joeintexas
US Veteran
Enjoyed both films. You could almost put yourself there among all those folks.
A step back in time to 1911...
- Thread starter PALADIN85020
- Start date
My Grandfather, who lived with us, wore bowler hats in the winter and the straw Boater in the summer, There was a specific date, maybe the first day of summer, when they all changed to the boater and it was frowned upon to be wearing a "winter" hat after that date. He also wore a 3 piece suit and bow tie every day of his life. I don't think he ever owned any "casual" clothing. Around home he sometimes took his coat and vest off, but seldom the tie.
Doing research for my dissertation, which was on a riot that happened in 1905 in Tokyo, I learned a bit about the city back then.
One of the bits of trivia that has stayed with me was that it was not uncommon for streetcar riders to stick their heads out of the windows — too hot inside? Wanted to check where they were? — and be decapitated by the poles holding up the overhead electric lines...
(Would be a bit of a shock to be out for a stroll, step back for a passing street car, and plop! A head at your feet!)
One of the bits of trivia that has stayed with me was that it was not uncommon for streetcar riders to stick their heads out of the windows — too hot inside? Wanted to check where they were? — and be decapitated by the poles holding up the overhead electric lines...
(Would be a bit of a shock to be out for a stroll, step back for a passing street car, and plop! A head at your feet!)
Murphy's Law
Member
I truly enjoyed the clips of the olden days. Thanks for sharing.
Very interesting films both of them, I do notice one thing, seems like all the motor vehicles in both films are right hand drive, and yet most are driven on the right side just like we do now, I'm guessing there isn't much traffic rules in those days, anyone know when do we mandated left hand drive?
1 word: hats
Thanks, John!
Jerry
Thanks, John!
Jerry
Enjoyable film. I view a lot of old stills on Perfect Life site on
You Tube. I have never been in NYC nor do I want to go there
but I enjoy the old pics & films.
You Tube. I have never been in NYC nor do I want to go there
but I enjoy the old pics & films.
Fishslayer
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
Awesome video. Thanks for sharing. I subscribed to his channel. Looks like he has more.
Thanks, John. What a treat to see a film actually shot back then, and not just a modern made historical film attempting to recreate the era.
Very cool.
Best Regards, Les
Very cool.
Best Regards, Les
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Great stuff. I love watching that family in the car trapped behind the moving camera, on what appears to be a tram. The chauffeur seems to be having fun, but the others don't look sure what to make of the camera pointed at them 
And the soundtrack added to the authentic atmosphere; quite an improvement over the customary hectic piano music (played live in the early film theaters) that tended to emphasize the original jerky character of the early films
Most people don't realize how far the availability of portable sound recording equipment lagged behind portable film cameras. That did not really take off until after WW II. It's surprising how many people are not aware that there was basically no live battle sound recording in WW II; every cannon and machine gun firing you've ever heard in History Channel documentaries, every bomb whistling, every radial aircraft engine rumbling, came from the sound libraries of the Hollywood studios which did the editing work on the newsreels before their release.
And the soundtrack added to the authentic atmosphere; quite an improvement over the customary hectic piano music (played live in the early film theaters) that tended to emphasize the original jerky character of the early films
Most people don't realize how far the availability of portable sound recording equipment lagged behind portable film cameras. That did not really take off until after WW II. It's surprising how many people are not aware that there was basically no live battle sound recording in WW II; every cannon and machine gun firing you've ever heard in History Channel documentaries, every bomb whistling, every radial aircraft engine rumbling, came from the sound libraries of the Hollywood studios which did the editing work on the newsreels before their release.
Attachments
Off topic, but at the brunch on Mother's day I was the only one wearing a sport jacket and a Fedora hat..... 
Us old guys are few it seems.
Us old guys are few it seems.
DWalt
Member
"My Grandfather, who lived with us, wore bowler hats in the winter and the straw Boater in the summer, There was a specific date, maybe the first day of summer, when they all changed to the boater and it was frowned upon to be wearing a "winter" hat after that date."
At one time, Memorial Day (AKA Decoration Day) was the start of wearing "Summer" clothing. I am not sure of the date when wearing "Winter" clothing started. I think maybe after Labor Day?
At one time, Memorial Day (AKA Decoration Day) was the start of wearing "Summer" clothing. I am not sure of the date when wearing "Winter" clothing started. I think maybe after Labor Day?
Last edited:
I wonder what happened to the horse droppings. Did they just let them lie? Must of been lots of flies.
UncleEd
Member
New York City did not and does not have flies. Sheesh!
DWalt
Member
Didn't you ever see pictures of J. P. Morgan or President Taft? And Teddy Roosevelt didn't look much like Twiggy.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Indeed. At the risk of sounding like a socialist, this may indeed have to do with the bigger gap between the wealthy and the middle and working classes during the “Gilded Age”.
The rich could “eat all they can eat”, but for the rest there wasn’t a dollar menu at McDonald’s yet.
UncleEd
Member
Indeed. At the risk of sounding like a socialist, this may indeed have to do with the bigger gap between the wealthy and the middle and working classes during the “Gilded Age”.
The rich could “eat all they can eat”, but for the rest there wasn’t a dollar menu at McDonald’s yet.
Now there is still a gap, apparently, and the "working classes"
are fat but the super rich with better modern diets are
thin and skip the dollar menu.
