Speed Graphic Film and Video | 3rd AVE. EL (Carson Davidson, 1955) @SpeedGraphicFilmVideo | Uploaded February 2019 | Updated October 2024, 1 hour ago.
Carson Davidson (1924-2016) made this short film of the Third Avenue Elevated in 1955, the year it was torn down. It's a loving tribute to a New York icon, stitched together with the first movement of Haydn's Keyboard Concerto No. 11, played by Wanda Landowska. The film was nominated for an Academy award in the short subjects category.
Carson Davidson, who was involved with film and filmmaking all his life, wrote about "3rd Ave. El":
"After three years involved with World War II and four involved with Antioch College, Carson Davidson arrived in New York bent on making films. Usual story – washing dishes at a Bickford’s Cafeteria by night, knocking on producers’ doors by day. Finally a job with a jaunty outfit called Dynamic Films, doing whatever needed doing. Nobody actually taught him anything, but they answered questions cheerfully, and that’s all that’s really needed.
"Fascinated by the 3rd Ave El, he borrowed a company camera and started shooting in his spare time. The resultant film was turned down by every distributor in New York except the last on the list, a crazy Russian who then owned the Paris Theater. He paid for blowing it up to 35 mm and played it for seven months along with an Alec Guinness feature. Actually put the short subject on the marquee—unheard-of then or now.
"Academy Award Nomination in 1955, Golden Reel (highest award) American Film Assembly, Diploma of Merit (highest award) Edinburgh Intl Festival, Chris Award Columbus Film Festival. Music was Haydn’s Concerto in D, played by harpsichordist Wanda Landowska. Davidson was a great fan of Landowska, and the rights to the music were held by HMV, who told the filmmaker that he could use the music, provided Landowska gave her approval. Through her secretary, Davidson discovered that Landowska distrusted filmmakers, had only seen one film in her life (which she disliked), but nevertheless "snapped up an offer of $200, all the money I had at the time," says Davidson."
This print comes from the Prelinger Collection at the Internet Archive (archive.org/details/prelinger)
Carson Davidson (1924-2016) made this short film of the Third Avenue Elevated in 1955, the year it was torn down. It's a loving tribute to a New York icon, stitched together with the first movement of Haydn's Keyboard Concerto No. 11, played by Wanda Landowska. The film was nominated for an Academy award in the short subjects category.
Carson Davidson, who was involved with film and filmmaking all his life, wrote about "3rd Ave. El":
"After three years involved with World War II and four involved with Antioch College, Carson Davidson arrived in New York bent on making films. Usual story – washing dishes at a Bickford’s Cafeteria by night, knocking on producers’ doors by day. Finally a job with a jaunty outfit called Dynamic Films, doing whatever needed doing. Nobody actually taught him anything, but they answered questions cheerfully, and that’s all that’s really needed.
"Fascinated by the 3rd Ave El, he borrowed a company camera and started shooting in his spare time. The resultant film was turned down by every distributor in New York except the last on the list, a crazy Russian who then owned the Paris Theater. He paid for blowing it up to 35 mm and played it for seven months along with an Alec Guinness feature. Actually put the short subject on the marquee—unheard-of then or now.
"Academy Award Nomination in 1955, Golden Reel (highest award) American Film Assembly, Diploma of Merit (highest award) Edinburgh Intl Festival, Chris Award Columbus Film Festival. Music was Haydn’s Concerto in D, played by harpsichordist Wanda Landowska. Davidson was a great fan of Landowska, and the rights to the music were held by HMV, who told the filmmaker that he could use the music, provided Landowska gave her approval. Through her secretary, Davidson discovered that Landowska distrusted filmmakers, had only seen one film in her life (which she disliked), but nevertheless "snapped up an offer of $200, all the money I had at the time," says Davidson."
This print comes from the Prelinger Collection at the Internet Archive (archive.org/details/prelinger)
![Old Home Movies, Vol. VI: Through the Canadian Rockies by Train [Silent]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zAIkBwg8AMw/hqdefault.jpg "Old Home Movies, Vol. VI: Through the Canadian Rockies by Train [Silent]
This video brings together three photographers movies of the Canadian Rockies and the Canadian Pacific Railroad. The oldest scenes were probably taken in the mid-1930s; the newest in the late 50s or early 60s.
The first sequence is from the Medicus collection, taken by a family that could afford to travel and vacation in style, even in the midst of the Great Depression. On this trip, they take the train to Lake Louise, then motor to Banff where they catch the train back.
0:19 A view of the doubleheaded motive power from the observation car.
0:57 Across one of the more spectacular bridges on the Canadian Pacifics route.
1:32 A series of shots as the train passes through the famous spiral tunnels.
1:53 Lake Louise as seen from the CPs Chateau Lake Louise.
2:07 The Hotel itself. One wing was destroyed by fire in the 1920s; its replacement looks very different from the rest of the building.
2:22 A cold trip by car from Lake Louise to Banff.
2:30 The Canadian Pacifics Banff Springs Hotel.
2:54 Banff itself.
3:15 The train back home.
The next sequence was probably taken in the 1950s. The photographer is unknown, but seems to be traveling with a couple of women relatives.
3:26 View of Lake Louise from the Chateau Lake Louise.
3:34 Various views of the hotel and staff.
4:45 A stop at the Kicking Horse Tea Room, which offered views of the spiral tunnels. The photographer is, unfortunately, only able to capture a couple of quick shots of a pair of steam locomotives running light.
5:05 Time to board the train. At the head is one of the CPs mighty T2a 2-10-4 Selkirks, the 5921.
5:22 Taking the siding to let another train by, this one in charge of another Selkirk, the 5923.
5:35 On the way to Vancouver, with some doubleheading at one point.
The final short sequence of shots were probably taken in the late 1950s or early 1960s. The photographer has stopped to see the spiral tunnels, and is rewarded with (distant) views of a couple of diesel-powered passenger trains.
5:47 Consist looks to be a mix of older heavyweight cars and newer stainless-steel equipment, including a dome-observation car on the end.
6:30 The train is almost entirely hidden by the overgrowth.
6:40 Another train. It appears to be all the latest passenger equipment.
A final note: I cut many minutes of footage showing mountains, lakes, glaciers and snowfields. Even though everybody tries, its impossible to capture the beauty and the grandeur of the Canadian Rockies on film.")
