THEN AND NOW

Year Published: 1930s

Description: This documentary THEN AND NOW was a Warner Brothers and Vitaphone production. It was probably made between the years of 1926-1931 because Vitaphone was a sound system used during that period. The commentator was Knox Manning, an American film actor. This documentary is about the changing methods of transportation through history. The film begins showing a person walking to get from one place to another (0.21-.34). The commentator discusses how humans search for the shortest and fastest way to get around. The Pony Express, started by the Leavenworth & Pike’s Peak Express co. in 1859 (0.35-0.45), is shown. During this period, settlers were moving west, using the Conestoga or covered wagon or riding horses (0.46-0.57). Prairie Schooners were called that because they looked like sailing ships. The Overland Stage on the Overland Trail was most heavily used by paying customers in the 1860’s and was owned by Ben Holladay (1.08-1.11). Back east, horses were everywhere. More influential people used the Coach-and-four (1.12-1.23) as well as a Cabbie/Cabby (1.24-1.27). A cabbie was first used in New York in the early 1900’s by the Electric Vehicle Company. The 1890’s produced the Junk Wagon (1.28-1.32). These days also produced the Organ Grinder and his monkeys (1.33-1.41). The Horse Drawn Fire Engine was seen in the cities starting the mid 1800’s ((1.42-1.48). The Sight Seeing Bus of the early 1900’s, started by the Gray Lines (1.49-1.59). In winter, people took leisurely Sleigh rides (2.00-2.14). From the 1820’s to 1880’s horse drawn Streetcars or Horsecars were used (2.15-2.30). Early Limousines or Limoges would drop wealthy patrons off on Broadway in New York (2.31-2.43). For those who were not wealthy, they used the Open-air Streetcar (2.44-2.53). City streets were becoming very crowded. To avoid cluttering the streets, Elevated Streetcars, or El Rails, were developed using electricity instead of horses (2.54-3.14). From running above the ground, humans began moving below. The Manhattan/New York subway was opened in 1904 (3.15-3.28). In the 1830’s, steam began to be used. The Steam car was developed and tested by the B&O railroad in 1828 (3.29-3.37). Early train locomotives were developed (3.38-3.44). Freight trains were developed (4.03-4.19). As the railroad progressed, new, intricate and powerful mechanisms were developed (4.20-4.31). Scenes are shown of the power of the engines puffing their steam and black smoke over bridges and through tunnels (4.32-4.55). The Streamliner was developed to have less air resistance (4.56-5.20).The horse was disappearing and automobiles were taking their place. The gasoline engine was developed for the Horseless carriage. Often, cranks were used to start these Gasoline Buggies (5.22-5.38). Runabouts were developed (5.39-5.45), Automobiles tires went from metal rings, to solid rubber, to inflatable tires. With inflatable tires, also came flat tires (5.57-6.01). On a Sunday afternoon in the city, there could be a maze of traffic with the air full of smog (6.48-7.02), but three decades later, the street is full of cars every day, not just Sundays (7.03-7.20).Not only the streets were getting crowded, so were the skies. In 1903, Wilbur & Orville Wright flew the first “kite with a motor”. The plane had two stacked wings and it was named the Wright Flyer or Flyer I (7.20-7.52). On September 13, 1939, the first practical air machine, running by lift and thrust supplied by rotors, was developed. The developer was Igor Sikorsky and the helicopter was the VS300 (7.53-8.00). The next to be developed was the Monoplane, a fixed wing design with one main wing. It was the plane of choice for Amelia Earhart who flew one in 1928, and Wiley Post who flew one in 1933 (8.01-8.14). Prior to World War II, the tri-motored Mail Plane was used. The first Airmail contract was signed in 1911 (8.15-8.25). The first twinjet ever flown was in 1941 (8.26-8.36). The Clipper ship or Sea Plane was developed to carry troops for World War II. It could travel along the ocean, carrying passengers in a convenient mode of transportation (8.37-9.04). Scenes of a plane flying over a bridge and the land (9.05-9.26). The question must be asked, What next will man discover? (9.28-9.34)

Complete Record: This documentary THEN AND NOW was a Warner Brothers and Vitaphone production. It was probably made between the years of 1926-1931 because Vitaphone was a sound system used during that period. The commentator was Knox Manning, an American film actor. This documentary is about the changing methods of transportation through history. The film begins showing a person walking to get from one place to another (0.21-.34). The commentator discusses how humans search for the shortest and fastest way to get around. The Pony Express, started by the Leavenworth & Pike’s Peak Express co. in 1859 (0.35-0.45), is shown. During this period, settlers were moving west, using the Conestoga or covered wagon or riding horses (0.46-0.57). Prairie Schooners were called that because they looked like sailing ships. The Overland Stage on the Overland Trail was most heavily used by paying customers in the 1860’s and was owned by Ben Holladay (1.08-1.11). Back east, horses were everywhere. More influential people used the Coach-and-four (1.12-1.23) as well as a Cabbie/Cabby (1.24-1.27). A cabbie was first used in New York in the early 1900’s by the Electric Vehicle Company. The 1890’s produced the Junk Wagon (1.28-1.32). These days also produced the Organ Grinder and his monkeys (1.33-1.41). The Horse Drawn Fire Engine was seen in the cities starting the mid 1800’s ((1.42-1.48). The Sight Seeing Bus of the early 1900’s, started by the Gray Lines (1.49-1.59). In winter, people took leisurely Sleigh rides (2.00-2.14). From the 1820’s to 1880’s horse drawn Streetcars or Horsecars were used (2.15-2.30). Early Limousines or Limoges would drop wealthy patrons off on Broadway in New York (2.31-2.43). For those who were not wealthy, they used the Open-air Streetcar (2.44-2.53). City streets were becoming very crowded. To avoid cluttering the streets, Elevated Streetcars, or El Rails, were developed using electricity instead of horses (2.54-3.14). From running above the ground, humans began moving below. The Manhattan/New York subway was opened in 1904 (3.15-3.28). In the 1830’s, steam began to be used. The Steam car was developed and tested by the B&O railroad in 1828 (3.29-3.37). Early train locomotives were developed (3.38-3.44). Freight trains were developed (4.03-4.19). As the railroad progressed, new, intricate and powerful mechanisms were developed (4.20-4.31). Scenes are shown of the power of the engines puffing their steam and black smoke over bridges and through tunnels (4.32-4.55). The Streamliner was developed to have less air resistance (4.56-5.20).The horse was disappearing and automobiles were taking their place. The gasoline engine was developed for the Horseless carriage. Often, cranks were used to start these Gasoline Buggies (5.22-5.38). Runabouts were developed (5.39-5.45), Automobiles tires went from metal rings, to solid rubber, to inflatable tires. With inflatable tires, also came flat tires (5.57-6.01). On a Sunday afternoon in the city, there could be a maze of traffic with the air full of smog (6.48-7.02), but three decades later, the street is full of cars every day, not just Sundays (7.03-7.20).Not only the streets were getting crowded, so were the skies. In 1903, Wilbur & Orville Wright flew the first “kite with a motor”. The plane had two stacked wings and it was named the Wright Flyer or Flyer I (7.20-7.52). On September 13, 1939, the first practical air machine, running by lift and thrust supplied by rotors, was developed. The developer was Igor Sikorsky and the helicopter was the VS300 (7.53-8.00). The next to be developed was the Monoplane, a fixed wing design with one main wing. It was the plane of choice for Amelia Earhart who flew one in 1928, and Wiley Post who flew one in 1933 (8.01-8.14). Prior to World War II, the tri-motored Mail Plane was used. The first Airmail contract was signed in 1911 (8.15-8.25). The first twinjet ever flown was in 1941 (8.26-8.36). The Clipper ship or Sea Plane was developed to carry troops for World War II. It could travel along the ocean, carrying passengers in a convenient mode of transportation (8.37-9.04). Scenes of a plane flying over a bridge and the land (9.05-9.26). The question must be asked, What next will man discover? (9.28-9.34)

Transcription

[Music] since man first discovered that he could by the simple expedient of putting one foot in front of the other move from here to there he has forever sought ways to reach his destination in the shortest time possible and with the idea of getting somewhere in a hurry the Pony Express Rider ushered in a new era of Transportation this fellow rode hundreds of miles swam rivers and fought Indians just so the folks out west could get a letter from Aunt Minnie the old kogas commonly known as the covered wagons were the trailers of yesterday a hitchhiker well maybe times haven't changed so much after all PR Schooner Transportation was used to Pioneer the west and the Deep ruts made by the heavy iron rimmed Wheels can still be seen across the Prairies and the mountains and the desert the Overland stage carried paying passengers and express and would you believe it the father of the American Stage Coach is this looking Affair a coach and four no less used on the continent long before the Indians ever saw their first paale face we might call this buggy with the cabbie one of New York's first taxes and of of course the junk wagon came along as soon as folks began to throw away yesterday's newspapers speaking of Transportation you see that little fell on top he rides around town takes it easy while Tony give [Music] aush but then as now A fire is something to get to in a hurry now here's something interesting one of the first sightseeing buses on record well that's very interesting now we've seen and heard [Music] everything there's no music in the world more lovely than the merry jingle of old-fashioned sleigh bells and the clear crisp air of a wintry day a scene like that brings back memory huh the hor drawn Street was at the time a miracle of Transportation here the first strap hangers met to discuss jnel Sullivan's chances in the big fight of course when they came to a hill everybody had to get out and push in the meantime time all went smoothly as long as dobin had his head and this looks like a Broadway first night those fancy forerunners of the modern limousine delivering the elite at the door are barou cabs no less what no autographs but it being summer these lovelies came on the open air street car punch my ticket Mr Conductor if they are cute but when the streets got too crowded man figured he could get from here to there somewhat quicker if he rode up above the traffic so the elevated came into being highways of Steel that flashed by Windows three and four stories above the ground a monument to man's Ingenuity and then what happened they weren't satisfied so they went down under the ground too Subways miles of tunnels arteries of rolling trains beneath [Music] Manhattan in 1830 this monstrous demon appeared it nearly scared the cows to death that fell who ran ahead's probably going to shoot one off the track now here's another old number those open air coaches in the back give a swell view for an Excursion this train came along at the turn of the century take a gander at that headlight it's big enough for the opening of a Hollywood Supermarket look at the wood pile in the tender car that that fireman did a lot of chopping boy after you got home from a trip like that you had to comb the Cinders out of your hair a far cry from the Old Stage Coach days this is the first fast Freight going to wear that Bell out if they're not careful well the engines got bigger and more powerful until this happened intricate as the workings of a watch powerful as a tornado a tribute to man's mechanical genius the old covered wagons took many months to cross the mountain but this modern freight train with two engines does the job in a day and here's the latest thing on Rails modern is tomorrow the Streamliner here she [Music] comes there she goes get to load of this one of the first gasoline buggies and they aren't going to a costume party either dusters and goggles were what the well-dressed motorist wore in those days the first oneman top hey he gets in the hard way don't these Contraptions ever get started ah get a horse Mister then and now a flat tire is still a flat [Music] tire ah but to the boys out for a ride pardon me they're going for a beer here's a fellow and his girl in a sporty job wouldn't it be nice if they could all take a ride there's no room hey what's this how do you like that a rumble seat in front maybe the engine's [Music] missing notice the family entrance in the rear this fellow looks like he knew his business maybe we'll really get [Music] going all okay they're off you could have fooled me look at them a veritable Maze of traffic on a sunny Sunday afternoon that one man top still kills me and here's what happened three short decades later not just on a Sunday afternoon but any day in the week on Fifth Avenue millions of people still trying to get somewhere in the [Music] hurry the right Brothers came along and found a new way to get from here to there but it flies and the imagination of all mankind went soaring on newfound Wings believe you me a fellow was pretty brave in those days to sit out in front of those flimsy wings and that sputtering motor but did we ever imagine that these kites with motors as they were called in those days would be used for such purposes as man has this day devised watch closely you're seeing one of the first helicopters up it goes and and we mean straight up monoplanes of this type were responsible for many famous flying records Chamberlain Amelia aart Wy post and others flew ships similar to this [Music] one the Pony Express Rider would have been amazed to see this United States mail plane Tri motored all metal this machine received one of the first air mail contracts the twin motor transcontinental ship was later development well maybe they found out that two Motors were enough to carry you from California to New York in less than a single day but dwarfing all achievements in man's Quest To Conquer space are the giant clipper ships which fly broad expenses of ocean just think of it you can board one of these flying hotels eat and sleep as comfortably as in your own home and play bridge with your fellow passengers while flying halfway around the world no no longer is distance measured by miles but by oceans and continents then and now who can tell what future manner or means man will contrive to reach his destination in the least possible time thus man in each new age is a Pioneer perhaps in some future year racing through the stratosphere faster than the light of day man May outrace time itself what's next who can tell the

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