Scenes in San Francisco, [no. 1] /

Views and pans among the ruins of San Francisco after the earthquake and fire. A scene-by-scene description of the film: [Frame: 0100] The camera, positioned at the southwest corner of Mission and 5th streets, makes a hurried and jerky pan from the east side of 5th Street eastward to the south side of Mission Street. At the start of the pan, the ruined Lincoln School building is seen, with the dark profile of the Flood Building behind it on Market Street. The camera pans right on a long row of windows in the ruined west wall of the Emporium department store [0130]. The tent in the foreground is probably a temporary "office" of the business formerly on the site. The pan continues further right and looks northeast down Mission Street. [0338] The Rialto Building stands in the distance. The camera pans farther right, to another tent and a sign -- "Safes opened 105 5th Street" [0420]. Many safes fused shut in the heat of the fire and others had to be cooled for weeks before being opened. [0441] The camera is at the southwest corner of 4th and Market streets, looking northeast across Market Street in afternoon light. The Mutual Savings Bank (two blank walls) is in the background at Geary/Kearny and Market streets. The street traffic is part of the afternoon commute down Market Street to the Ferry Building. [1638] The camera captures a traffic jam on Market Street. The view is probably north, across Market Street just east of California Street. [1835] The view is northwest, near the southwest corner of East and Market streets, just west of the Ferry Building. [2075] In the hazy background are Nob Hill and the south slope of Russian Hill (right). [2135] The view is approximately the same as the previous segment, with a streetcar beginning its run up Market Street. In the hazy distance unburnt dwellings on the summit of Russian Hill are visible. Nob Hill is in the distance, with the rectangular silhouette of the Fairmont Hotel. [3000] In this very brief scene the camera focuses on workers removing debris. The view is east on Mission Street between 4th and 3rd streets, just east of St. Patrick's Church, part of which is visible at left. [3075] The camera pans to show the demolition of the facade of St. Patrick's Church. The camera is southwest of the church on Mission Street between 4th and 3rd streets. After a brief view of ruins along Market Street, the camera pans right (eastward) past two men near a fire engine [3270], to the church facade being demolished [3957]. A cameraman is seen in the foreground, photographing the film titled San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, April 18, 1906.
H77925 U.S. Copyright Office
Copyright: American Mutoscope & Biograph Company; 19May1906; H77925.
Camera, Otis M. Gove.
Duration: 2:14 at 15 fps.
According to Biograph bulletins 1896-1908, the original length of the 35 mm. print was 140 feet.
Biograph production no. 3171.
Paper print shelf number (LC 2180) was changed when the paper prints were re-housed.
Additional holdings for this title may be available. Contact reference librarian.
Photographed: May 9, 1906. Location: Market and Mission streets, San Francisco, California.
Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as digital files.
Sources used: Niver, K. Early motion pictures, p. 288; Biograph bulletins 1896-1908, p. 276; Biograph production logs, v. 2, p. 68.
Early motion pictures : the Paper Print Collection in the Library of Congress / by Kemp R. Niver. Library of Congress. 1985.
35 mm viewing print renumbered: FEB 5464 to FYA 1552.
35 mm dupe neg pic renumbered: FPE 6843 to FZA 2610.