[1930s SILENT HOME MOVIE HUDSON RIVER CRUISE]

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1930s

Color: B&W

Sound: silent

Description: Dating to the 1930s and shot by an unknown filmmaker, this 16mm silent home movie shows a cruise up the Hudson River from Manhattan to what might be the Conklingville Dam. Along the way, the participants go fishing, duck hunting and sight-seeing. Some significant landmarks are seen in the NYC vicinity including the Brooklyn Bridge and Hell Gate Bridge. The voyage continues through the Troy Lock and Dam (built 1915) in the rural Upper Hudson Valley. A group disembarks for a fishing trip. Footage highlights friendship among fishers and the pursuit of retreat as they ruin suit slacks for a chance at a better cast. Images show the Catskill mountain range, the group’s return aboard small motor boat with a bountiful catch, logs floating down the Hudson as part of New York’s logging industry, as well as construction scenes for what is likely the Merriman Dam. The Hudson is a blend of ocean and freshwater making it a fertile ecosystem for an array of bird and fish species. Waters run from Newcomb through the Hudson Valley and into the Atlantic. It’s beauty and rich history have contributed immensely to the culture and fabric of what is New York. The 1930’s were marked by maritime activity and the start of environmental awareness as the river’s health began to deteriorate. It was still a major waterway for trade and transportation. Conklingville Dam on the Sacandaga River: Completed in 1930, this dam created the Great Sacandaga Lake, New York's largest reservoir, primarily for flood protection. Film begins with images of a foggy NYC waterfront. 0:00 A tugboat operates on the Hudson. The Brooklyn Bridge as seen on a cloudy day (:14), opened in May of 1883. Shots show the substructure highlighting the soffit as the filmmaker passes under (:19). A tugboat movies away from Hell Gate Bridge (:44). This runs over a strait of the East River separating Wards Island from Queens. Constructed by the American Bridge Company, it opened in 1917. Sailboats follow (:53), riders tip sails for direction (1:08). Shots aboard the boat show style of travel in the 1930’s. A group converses (1:33). Panoramic shots show a couple on the balcony (2:01), other passengers, tables and the service tray (2:10). A pair in swimsuits lean from the edge of the boat (2:12), he dives in and she follows. A speedboat zips through (2:33). A man holds a carrier pigeon in his hands (2:36). The crew lounges on deck chairs (2:45). The released bird remains close to the group (2:54). The man extends a hand and he grabs the bird again (3:00). Sailboats pass (3:10). A view from behind the bow captures the water and shoreline (3:36). Terrain along the river flattens to sand with sparse tree coverage (3:47). A passenger stands under the lifeboat (4:37) and poses within the hall (4:44). Native birds fly over the water (4:51). They approach the Troy Lock and Dam (4:57) marking the point where the river changes direction. They approach a lock (5:01). A group in suits disembark (5:10) crossing a primitive bridge making for the river to cast in (5:48). A section shows the group throwing lines in (6:20), rigging their poles (6:46), lounging between casts (7:31) and driving a motor boat (8:12). A woman smiles with the group’s fresh catch (8:24). Stunning views sweep the waters and mountains (8:39). Sailors aboard a tugboat pass (8:49). Logs float down as part of the timber industry (9:11). Travelers take another fishing break (9:46). Landscape shots capture three in the water (9:59) and two in a small dingy (10:10). Timber continues to pass (10:21) as a fisher snags a fish (10:26). A speckled waterfowl (11:04) gets personal shots aboard the boat. A man hangs at the bow as they push through rough waters (11:22). The group poses (12:23). It concludes with construction footage for what is likely the Conklingville Dam (12:50) in the Hudson River Valley which was under construction in the 1930’s.

Complete Record: Dating to the 1930s and shot by an unknown filmmaker, this 16mm silent home movie shows a cruise up the Hudson River from Manhattan to what might be the Conklingville Dam. Along the way, the participants go fishing, duck hunting and sight-seeing. Some significant landmarks are seen in the NYC vicinity including the Brooklyn Bridge and Hell Gate Bridge. The voyage continues through the Troy Lock and Dam (built 1915) in the rural Upper Hudson Valley. A group disembarks for a fishing trip. Footage highlights friendship among fishers and the pursuit of retreat as they ruin suit slacks for a chance at a better cast. Images show the Catskill mountain range, the group’s return aboard small motor boat with a bountiful catch, logs floating down the Hudson as part of New York’s logging industry, as well as construction scenes for what is likely the Merriman Dam. The Hudson is a blend of ocean and freshwater making it a fertile ecosystem for an array of bird and fish species. Waters run from Newcomb through the Hudson Valley and into the Atlantic. It’s beauty and rich history have contributed immensely to the culture and fabric of what is New York. The 1930’s were marked by maritime activity and the start of environmental awareness as the river’s health began to deteriorate. It was still a major waterway for trade and transportation. Conklingville Dam on the Sacandaga River: Completed in 1930, this dam created the Great Sacandaga Lake, New York's largest reservoir, primarily for flood protection. Film begins with images of a foggy NYC waterfront. 0:00 A tugboat operates on the Hudson. The Brooklyn Bridge as seen on a cloudy day (:14), opened in May of 1883. Shots show the substructure highlighting the soffit as the filmmaker passes under (:19). A tugboat movies away from Hell Gate Bridge (:44). This runs over a strait of the East River separating Wards Island from Queens. Constructed by the American Bridge Company, it opened in 1917. Sailboats follow (:53), riders tip sails for direction (1:08). Shots aboard the boat show style of travel in the 1930’s. A group converses (1:33). Panoramic shots show a couple on the balcony (2:01), other passengers, tables and the service tray (2:10). A pair in swimsuits lean from the edge of the boat (2:12), he dives in and she follows. A speedboat zips through (2:33). A man holds a carrier pigeon in his hands (2:36). The crew lounges on deck chairs (2:45). The released bird remains close to the group (2:54). The man extends a hand and he grabs the bird again (3:00). Sailboats pass (3:10). A view from behind the bow captures the water and shoreline (3:36). Terrain along the river flattens to sand with sparse tree coverage (3:47). A passenger stands under the lifeboat (4:37) and poses within the hall (4:44). Native birds fly over the water (4:51). They approach the Troy Lock and Dam (4:57) marking the point where the river changes direction. They approach a lock (5:01). A group in suits disembark (5:10) crossing a primitive bridge making for the river to cast in (5:48). A section shows the group throwing lines in (6:20), rigging their poles (6:46), lounging between casts (7:31) and driving a motor boat (8:12). A woman smiles with the group’s fresh catch (8:24). Stunning views sweep the waters and mountains (8:39). Sailors aboard a tugboat pass (8:49). Logs float down as part of the timber industry (9:11). Travelers take another fishing break (9:46). Landscape shots capture three in the water (9:59) and two in a small dingy (10:10). Timber continues to pass (10:21) as a fisher snags a fish (10:26). A speckled waterfowl (11:04) gets personal shots aboard the boat. A man hangs at the bow as they push through rough waters (11:22). The group poses (12:23). It concludes with construction footage for what is likely the Conklingville Dam (12:50) in the Hudson River Valley which was under construction in the 1930’s.