Released in 1961, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG presents a history of the automobile. Narrator Groucho Marx (:54) of Marx Brothers and You Bet Your Life fame starts the show by pointing out that commercials were once pasted on the sides of barn and livery stables (2:25). In 1896, there existed only about 16 cars in the US (3:15) and most had to be seen at a circus (3:30) as a ‘horse-less carriage’ is seen. The early automobile is led by a man on horseback waving a red flag in order to announce its arrival (4:15). During these times the automobile driver had to halt, thoroughly examine cross roads, honk the horn repeatedly, holler, fire a gun and light an explosive in the center of the intersection (4:43). Many protested the arrival of the automobile (5:27). Horses were spooked easily by the vehicles and the driver steps out to cover it in order to get the horse to pass (5:31). If this doesn’t work, the car is then shown being dismantled (6:30) and its pieces are hidden among the grass. Few had the ability to go over 40mph and it was considered illegal (7:41). A sign for “Automobiles not accommodated” is shown (8:12). Early automobiles are depicted rolling down the streets of San Francisco (8:43) as well as perhaps the first man to be run over by one (10:43). The Automobile race in October of 1904 by William Vanderbilt Jr helped to make them more popular (11:48). Footage of the race is shown which boasted 25,000 spectators (12:01). A French model with a 90-horsepower engine won the race at 52mph (12:09). The ‘climb for the mountains’ was an eight-mile road race up Mount Washington (12:27). At the 30% grade, the motorist’s mechanic would jump from the car and push (12:43). The Almond Beach Port became the proving grounds for racing and speed (13:18) and at this time, in 1906, there were 75 different car models. The winner of the race hit a world record of 127mph (13:41). Barry Oldfield was the driver and the man whom popularized the sport (13:51). The Indianapolis Memorial Day 500 in 1911 (14:07) was the testing grounds for the automotive industry (14:21) and this was a 6 ½ hour race. This brought the introduction of the rearview mirror (14:52). A test to see how far one car could travel before breakdown or sundown is conducted (15:17). Approval for automobiles increased as local doctors began owning them (15:39). Company names such as Oldsmobile, Yale and Pop Robinson are seen and mass production methods and advertisement commerce were the major contributions of the US at the time (15:52). An advertisement for the Brush Runabout is shown (16:05) as well as the Great Smith Car (16:13) and the Model M Coupe (16:20). The Electric Run About could only run for about 25 miles before batteries required recharging (16:32). A vehicle which used kerosene is shown throttling itself and going into reverse (17:30) which was a common occurrence. Touring became a popular outing as road maps did not exist (19:17). Scenes from the Panama Pacific Exhibition in San Francisco ensue (19:52). A connecting road between east and west coast still did not exist, yet the 1915 fair inspired the completion of Lincoln highway (20:09). This expanded the travel industry (20:23) and lead to the invention of golf (20:57). The car also changed the way the cities were laid out and curbs became rounded (22:34). President Wilson is seen at (23:23) and an ambulance reading Detroit to NY which was delivered by women (24:04). During and after the war the automotive industry went through a major boom (24:42) and examples of some of the 300 radiator medallions are shown (24:49). The film draws to its end with the information that nearly half of the two cars owned per family were the Model T (24:57).
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