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San Francisco on film: Days before the 1906 quake

October 16, 2010 12:12 PM

Take a trip back in time. This 11-minute reel of film, shot from a cable car on Market Street, captures a city full of life and promise-which was destroyed only days later in the great earthquake of 1906.

60 Minutes OverTimeSan Francisco on Film: Days Before the 1906 Quake

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by bofusmosby March 24, 2013 3:12 AM EDT
This film MUST have been very important to the City Fathers. If you notice, the city must have had those with automobiles keep riding past the camera, so the "entire world" would think that this city was on the cutting edge, with all the modern convienences. Notice that the automobiles keep making a circle, and keep going back in front of the camera. If you look for any automobiles anywhere else, you see very few. You also keep seeing the same automobiles, time and time again. A great glimps into a moment in time!
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by LindaJeanLimesEllis December 30, 2011 11:30 AM EST
This touching real life glimpse, takes us back to April, 1906 before an earthquake destroyed all of the lives, in one way or another, that we see parading across the screen. Talk about reality viewing; this is most certainly it. One wonders how many people survived the earthquake, but at least for that day, they led a life uninterrupted by such catastrophe. I doubt the background music we hear now was even written back then, but it has a haunting "Titanic quality" about it that perfectly sets the serious and somber tone that is appropriate for this film.
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by teacher36870 December 29, 2011 11:44 PM EST
This was very moving as we see people living ordinary lives so close to disaster. Interesting to see bicycles, pedestrians, horse-drawn wagons, trolley cars, automobiles all mingled together on the street! It's a wonder there weren't accidents; no speed involved. What surprised me was the number of quite tall buildings and how sophisticated the city was. What a shame to have it destroyed so soon. Beautiful music also. Touching. Thank you, CBS!
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by detroitgirl_17 September 18, 2011 12:23 PM EDT
Every person, man, woman or child has a hat. As I watched this again, I have to ask, how could there not be numerous accidents? Horse drawn wagons and automobiles and pedestrians without any traffic signs, lights or even a traffic cop.
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by r2008m July 17, 2011 3:49 PM EDT
I do not get the TV station on my Comcast subscription.
I listen on the Radio each week.
If 60 Minutes does any streaming, please send me the website.
thank you
rm
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by webwiser00 July 11, 2011 6:19 PM EDT
I Love This, Being born and raised here in San Francisco I Wish To Be Able To Download This Film As A Screensaver!
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by mike9107 July 11, 2011 1:52 PM EDT
Thank you.

How can I get a copy of this?
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by skelley78 January 9, 2011 2:43 PM EST
and after... http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/San_Francisco_in_ruin_edit2.jpg
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by skelley78 January 9, 2011 2:42 PM EST
and after http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/San_Francisco_in_ruin_edit2.jpg
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by mxfrank2001 October 24, 2010 8:45 PM EDT
Does anyone know what music piece this is set to?
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