Fascinating video of San Francisco in 1906 - 4 days before earthquake

104 YEAR OLD FILM CLIP of a cable car ride in San Francisco

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.  The number of automobiles is staggering for 1906. Absolutely amazing! The clock tower at the end of Market Street at the Embarcadero wharf is still there.

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 and actual weather and conditions on historical record, even when the cars (he also knows who owned them and when the plates were issued) were registered.  It was filmed only four days before the Great California Earthquake of April 18th, 1906 and shipped by train to New York for processing.  Amazing but true.