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Stillman Fires Collection: Dashes Of NYFD

from Stillman Fires Collection.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Audio/Visual: silent, b&w
Keywords: need keyword

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Christine Hennig - - October 31, 2005
Subject: Where's the Fire? Oh, There It Is!
This collection of silent footage of the New York Fire Department during the 30s is a lot of fun to watch. The first section feature technical details of the fire alarm system. Then it gets really exciting, as we get to ride in the fire chiefs car, viewing its rapid journey through the streets from the perspective of a camera mounted on the dashboard. This is exciting footage, not just because of its high speed but because the streets are snow-covered, the car has to go up on the sidewalk periodically to get past traffic jams (watch out, pedestrians!), and the action goes inexplicably upside-down at one point. Then we get to see the firemen fight a five-alarm warehouse fire. This is all a very historically interesting look into firefighting practices of the period, as well as being as exciting as, well, watching a fire.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: **. Weirdness: ****. Historical Interest: *****. Overall Rating: ****.

Reviewer: uniQ - - January 8, 2004
Subject: Kenlon is amazing.
They just reused and spliced other Kenlon footage together. Although there is some new stuff. Kenlon is stil amazing.

-uniQ

PS. You know what time it is...

PPS. 5 for Kenlon 3 for the rest; avg: 4

Reviewer: Spuzz - - January 6, 2004
Subject: The Prelinger gods were listening to me!
After a brief (but interesting) glimpse at how fire stations recorded alarms around 1925, we get MORE of Chief Kenlon's ride! Those of you paying attention know that the original Chief Kenlon's ride film (which is located on this site) had 2:30 seconds of amazing camera mounted on the hood footage of him RACING to get to a fire! Well in THIS! It's LENGTHENED to 4 minutes now! More great footage is here (including an upside down sequence!). Some footage here will remind you, of all things. of the French Connection. After that, is the same fire they were battling at the end of the original Chief kenlon movie.