Description
We are proud to release "Midwest Electric Rails", our most ambitious
production to date. This extensive presentation will paint the transportation
picture that once wrapped around the lower part of the Lake Michigan-from
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, down through Chicago, Illionois and ending in South Bend
Indiana. The Chicago street car lines were claimed to be the largest system of
its kind at one time. From 1858 it grew from a number of small lines using horse
drawn trolleys that ran on tracks in the street.The scenes you are about to view
are nearly all from the 1950 period to the early 1960's. Most of these electric
inturban lines are gone with one exception. Plus, we have a few other surprises
of how people commuted and traveled in these areas. This program has a wealth of
color movie film mainly from 1950's, thru the changes into the 1960's. The
accurate sound recordings, accompanying these movie scenes, bring back the
auditory experience of living in those bygone years. Maps and graphics were
specially created to enhance the relevance of the beautiful and nostalgic color
movie scenes. These are presented with a well-researched and meaningful historic
narrative.
It took many more years of smaller lines combining into what eventually
was one giant system. The Chicago Surface Lines boasted 1000 miles of track and
over 3000 streetcars of various designs. See hundreds of nostalgic views of
streetcars, interurban trains, city and suburban life.
