Unraveling the Mystery Behind A Trip Down Market Street

Historians love details. Some they work really hard to track down — searching library archives or dusty file cabinets — while others might be in plain sight but not easily recognized or deciphered, like the clues in the now well-known silent film, A Trip Down Market Street.

Sometimes discovering facts can lead to even more significant discoveries. David Kiehn carefully deconstructed A Trip Down Market Street and what he found got him being interviewed by Morley Safer on 60 Minutes in October 2010. It also led to the film getting added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry.

David will talk about what led him to investigate the making of the film and illustrate how he did it. The program will begin with information on the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum and their connection to the very first cowboy movie star, Broncho Billy Anderson and film’s first true super star, comedic genius Charlie Chaplin.

David Kiehn has generously loaned us their ultra rare 1902 Akeley “Pancake” 35mm silent film camera that was used to film most high action silent films including Sporting Youth and Fast and Furious. It will be on display in the theater and David will share details of it’s design and film history.