A historical ride (camera mounted on the front of a cable car) down Market Street in San Francisco on April 14, 1906. It was one of the first 35mm films ever taken. The clock tower at the end of Market Street at the Embarcadero (Spanish for Wharf) is still there. 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.
Produced as part of the popular Hale's Tours of the World film series, the film begins at the location of the Miles Brothers film studio, 1139 Market Street, between 8th and 9th Streets; it was filmed 14 April 1906, four days before the devastating earthquake and fire of 18 April 1906, which virtually destroyed the entire downtown area. The negative was taken by train to the Miles New York office on 17 April 1906, narrowly saving it from destruction by one day and thus preserving a moment in the history of San Francisco that would soon cease to exist."
New York trade papers announced the film showing the wet streets from recent heavy rainfall. Shadows indicated the time of year and actual weather conditions on the historical record. The records even provided when the autos were registered and who owned them according to the issued plates.
I gathered many videos off the web, with teams of horses going down paved streets, to get the sound of their hooves. I also, because I couldn't find any earlier cars, recorded 1926 Model T's to get the sound of those engines. I also got the sound of the trolley from inside.. like the camera was, from a video of a ride on a San Francisco Cable Car. I wanted to try, in some small amateurish way to add the feeling of the surrounding noise of that day. Hope it worked ok for you all.
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San Francisco Cable Car April 1906 ...
