San Francisco in 1906

[MadMonk]

A film taken from a streetcar traveling down Market Street in San Francisco in 1906, a few days before the earthquake/fire destroyed the area.
San Francisco in 1906

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 quake and shipped by train to NY for processing.

It's weird seeing all the chaos of people, bikes, horses & carts, automobiles and streetcars all vying for use of the streets at once.

[grantgeneral78]

Yeah and the kids daring the trolly by runing back and forth in front of them....great video.

It is great seeing for yourself how things really were back in the day.

[mheaton76]

Thanks for posting - very cool, and creepy video.

[gen70]

Chaos..for sure. Thanks for the link MM.

[papaOU]

Same as today. Every man for himself.

[Steve]

Truly an amazing video. Makes me wonder how far back videos of OKC go.

[nik4411]

loved the soundtrack to the video. the footage was really cool as well.

[rondvu]

I did not care for the soundtrack. I found one in youtube that is more appropriate.

YouTube - Rice A Roni

Who doesn't think of this jingle when thinking of San Francisco.

[progressiveboy]

loved the soundtrack to the video. the footage was really cool as well.

Agree!

[Prunepicker]

A film taken from a streetcar traveling down Market Street in San
Francisco in 1906, a few days before the earthquake/fire destroyed
the area. San Francisco in 1906

In 1906 there we no Ford Model T's. LOL!

At the end of Market Street is the Embarcadero center. It survived the
earthquake.

About 1:20 into the video there's a car that looks like a Rambler crossing
the tracks! I'd love to have any of those cars, regardless of the condition!

2:47 I don't see any tracks for the Sight Seeing Car that's crossing the
street.

I noticed that the traffic didn't appear to have a certain direction to follow.
See the very beginning and at 3:33.

Mad Monk, thanx.

[PennyQuilts]

That made me absolutely crazy. Too much chaos (but it was a great video - don't get me wrong). I am just wondering where in the world those people needed to be so fast that they were darting in and out of traffic that way.

[papaOU]

If you look closely, you can spot 3 of General 64's old girlfriends

[PennyQuilts]

if you look closely, you can spot 3 of general 64's old girlfriends

hah!!!!!