Miles Brothers facts for kids
The Miles Brothers were a group of four brothers – Harry J., Herbert, Joseph, and Earl C. – who were very important in the early days of American movies. They helped create the film industry as we know it today.
Contents
Who Were the Miles Brothers?
The Miles Brothers were true pioneers in the world of cinema. They were among the first people to set up a special business called a "motion picture exchange" in the United States. This happened way back in 1902.
Starting a Movie Business
A motion picture exchange was like a library for films. Instead of buying every movie, theaters could rent them from the exchange. This made it much easier for movie theaters to show different films to their audiences. The Miles Brothers' idea helped movies become popular across the country.
A Famous Film: A Trip Down Market Street
One of their most famous films is called A Trip Down Market Street. It was made in 1906 and is about 13 minutes long. The movie takes you on a journey down Market Street in San Francisco. You see the street from 8th Street all the way to the Embarcadero, which is near the waterfront.
What Makes This Film Special?
This film is incredibly special because it gives us a rare look at San Francisco just before a huge event. A terrible earthquake hit the city in 1906, destroying many buildings. So, A Trip Down Market Street shows us what the city looked like right before that disaster. It's like a time capsule!
Solving a Movie Mystery: When Was It Made?
For a long time, people thought the film was made in September 1905. The Library of Congress had dated it that way, based on how some buildings looked. But a film historian named David Kiehn, who helps run the Niles Film Museum in Niles, California, did some detective work.
He looked at old car registrations and even weather records from that time. His research showed that the film was actually made in the spring of 1906. He even found old advertisements for the film's release!
How the Film Survived
It's amazing that A Trip Down Market Street still exists today. The night before the big 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the film was sent by train to New York City. This was incredibly lucky! The earthquake destroyed the Miles Brothers' studio in San Francisco, where the film had been stored.
Today, three copies of the film still exist. Experts have even used modern technology to digitally restore it. This means people can still watch this important piece of history clearly.
