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 on Market Street 104 years ago. 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 in USA? 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!
4 DAYS BEFORE THE 1906 S.F. EARTHQUAKE