Harlem scenes from Meropolis 1939. Restored outtakes.

[marble falls]

From National Archives Youtube Channel. Restored outtakes from METROPOLIS 1939. This rare footage shows Harlem street scenes, residents of the Harlem River Houses, and construction of the Queensbridge Houses, circa 1939. Assumed to be in the public domain.

This is the whole documentry, only 18 minutes and well worth the viewing.

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-metropolis-1939-online

[Nitram]

1. Fantastic footage. Like getting into a Time Machine and visiting Harlem in 1939.

I couldn't help comparing in my mind the lovely scene of kids playing in the courtyard of the projects, happily frolicking in the water, with the project play areas in the Baltimore projects in the series "The Wire."

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Exactly where I went, too!

am re-watching the series now.

[FreepFryer]

2. Thank you thank you! History is the foundation upon which our vision of the future is based.

Much gratitude!

[3Hotdogs]

4. 4:51. Is that the Queensboro (59th. St) bridge in the background?

[marble falls]

9. Got me. Could be, I don't see a pedestrian deck on it so I don't think its th Brooklyn Bridge.

[NurseJackie]

5. I truly LOVE things like this! Thank you very much for sharing it!

[marble falls]

7. I love street scenes, too. It's as close to time travel as it gets for me. I even hear street ...

noise when I watch it.

[NurseJackie]

10. I posted these "street scene" movies (speed corrected and added sound) last year.

Nov 11, 1918 - Scenes in Paris, France on Armistice Day (speed corrected w/ added sound)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017519934

The Liberation of Ypres, Belgium, Nov 1918 - (speed corrected w/ added sound)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017519935

Also... here's a link to a channel by Guy Jones. Looks like he creates (or collects) many of these older videos with added sound. They really ARE like a time machine trip. Just watching everyday life as it was. No story, no acting, no narration. Just life. (For the most part people are unaware of the camera... but occasionally, someone will notice and shy-away... or they'll ham-it-up for the lens.)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpUBuSn_Io93AMpOSw88afQ

[marble falls]

11. Don't know how I missed those. Thanks, I'll be busy this morning.

[BigmanPigman]

6. They still had horse drawn street carts in '39...

I like how people took pride in their public appearance back then. I guess that stopped when hats, gloves, etc stopped being worn in the '60s.

[marble falls]

8. We had a horse drawn rag cart come through our nieghborhood on the near westside of ...

Cleveland till the end of the 1950's. He bought and sold rags and bought bones. We had a knife and scissor sharpener who road a bicycle that he would chock the drive wheel off the side walk and use the pedal and chain to drive his stone. He bought and sold knives and scissors, too.

[BigmanPigman]

13. That could come in handy today actually.

A local door to door sharpening guy, not the horse part. I guess the only people still doing that are the Amish.

[marble falls]

14. I have a friend who does quilt shows sharpening knives and scissors and does very well.

[Mosby]

12. reminds me of this video

[marble falls]

15. Saw that one this weekend, really enjoyed it. Enjoyed again just now. Thanks.