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Sutro Baths, no. 1
(1897) United States of America
B&W : 50 feet
Directed by James H. White
Cast: (unknown)
Edison Manufacturing Company production; distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company. / Cinematography by Frederick Blechynden. / © 25 October 1897 by Thomas A. Edison [60559]. Released October 1897. / [?] Kinetoscope 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format or Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format? / The production was shot at the Sutro Baths in San Francisco, California, on 22 August 1897. Musser control number 392. Followed by Sutro Baths, no. 2 (1897).
Documentary: Actuality.
Synopsis: [Catalogue, F.Z. Maguire, (March 1898), page 39] Taken at the Sutro Baths, San Francisco, Cal., and shows a large crowd of bathers in a small area. The picture is full of action from beginning to end, caused by numerous and varied feats of diving, sommersaults, etc. A toboggan slide 50 feet long, at an angle of 45 degrees, furnishes sport for the bathers. Instead of coming down in a car, they slide down the incline in all manner of postures. On striking the pool, the water is splashed to a height of 10 to 12 feet. One following another in rapid succession keeps the water churned to a milky foam, which is also the case in all parts of the pool, as bathers are continually jumping, diving, etc., from floats, rafts and the lower floor. The film is replete with ludicrous and humorous scenes. The bathers are clad in black trunks, which show in striking contrast to their exposed flesh and the foam. The background shows the ground floor and two balconies filled with spectators. The picture is exceedingly sharp and clear, and is without doubt one of the best film subjects we have made. // [From Edison promotional materials] One of the sights of San Francisco. A 50-foot slide is used by the bathers, who toboggan down its slippery surface in all positions. The bathers are clad in black trunks, making fine contrast with the flesh tints.
Survival status: Prints exist in the George Eastman Museum film archive [35mm positive]; and in the Library of Congress film archive (paper print collection) [35mm paper positive].
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Bathers - Diving - Slides - Swimming pools - USA: California: San Francisco - Water
Listing updated: 29 March 2010.
References: Film viewing : Musser-Edison pp. 332-333 : Website-AFI.
Home video: DVD.
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