New York City - 100 years ago

[dave lackey]

The start of a new year would not be complete without looking at our past and reflecting on the changes over time.

Here are two links for those of us who have very little knowledge of NYC and its history.

Video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aohXOpKtns0

Then and Now:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XOEYtEkmg-M

Enjoy!:

 

[xayraa33]

Thanks Dave !

Two great videos of New York City, at a time just before income tax was implemented.

Certainly a totally different world than now.

 

[dave lackey]

No idea what impressions others have of these two presentations, but it is astonishing that there are so many ways to look at the City and see that some things have never really changed in the last century.

The overall flow and function remains the same with so many buildings and places fundamentally unchanged. Quite different than a place like where I have lived all my life. It seems that Atlanta has never hesitated to tear down and rebuild as if places over 30 years old were disposable.

It is also very cool to see video from 1911. Never thought about that before!🙂🙂🙂

 

[charjohncarter]

I was surprised at the quality of the movies. I know they were probably reworked but still impressive.

 

[iphoenix]

Video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aohXOpKtns0

Then and Now:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XOEYtEkmg-M

Enjoy!:

I did thoroughly enjoy them Dave; but at the end I had a tear in my eye about some of the beautiful buildings that no longer existed, being replaced by virtual boxes.

Positively though, the "skyrail" has apparently gone, (to be replaced by "underground"?). That is a great improvement.

Think I'll have another look. I'll see if I can compare any images with some stereo pictures I have from the late 1800s.

David

 

[KenR]

Great videos. Did they clean up the streets before they shot the 1911 movies. Not as much horse dung in the streets as I expected.

The second then and now shows light beams flooding into Grand Central whereas they're not there today. Likely due to less indoor pollution - as in nobody smoking indoors anymore. I remember going to Madison Square Garden in the 60s - there was a grey cloud always in the rafters from all of the cigarette smoke. Shows that some things are actually better now.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

I remember going to Madison Square Garden in the 60s - there was a grey cloud always in the rafters from all of the cigarette smoke.
Shows that some things are actually better now.

One might get a "contact high" from the smoke at concerts I attended there in the 1970's...

Chris

 

[robert blu]

it was a long time ago! Great experience to look at these videos. I'll repeat tomorrow!
Thanks for posting these links Dave!
robert

 

[Benjamin Marks]

Like others of you, I find it remarkable that we are entering a time when (for the foreseeable future) there will be a film record of a time 100 years prior to whatever moment you are in. Imagine the film archive available ion 2048! There is something Time After Time-ish about seeing those fixed shadows move. [Shout out to author Jack Finney, here . . .]

Thanks for the links Dave. My Sunday, just got a whole lot more interesting.