Over route of Roosevelt parade in an automobile /

This film is a review by automobile of the arrival parade route of President Theodore Roosevelt, on Tuesday, May 12, 1903. The film was shot from about 2:10 pm to 2:15 pm (shortly before the 3 pm parade) and shows street and building decorations and excited crowds. The portion of the route shown is in the heart of the downtown business district. The later portion of the route is shown in the film "Market Street Before Parade" (1903). Passing northwest up Third Street, the automobile turns northeast onto Market Street, then north onto Montgomery Street. After a cut, the driver has made the first left turn from Montgomery Street and is half a block west on Sutter Street. The driver turns south from Sutter to Kearny Street, and crosses Post Street en route to Market Street. Having come "full circle," the driver turns right (southwest) onto Market Street and continues along Market to the Grant/O'Farrell streets intersection (at right).
The following is a scene-by-scene description of the film: [Frame: 0105] The car heads northwest up Third Street from Mission Street. The Winchester Hotel is at near left and the Call Building is beyond, at the left corner. The Mutual Savings Bank is across Market Street, at the center, and the blank wall of the Hearst Building is at the right, opposite the Call Building. [0828] The first of many street sweepers is seen, as a policeman patrols the crowd at right. [1096] The view is across into Kearny Street as the car approaches Market Street. [1349] Swinging right into Market Street, we see the stone-faced Chronicle Building, with Lotta's Fountain at right, the 1875 gift of California actress Lotta Crabtree. [1575] The camera passes behind a Castro Street cable car. The line ran from 20th Street, near Fairmount Hill, north on Castro Street to Market Street, then down Market to the Ferry Building. [1680] The opulent Palace Hotel is at the center. [2090] The car approaches the intersection of Montgomery, Post, and New Montgomery streets. At left are the Crocker Building and Union Trust Building (white base); at right are the Grand Hotel and the Palace Hotel. [2644] The Union Trust Building is at left; the Hobart Building adjacent to it at right. [2768] Working through the crowd, the auto enters Montgomery Street, the "Wall Street West" of later years. [2918] The scaffold at right indicates a building under construction. [3222] After a double cut in the continuity of the film, the driver has made the first left turn from Montgomery Street and is half way up Sutter Street. [3400] The street clock at right reads 2:14. Several businesses set up street clocks for the convenience of patrons. [3538] The view is west up Sutter Street to a horsecar stopped behind the crowd. [3676] The car turns left (south) into Kearny Street (note the stray dog) and heads across Post Street [4318] - a very rough ride. [4938] Note the water wagon at left, and several street sweepers in the intersection. [5014] Looking across Market Street, the camera comes full circle - the Hearst Building (left), the Winchester Hotel (center), and the Call Building (right) come into view again. [5368] The driver turns right (southwest) into Market Street, past a flag-decked cable car and the decorated portal of the Call Building. [5603] A small traffic jam is encountered. [5741] Men, perhaps reporters, climb into a wagon. [5800] The Phelan Building at Market and O'Farrell (and Grant) streets is at right center.
H32391 U.S. Copyright Office
Copyright: American Mutoscope & Biograph Co.; 4Jun1903; H32391.
Duration: 3:23 at 15 fps.
Camera, H.J. Miles.
One of several films taken during President Theodore Roosevelt's visit to San Francisco on May 12-14, 1903 as part of his presidential tour of the West in 1903.
Biograph production no. 2372.
Paper print shelf number (LC 2114) was changed when the paper prints were re-housed.
Additional holdings for this title may be available. Contact reference librarian.
Photographed: May 12, 1903. Location: San Francisco, California.
The entry for this film in Niver's Early motion pictures gives the date May 26, 1903, but does not indicate that the film was actually photographed on that day. Research indicates that May 26 is the date information about the film was entered into the Biograph production log.
Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as digital files.
Sources used: Niver, K. Early motion pictures, p. 234; The Boston herald, 5/13/1903, p. 11 viewed online via Newsbank/Readix database, June 4, 2014; Biograph production logs, v. 1, 1899-1903; Biograph bulletins, 1896-1908, p. 83.
Early motion pictures : the Paper Print Collection in the Library of Congress / by Kemp R. Niver. Library of Congress. 1985.