Historian David Kiehn traces old Bay Area films
David Kiehn has spent most of his life working in film-related jobs. But it wasn't until he made a remarkable discovery - and was featured on "60 Minutes" - that anyone outside the film community took notice.
For years, Kiehn knew about "A Trip Down Market Street," a 12-minute silent film, shot in San Francisco from a cable car. The Library of Congress dated the film to 1905, but Kiehn suspected otherwise. Studying weather reports, vehicle registration records and show-biz trade publications, he discovered that "Market Street" was in fact shot four days before the great earthquake of April 18, 1906.
Suddenly, the film took on a haunting poignancy: We now look at the San Francisco newsboys, the carriage jockeys and the women in elaborate hats, and know that many will soon be dead....
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For years, Kiehn knew about "A Trip Down Market Street," a 12-minute silent film, shot in San Francisco from a cable car. The Library of Congress dated the film to 1905, but Kiehn suspected otherwise. Studying weather reports, vehicle registration records and show-biz trade publications, he discovered that "Market Street" was in fact shot four days before the great earthquake of April 18, 1906.
Suddenly, the film took on a haunting poignancy: We now look at the San Francisco newsboys, the carriage jockeys and the women in elaborate hats, and know that many will soon be dead....