San Francisco Earthquake Aftermath, Part 2 (1906)

★★★★★ · Film preservation -- A MUST!!! · Curly · 2003-09-10

If there were ever a reason to push film preservation, it is because of films like this. Motion pictures in their infancy, capturing historical events such as this, must not be left to the ravages of time. Absolutely astounding footage!! If we remember September 11 and recall how life "must go on", we can truly understand the traffic (both foot and vehicle) seen in this film with the horror of the earthquake in the background. This short film shows (at least to me) the resiliency of the human spirit. A fine, fine, piece of history as it happened.

★★★★★ · But note the third film on that subject · JanPB · 2003-11-16

I thought I'd mention here that the "companion piece" to the "Trip down Market Street" is not really this film but the film "SanFranc1906_3" (in movies03.archive.org/2/movies/SanFranc1906_3). Obviously shot by the same person as "TripDown1905", it retraces the same exact slow route down Market St. up to the Ferry Bldg. Amazing stuff and there is hardly any picture roll. That film also has the camera travel down a couple more ghostly streets.

★★★★★ · Wonderful · The Sound Hound · 2003-10-01

This is a great contrast to the 1905 film of going down Market Street. Though I'd be more inclined to call Hurricane Andrew the worst natural disaster in US history, this earthquake certainly is up there and it is certainly a blessing that a film such as this could be preserved.

★★★★★ · The mighty earthquake could not stop the people · dougd52 · 2004-02-15

I second the previous reviewers comment that this film is an eloquent statement that film images such as this need to be saved. Never have I seen anything about the '06 quake that brought it to life for me such as this did. Pretty awesome stuff

★★★★ · Strangely funny · 50dinbot · 2003-03-21

Although the SF earthquake was certainly one of the worst (if not THE WORST) natural disaster in the history of the US, I couldn't help but be amused at the spectacle of such formally dressed people walking down the street in such dire circumstances. The men are, almost without exception, in their coats and ties, bowler or derby hats, and often with their walking canes in hand, and their wives beside them are wearing those long dresses and elaborate hats so fashionable in the early part of the century. They all look so relaxed and so well attired as they laconically stroll along amongst the…