This wonderful 7 minute film just came across my desk. It’s a 35mm film of San Francisco’s Market Street shot four days before the 1906 earthquake from the front of a cable car. Thanks to David Kiehn of the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum for dating the work. It is an astounding step back in time.
A longer 13 minute version can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKRbTF5afSE&feature=fvw .