, runs across Market very close to the streetcar. Where was he going, I wonder? What was his errand? Immediately after, a horseman (possibly the same one? In both cases, the horse is white) crosses Market in the opposite direction.
4.57: A boy skylarks back and forth across the road in front of the streetcar. Immediately after, a man in a cap, carrying what looks like an envelope (Western Union maybe) appears dumbfounded and amused by the camera. Exits frame on right.
5.10: Newsboys chasing one of the cars, even gripping the canvas roof, which has been folded back. I love the dignity of all those derbied figures in the car contrasted with those galloping boys. We can't see any of their faces, but I think there's no question, those boys were shouting. Were the men amused, and/or angry and shouting back? Oh for sound!
6:07: Dignified, rather stout woman crosses to catch a cable car, steps onto it just as the camera passes. Just one no-doubt forgotten moment in someone’s life (especially given what came in the days after) but for some reason, that’s the instant that stays with me.
6:32: A dray pulls in front, and a boy throws aside the oiled curtain in the back and stares steadily at the camera.
7:51: On the right, you’ll see the first sign of the puddles that led a researcher to pinpoint this film as being shot, not only in April, but just before the quake. Originally it had been dated September ’05. It doesn’t rain here in September (and didn’t in 1905.) It does rain, and it did rain in April ’06.
8:41: People waiting at the Ferry Building turnaround. The nicely dressed young woman in the hat who rather grudgingly moves aside at the last moment could easily be Tuce. Or not. I’d like to think she is.
8:46: Old guy with beard rippling in the wind. Who was he waiting for?
9.05: Newsboys hopping up and down waving at the camera. More unheard shouting. Where were they a week later?
Hope you enoyed it as much as I did.
(no subject)
Date: 2/9/11 17:32 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2/9/11 17:37 (UTC)*obscure STNG reference
(no subject)
Date: 2/9/11 17:50 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2/9/11 17:55 (UTC)Nick Bostrom: Why the Probability that You Are Living in a Matrix is Quite High (http://www.simulation-argument.com/matrix.html)
(no subject)
Date: 2/9/11 18:59 (UTC)*Obscure reference to a Marvel supervillain.
(no subject)
Date: 2/9/11 21:36 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2/9/11 17:52 (UTC)Love this film, thanks for posting it. It's fascinating every time.
(no subject)
Date: 2/9/11 18:48 (UTC)http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,448747,00.html
(no subject)
Date: 2/9/11 18:21 (UTC)Here is the trailer:
(no subject)
Date: 2/9/11 18:59 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2/9/11 19:34 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2/9/11 21:25 (UTC)True, and also the infinite rhythm of traffic. Thanks for this unique video.
(no subject)
Date: 3/9/11 04:39 (UTC)I stayed at the St. Francis on a visit to SF about 10 years ago!
Your grandmother was indeed a great beauty.
(no subject)
Date: 3/9/11 15:13 (UTC)The St. Francis, or at least its outer shell, survived the fire, by the way. One famous resident who lived through the quake (aside from Enrico Caruso) was a little dog who, according to legend, lived through the fire because it was locked inside a large meat freezer. Don't know how true that can be. I should think he'd have been roasted.
It's also supposed to be haunted by the ghost of Virginia Rappe.
(no subject)
Date: 3/9/11 09:06 (UTC)I think it would be even neater if we could see a video justaposed showing the same trip today...
(no subject)
Date: 3/9/11 15:01 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 3/9/11 20:19 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 3/9/11 09:47 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 3/9/11 15:03 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 3/9/11 19:56 (UTC)