This film is the continuation of the film titled ‘Merrily We All Roll Along’ with Groucho Marx as the narrator. It begins with the Model T and the information that this vehicle could be purchased for about $300 (:18) and arrived without accessories, meaning the floorboards were often made from box the battery had arrived in (:42). One of it’s many quirks was a slow creeping forward if the handbrake, throttle and spark were not all aligned exactly (1:35). The weekly Sunday drive gave meaning to the phrase ‘going for a spin’ as it referred to how many miles the driver could put on the speedometer (2:39). Groucho Marx leans against a car with jokes painted all over the sides as it was popular for kids to do this (5:49). Viewers may also take note that around this time gas was only 22 cents per gallon (6:01). In 1905 there was only about fifty miles of paved road. By the mid-twenties this was still unimproved (6:35) and a car is seen riding half tire deep into the mud (6:42). Gasoline that was once cast aside as a waste product was now becoming a major industry (9:01). The automobile did eventually fuel the formation of modern roads (9:28). It also influenced and widened social horizons as the youth were now able to make friends outside of family (11:14). School houses which were once only one room for multiple ages and grades grew and expanded (12:34). Farmers were given the ability to drive their own livestock to markets (12:52). Paved roads in the city areas are depicted (13:33) and this also lead to a turn away from agriculture as many sought employment in city factories (13:37). The US was one of the only countries in which those whom made the cars were paid enough to also afford their own (14:08). These improvements in industry also led to a more sophisticated crime wave and a police car equipped with a radio is shown as law enforcement evolved to keep up (15:35). A heap of trolley cars which were becoming obsolete appear burning on screen (16:10). Outer lying regions of the cities were growing as inner cities became over crowded (16:19). Houses with attached garages are constructed (16:38). The vehicle made the consumer mobile causing commercial and department stores to spread (17:38). Scenes from a silent film called “Dizzy Lizzies” play on screen as the many quirks of the early automobile were considerably comical (24:52). The film was produced and directed by Robert L. Bendick.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com