Idyllic Video

[JPSmit]

It is always a mistake to idealize earlier days but there is no denying it was a slower quieter time. Also I think I saw only one car - everything else is commercial.

 

[NutmegCT]

JP - that is quite a wonderful film. Thanks for posting it. Barry's music is a pleasant change from the usual "rinky dinky piano" often used for silent films.

I can't help but thinking ... all those barges full of coal. The thick, gritty, London fogs were caused by burning all that coal in homes and power plants.

The "Great Fog" of 1952 led to so many illnesses and accidents on the roads, that in 1956 Parliament restricted coal use in urban areas, homes converted to "electric fires", and generating stations gradually moved from coal to oil.

Regardless, that is a wonderful film. Thanks!
Tom M.

 

[JPSmit]

JP - that is quite a wonderful film. Thanks for posting it. Barry's music is a pleasant change from the usual "rinky dinky piano" often used for silent films.

I can't help but thinking ... all those barges full of coal. The thick, gritty, London fogs were caused by burning all that coal in homes and power plants.

The "Great Fog" of 1952 led to so many illnesses and accidents on the roads, that in 1956 Parliament restricted coal use in urban areas, homes converted to "electric fires", and generating stations gradually moved from coal to oil.

Regardless, that is a wonderful film. Thanks!
Tom M.

exactly, in the movie you can't see the towers in the background - likely because of smog not fog as up close everything is crisp. I find the people lining up to wave (at the back of 'gardens' and on bridges) fascinating as it must be the camera - making me wonder if this is part of a bigger project?

 

[Boink]

Terrific stuff. Although the colorization is so-so, I love how they smooth things out with a modern sort of frame rate.
There are similar ones of Paris and New York.

 

[pdplot]

How was that barge propelled? I saw a horse pulling it at a couple of points but there was no towpath for much of the length.

 

[NutmegCT]

How was that barge propelled? I saw a horse pulling it at a couple of points but there was no towpath for much of the length.

Paul - there are several barges shown. One is even a steam-powered barge. There are a couple scenes showing the barge man using a pole to keep the barge moving. Also a scene showing a barge man tossing the horse line back to the barge. I think barges used various means of propulsion as they worked their way through the canals.

Ever hear the expression "Never give up the punt to save the pole"?

Tom M.

 

[pdplot]

Never heard that expression.
We have barges that come into the west branch of Stamford harbor. One got loose a couple of years ago and damaged a lot of boats.

 

[NutmegCT]

He gave up the punt (and his lady and his dog!) to save the pole.

1905

 

[gonzo]

Market Street, San Francisco, 1906 is one busy place to be! What a scene. https://youtu.be/VO_1AdYRGW8

 

[Bob McElwee]

Well, I glad to see driving habits haven't changed! B-)