Going back in time. There was traffic congestion in 1906, too!

A friend sent me this today and I also found it interesting. The way that people crossed the street anywhere
they wanted. The way that cars cut across the street in every direction. At one point there is a car going the
"wrong way" down the right side of the film.

It seems obvious that the camera was very visible as people are all looking at the front of the cable car
and people are running in front of the cable car to get into the picture.

This film was "lost" for many years. It was the first 35mm film ever. It was taken by camera
mounted on the front of a cable car.
One hundred and four years later...and pedestrians haven't changed much.....this runs about seven minutes........also, the slowest vehicle gets in front and then slows down...
The amount of automobiles is staggering for 1906. Absolutely amazing! The clock tower at the end of Market Street at the Embarcaderowharf "San Francisco" is still there. (I'm also wondering ... how many "street cleaning" people were employed to pick up after the horses? Talk about going green!)
Great historical film worth watching.

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. Amazing but true!.