The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello all,

There is a wonderful site on the You Tube which Guy Jones has where he takes very good copies of early silent movie clips and adds sound for terrific effects. The first one I really enjoyed was a view from the front window of a street car in Vancouver I think from around 1909. The sounds of the wheels on the rails, the clang of the bells, the people scurrying across the streets , horses baying, old cars putting along make for wonderfully interesting journey. You can find it on his site.

(I decided to link it also, its a wonderful ride) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp1qWV5OZec

He had joined my Acoustic Edison Chanel some time back and when he wrote to ask permission to add one of my records to a new film about early flight Demonstrations I was happy to say yes. The results to me are pretty surprising. He has a great ear for what goes with what and the piano selection of Constellation Waltz by Franz Falkenburg seems to easily add to what other wise would be a totally quiet film. Even the little changes in the scenes at times seems like they were made to fit the movie to the music. Take a look and if you like his work try some of the many other things he has up, a very historical adventure in reality:

"Flight Demonstration in Amsterdam"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQDoxcRfY90

Larry

That was enjoyable.

Thanks,
James.

Both films were great. I am a member of the EAA so the antique airplanes were especially of interest. The music added a great deal. Thanks for posting this.

Nice trip in a time machine...

larryh wrote: its a wonderful ride) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp1qWV5OZec

Thanks for sharing this. It was fantastic.

Along with collecting early phonographs, early recordings and disc music boxes I have a sincere passion for early silent film 'actuals' which exhibit normal living in those days as it happened, when it happened and where it happened. This one I'd not seen before and was a great example. The added horse hoof sounds and so forth enhance the viewing pleasure. I also have a sincere passion for silent comedy films especially those that feature outdoor scenes with buildings, signs, transportation, store fronts and so forth that also offer a glimpse of living life that time.

Doug

Thanks for the positive comments. I am glad that some have now discovered a great site for a real look at history, unaltered by the filter of time. I too love old photos of settings from the past. As a street car fan I have a wonderful photo my great grandfather took of a St. Charles Mo. Streetcar/interurban getting ready to depart its terminal in Wellston Mo. A suburb of St. Louis. I also enjoy any photos of peoples home and surroundings of the turn of the century in rural america and how it differs from today. I also rode the last run of one of the remaining Street Car lines in St. Louis and recently a fellow posted some videos taken of that run an several others that still remained at the time, my cousin whom I hauled along and was quite young at the time and he is shown in both the videos.. He is in his 60s now.