1939 Miami - Cars, Gators and Hotels (excerpt)

Color footage from 1939 shows traffic on Miami's Biscayne Boulevard, the now-demolished Columbus Hotel, and an animal farm. This is an except from a 15-minute amateur travelogue made by my grandfather Gus Martens. (The full movie is available on my channel under the title "1939 - Our Car Trip to Miami.") The wobbly effect is caused by shrinkage of the film's aging acetate base. Most of my grandfather's home movies, including those dating back to 1929 and 1930, are still in very good condition but for some reason this particular film is deteriorating rapidly. Thank goodness I got it digitized while it was still watchable. In a few more years the original may be gone forever.

[@yogibeer9319]

I LOVE this channel!

[@RobertoLopezstudyis]

It is a shame that all those old Spanish style hotels on the Boulevard are all gone. Thanks for posting!

[@hounddog946]

No prostitutes on the Blvd. like today

[@Bacchus1983]

Amazing footage

[@gfxkidfilms]

wow this is some nice vintage footage of miami, I wonder where was the alligator farm located at.