Streu Family Descendant's Blog

104 YEAR OLD FILM CLIP
“you are there” for a cable car ride in San Francisco “
     
  
  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. 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!
  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!

 Great  historical film!  Watch the scampering as Joe Public
   race away from autos, horses, cable cars and bicycles. <http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=NINOxRxze9k>