Synopsis
Scenes shot in Martinez, Contra Costa County, California, on San Pablo Bay, apparently in the late 1920s. Images include: pans over the waterfront; workers at the Bay Specialty Company; the erection of the American Plywood factory; white-collar men exiting a meeting, greeting the camera and tipping their hats; workers at the Martinez Steam Laundry posing; flappers outside another business; entrance to Alhambra Union High School and students leaving; high-school girls in typing class; Martinez Elementary School students passing by the camera; and children involved in a Charlie Chaplin dressalike contest.
Uploader's description on archive.org
Details
- Running time
- 14 minutes
- Collection
- Prelinger Archives
- Internet Archive item
- Martinez1927
Subjects on the Internet Archive
- San Francisco Bay Area: Martinez
- Occupations: Laundry
- Children
Reviews on the Internet Archive
★★★★★ · Clothes and kids are neat! · BigMacPoppa · 2003-01-02
Really interesting for the clothing of the era for work clothes, office clothes, sports clothes, and school clothes. Very clear and predates sound with film. In the football scene, we see the shadow of the camera man moving to make the roll turn! It is really hilarious to see the kids move their Charlie Chaplin mustaches and walk around with oversized shoes.
★★★★ · Where were going, we dont need roads.. · Spuzz · 2005-12-31
Somewhat primitive, it sort of reminded me of the Besse rolls, but this of course was filmed in 1927, so everything was just a tad bit dirtier, of the town of Martinez California. My guess is, is that this was a town that was truly blessed to have the railroad run through it, because, while there may be SOME signs of progress. It still appeared to be a mud and muck kind of town. This was a very interesting reel, as we explore social clubs in the city, the schools football teams, some buildings in town, and the schools. Unfortunately the filmmaker spends a wee bit too MUCH time on the school…