Old film of New York City in the year 1911. Print has survived in mint condition. Slowed down footage to a natural rate and added in sound for ambiance. This film was taken by the Swedish company Svenska Biografteatern on a trip to America.
What do you see?
Some things I saw:
-
- It’s a bit hard to tell but there doesn’t seem to be the problem with obesity that we have today. And I thought people walked with better posture.
- Most people walking around are men. Where are the women?
- Almost everyone is wearing a hat.
- Lots of pollution, from everything. The air doesn’t even look breathable in places.
- Very formal dressing. Even the young boys (no girls?) running around are wearing suit coats.
- People walk in the street as they do the sidewalk. Well, things don’t move in the street very quickly anyway. People are literally walking out in front of cars, in a relaxed manner.
- The street has to accommodate horse and buggy, buses, trolleys, and cars all at once.
- The structures are incredible … ferries, elevated trains, tall buildings. The human labor involved in all of that, compared to today, must have been enormous.
Fanatic Cook 
That’s wonderful!!!! Have always loved the Flatiron Building, as well as watching very old films like this. Thank you!
LikeLike
Some things I saw:
It’s a bit hard to tell but there doesn’t seem to be the problem with obesity that we have today. And I thought people walked with better posture.
Most people walking around are men. Where are the women?
Almost everyone is wearing a hat.
Lots of pollution, from everything. The air doesn’t even look breathable in places.
Very formal dressing. Even the young boys (no girls?) running around are wearing suit coats.
People walk in the street as they do the sidewalk. Well, things don’t move in the street very quickly anyway. People are literally walking out in front of cars, in a relaxed manner.
The street has to accommodate horse and buggy, buses, trolleys, and cars all at once.
The structures are incredible … ferries, elevated trains, tall buildings. The human labor involved in all of that, compared to today, must have been enormous.
LikeLike