Panorama, Union Square, San Francisco

This early film from American Mutoscope & Biograph is a pretty dull affair, I'm afraid. Despite a cast of thousands and a panoramic view the film lacks direction - apart from right to left... and then back to the right again.

The film shows a huge mass of humanity gathered in San Francisco's Union Square for the dedication of the Dewey Monument one May morning in 1903. There's very little detail as the film was shot from an open window overlooking the square, but it's mildly interesting to see a moment in the life of a (pre-earthquake) city dating back more than a century.

Dewey Arch, New York City (1899)

Governor Roosevelt and Staff (1899)

Dandy Fifth, The (1899)

** (out of 4)

Panorama, Union Square, San Francisco (1903)

*** (out of 4)

These set of shorts are from American Mutoscope and Biograph as they too, like Edison, were interesting in filming the arrival of Admiral Dewey so that they could make some money. Both studios shot their material on September 30, 1899 and some of the film would be released as early as October 1, 1899 so that should tell you how much the two were trying to top one another.

DEWEY ARCH, NEW YORK CITY shows the same parade, which was highlighted in Edison's ADMIRAL DEWEY LEADING A LAND PARADE but this here is from a different angle and location. This film was shot with a view of the arch from Fifth Avenue. GOVERNOR ROOSEVELT AND STAFF is an interesting one for obvious reasons and films the parade as it turns onto 72nd Street (as does THE DANDY FIFTH). PANORAMA, UNION SQUARE, SAN FRANCISCO was shot Thursday, May 14, 1903 as the city commemorates the victory of Dewey's battle at Manila Bay. This here is also the most entertaining but then again I love all of the early panorama films. This one here gives us a grand view of the entire events and we also get to read some interesting advertising on some buildings. It's also interesting because you know what happened to the city three years later.