Sandy Blvd at 28th, Portland Oregon 1939.

Videos that accompany the post: "The Wizard of Oz Moment" on Cafe Unknown cafeunkown.blog... /
Portland History on line.

[@puboxer]

The last time they built a new road in the city

[@BalooUriza]

Sure, if you discount bulldozing entire neighborhoods to build the Sam Baldock Freeway, Eastbank Freeway, Stadium Freeway, Sunset Freeway, Columbia River Freeway, Banfield Freeway, and especially the Minnesota Freeway, but also a lesser extent on the Beaverton-Tigard Freeway and the Columbia River Freeway. If anything traffic hasn't improved because the answer to too much car congestion has been to double down on adding car capacity, which has only moved the bottlenecks around.

[@carrier.9227]

LOL 😂😂😂😂

[@carrier.9227]

😂😂😂😂

[@maryanneparrish6089]

Stupid wiseass. It was a different, far far better Portland. And you weren't in it.

[@danhaneckow]

In response to the comment below, this particular copy was from VHS footage purchased at the Spokane Portland and Seattle Railway Historical Society swap meet that is held yearly at the airport. It was in a box of tapes, which included other Portland traction topics. There was no attribution on the tape, nor anyway possible to ascertain its source. Asking around, I heard about it being retrieved from a dumpster. Obviously of historic importance, I decided to share it, with no financial gain.

[@miapdx503]

Thank you.

[@rebeccagreen7241]

Wonderful-- thank you!!

[@03Venture]

🤗

[@tleav61]

Thanks man!

[@Diddy_Doodat]

Wow the streets are so clean

[@MrEtovam]

As clean as moral those years.

[@KenSaylor]

Awesome. That explains my dad's driving after all these years.

[@4gma59]

😂

[@debbiejellinsky7138]

O0:19 - looks like Portland drivers haven't changed much

[@KeikoFXDesigns]

yup and california, midwest drivers too

[@alieninthevideo441]

Haha, I was thinking the same thing.

[@curtiserecacho1401]

Exactly. Lol that's hilarious

[@laurenradwanski3474]

Debbie Jellinsky it’s true to some extent. The truth lies somewhere in between darkness and light. Shadowy light.

[@urinebot]

Yes

[@SkookNukem]

Weird I got recommended this. This is like a block from my house.

[@hooliganhap]

This film was found by Portlander Rudy Zvarich and transferred by Gary Lacher. It was still perfectly preserved on 16mm, in this case Kodachrome. It is part of a series of studies from the late 1930's.

[@AK.Exploring]

How many near accidents just happened?

[@KeikoFXDesigns]

Not much. They didn't have cell phones in hand lol

[@wunitguy]

Kevin I counted at least 7, could be more

[@Omegatide]

now i see why there are not alot of these vehicles around any longer!!!!

[@dylanmccallister1888]

@@Omegatide if you live in the countryside out by like Canby or in WA out towards snohomish i actually think most of them are still around. Just sitting next 6 more generations of farm vehicles.

[@TSemasFl]

Dude on the motorcycle 🏍 about died 💀

[@paul20g20]

So weird to be able to see the past like this. Wow

[@thisguy1444]

Paul Gavrilin just shows how meaning less life most of this people must be dead and then accomplished not much what have I accomplished what about you

[@paul20g20]

thisguy1 i am just imagine this is the era my great grandparents grew up in and grandparents. my great grandma was. POW in occupying Poland during ww2

[@MAGNUM05]

Looking at the past is very interesting, but traffic sure was much dangerous back in the day

[@Spencer_Purcell]

Yeah, today's traffic, MUCH SAFER! And I agree, even though we were not born at that time, traffic was full of danger. Safer cars, safer traffic, less chances of casualties today.

[@KeikoFXDesigns]

Nope. Much worse these days.

[@glowingfish]

Statistically speaking, you are about 10 times safer now as you were then.

[@TheFablekid]

This is really cool thanks for this. Born in Eugene raised in Portland and got a family of my own now. Really great to get piece of it’s past to look at

[@jnolette1030]

I only counted 6 close calls in 75 seconds! The guy on the motorcycle is very brave

[@rosecity7488]

I drove by there this morning coming back into the Laurelhurst neighborhood where I live. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@Mike-gt1cs]

Was there anything left standing?

[@rosecity7488]

@@Mike-gt1cs Yes. Not so much if you're heading East on Sandy 0:25 building in top left corner is still there. Heading West on the right side all the buildings are still standing.

[@scrubjay93]

Thanks for sharing--I wish my dad were still around to see it.

[@rhayat10]

They sure had a lot of classic cars back then.

[@jaellenwarren1895]

🤣😂😅😂🤣😂😅

[@jasonnstegall]

Here's what REALLY cracks me up: you see a flashing yellow light at both the 28th and 33rd intersections, which proved two things: (1) NOT a new idea; and (2) based on the traffic flow and the fact that people are making left turns from the far right lane (!), just as LOUSY an idea then as now.

[@nathanoman1]

hey thanks for sharing an amazing piece of ordinary daily life in this beautiful city.....a long time ago:)

[@thomasjefferson1457]

How did they keep from running into each other. It looks like it could be mayhem at any moment.

[@alieninthevideo441]

People used to pay attention to the road.

[@glowingfish]

There was an almost 10 times higher rate of traffic fatalities per mile at that time. People weren't that good at paying attention.

[@maestrovso]

They edited out with the foresight we will be watching them 80 years later and marvel how civilize they were.

[@MrMarkpeggy]

Thanks for the great video. What great historical footage. Thank you for sharing this!

[@NCVBflo]

I am fascinated by the old street markings, not too different, but still, not exactly what we've got today.

[@nathanjamesbaker]

The driving practices back then seem so chaotic and stressful.

[@zer0deaths862]

Makes me sad, when comparing it to the trash today.

[@bward5827]

Holyshit not a fixie bike or a tattoo parlor anywhere in sight that's amazing!

[@DChristina]

Jonny Wishbone - haha or pot shop

[@BalooUriza]

And the economy and total number of dollars changing hands is the same now as it was then!

[@norahjaneeast5450]

So I was just writing down the streets today from the holly wood district a ride down Sandy all the way to about 29th but I go all through there thank you

[@James-qq2vq]

I see the way they drive hasn't changed.

[@Azazel2024]

Lived 3 blocks away for 9 years. Left that area in 2006. Its scary now

[@kenaldri4982]

My god, they drive like the Russians. Hard to believe it but you are totally on your own in that intersection. Blinking yellow? Proceed with abandon. If you want to cross, just stick your nose out into the main road and pray everyone will stop.

[@BalooUriza]

They drive like first generation drivers.

[@loltheworld]

damn that tonic lounge building has been there forever!

[@miapdx503]

😂😂😂 it's probably haunted...

[@lecocqmegan1]

It was built in 1849. Just kidding!

[@DylanBerichon]

It's gone now, lost in 2021.

[@Azazel2024]

Dark place. Gone now

[@jmarks544]

I have to admit though those drum brakes stop better than I thought they would

[@zackhachler7011]

Who’s seeing this in 2021

[@MaxwellSchultz]

How'd any one know which car was theirs? Seriously

[@moonbeamskies3346]

LOL!

[@ddc4531]

I thought the same. Kinda like good little sheeples (sheep + a person) then and now.

[@вечная_мерзлота]

They didn't. They drove each other's car

[@BalooUriza]

Same way people find their car in a sea of generiboxes today. I find my pickup in a parking lot because it's one of the few pickups that has a full bed still on the road, and a pretty unique pattern to the clearcoat flaking off the hood.

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

Look who's talking. I recognize every model here.

[@moabdi78somal]

Sandy and 33rd looks like a nightmare

[@john72ss]

no, its much worse now, there were no wrecks in this, because nobody was driving with cell phones!

[@laurenradwanski3474]

john72ss there were no safety belts then. Far more fatal crashes per capita then than now. Why am I writing this at midnight. Anyway Ralph Nader helped fix that.

[@urinebot]

No there just bad drivers

[@sbethell]

My neighborhood. So grateful for the stop lights now!!!

[@pearlmax]

How's Greg?

[@TNTN1977]

Looking back in time awsome

[@rebeccagreen7241]

So peaceful to watch, even with all the near-misses. It's nice to see a time where Portland traffic actually *moved*, w/ 2 lanes FOR CARS in each direction, a reasonable number of vehicles, and drivers who take some initiative (they're reckless, yes, but c'mon PDX--can't we find a happy medium?)

[@derriusbranch8620]

Mr Branch wishing the Best and Friendly Hellos. Have an Excellent Day

[@florenlebaron524]

We have advanced so much in civil engineering and harmony with commuting. In this video vehicles almost ran into each other because the rules are not setup properly and or they were not followed correctly.

[@miapdx503]

Advanced? They've ruined the city of Portland.

[@rottbot3361]

Harmony with commuting? Have you ever been to Portland? Portland and the Portland metro area are laid out like they hired dropouts from Underwater Basket Weaving programs as their civil engineers.

[@thejackel1844]

Almost 80 years ago and still to many people for my likes...

[@laurenradwanski3474]

Ahhh how beautiful this is!

[@laurenradwanski3474]

People were more courteous then it seemed.

[@deloreanman14]

Sheesh....and I thought people in Portland were bad drivers in 2010!

[@deerinheadlights9784]

How is this area now? Looking at an apartment there on 29th and Sandy.

[@davidp2707]

Probably my grandpa there driving

[@lecocqmegan1]

You know, all that I was thinking about was that my mom was only 2 years old and my aunt wasn't born yet.

[@FirstnameLastname-nn9gc]

My grandpa was nine then , how times have changed

[@lecocqmegan1]

My grandpa was 27 and my grandma was 32. I wonder what they were like back then.

[@Thadius75]

Trying to find historic pics of my building and the one next to mine. I'm in Milepost 5 in Montavila, across from the park. My building built in the 60s was a hospice and the one next to mine in the 30s retirement home, believe it was Baptist Manor. Contacted OHS no info. Any suggestions?

[@marvinthiessen3454]

They don't sleep or play with electronic toys when the light turns green. That intersection had a flashing light which was wrong, should've been a standard light.

[@droog2242]

Where is all the Pink&Blue haired people at.

[@gametimewithjamie]

Not going to be born for at least another 50 years

[@Evlogite19]

Thankfully, Portland had a nice run before all the marxist undesirables showed up.

[@magapickle01]

Three generations away

[@dmitryn.4403]

Tell me about it look at the city now it’s unrecognised sad

[@turkey4957]

You guys glorify the past yet look how horrible and third world this driving is, also segregation was LEGAL at this time

[@frisco21]

Drivers were so reckless in those days. No wonder traffic fatalities were so high.

[@pope4106]

What country is this?

[@themissmay]

Holy shit this is where I live

[@robertc7896]

The majority of cars seem to be of mid-to-late 30's vintage. This is surprising considering that they were supposedly coming off of tough times then. What would the average age of the cars be today?

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

They aren't lying to you when they said cars were built to withstand 10-16 years then. The majority appear to be 1934-1938. A large majority however are 1927-1932.

[@danielhong8620]

Inefficient as it was, at least people paid attention. I'm more surprised how little has changed in 79 years. I guess they turned on green and red and added some potholes.

[@glowingfish]

Statistically speaking, in 1939 there was almost 10 times as many fatalities per distance traveled as there are currently. Of course, that's for the US, but I imagine Portland was similar.

[@tomw.4255]

Not to mention too.... It's just really a sign, or change in times. No real good lights, but they figured it out (as a driver). It didn't really seem like much road rage at all. Could you imagine that now? How UPSET everyone would be with that many close calls? It would be rampant road rage. Looks like back then, they just said.....Ehhhhh.

[@medusaspupil]

calling all units...this is Eliot Ness

[@jovanieramos7585]

Seems like back then we were still learning to drive I wish I lived in this timeline

[@melissataylor9880]

Totally agree. Traffic looks just as crazy and dangerous then as it does today. All this time I have been blaming Californian transplants... Did enjoy the video though. 👍

[@lazerbehm8681]

Those roads look pristine !!!

[@sylarplissken]

But suddenly, we got bored looking at all of those clean streets and nice looking people, so we decided to spice things up a bit!

[@douglemmikey1082]

This intersection is where WWII actually started.

[@WarDrum17]

Weird that I live in Portland... And to see this... I thought driving today was bad

[@silkywest23]

Wow... They had the beat drop at the end of the song.

[@pdxdragon7479]

That flashing yellow is a great traffic idea. Flashing red, everybody stop. Flashing yellow, whatever. I haven't been on Sandy for about a year, but those intersections don't look too different today. Except all the colors work on the traffic lights.

[@BrianRollins]

Wow! Great video. I'll remember this next time I'm frustrated with traffic light delays!

[@jimehrlich7389]

I see people still drive the same as back then.

[@Rickster5176]

Still looks the same. Many of those old buildings are still there.

[@AtticTapes14]

Did traffic lights even work properly back then?

[@michelleburkholder2547]

Happy to see Portland hasn't changed a bit.

[@dutchman063]

No designated turn lanes with no traffic lights to control traffic flow sure makes for a chaotic mess of traffic, there must have been lots of accidents back then

[@miguell4835]

That cameras advanced for 1939. Boxing was being aired in black and white at that time and it was one of the worlds biggest sports. They must really invest in surveillance.

[@Xelmon]

Some still don't. =\ From looking at it, there's also an issue of no traffic control. So far on the few vid's that I watched of PDX in '39, I've spotted only 1 traffic signal.

[@mayhemdiscordchaosohmy573]

Awesome! Thanx!

[@elevendaysback3974]

How did you get this video footage? Like the music 👍

[@iwanttobetankman4260]

That music is nice :)

[@arethosemmsinyourpocket9809]

Makes me think of a Geico commercial.

[@CoachJohnMcGuirk]

Why have a 3 light intersection if it's just going to blink yellow during the busiest part of the day??

[@elliot_rat]

anyone saying negative stuff about portland in this comment section can be said about literally any other city tf?? all big cities are trash holes

[@dylanmccallister1888]

Said by somebody who has never lived in a different big city. Portland has some serious problems, parents have to help schools keep the grounds but you probably arent paying much attention to your neighbors to notice. I remember sharing books in my school, books held together with duct tape and glue. Tiles in the halls have brown on them from leaking ceilings, who knows about the mold problems. Property taxes , water and electric bills are insane forcing Renters to raise their rent. Homeless everywhere, i cleaned needles out of my yard. Its a shit hole.

[@dylanmccallister1888]

Saying Austin is a "sister city" to Portland is insulting to Austin.

[@searows-music]

This is the fuckin street I grew up on

[@jnolette1030]

I'm glad you survived those drivers

[@neilpersen]

Now there would be 100s of tents, mounds of trash everywhere, beaten to death cars waiting on dozens of pointless lights. Love to see the progress time brings

[@ForgottenRebel77]

Those cars are all so pretty!!!

[@pikachew4311]

Wow, where’d you get this footage?

[@BrianDodl1]

That is some crazy driving. That traffic light is useless.

[@dylanmccallister1888]

Lived there 7-14 yo haha this kind of stuff is neato

[@mattm5583]

They needed more lanes 80 years ago. This video is typical of what happens in Roseburg everyday.

[@BalooUriza]

Or just a more effective transportation system in general. Once you get to two lanes on a side, any additional lanes need to be turn lanes, or reserved for a specific mode or you're not getting any benefit, just moving the bottlenecks around. Not exactly seeing many options other than drive in this view.

[@IAmRyan25]

Look how nice that pavement looks, no potholes! Clearly, people’s driving skills were just as bad then in PDX.

[@jonnypyro7713]

Clearly they haven't fixed the roads since this was filmed. Lol

[@IAmRyan25]

Steve O Get out of the left lane and don’t you dare tell me to go back where I came from, born and raised.

[@JoeZip25]

And gas was $.09 / gal. *slow it down to 3/4 speed and it looks about right.

[@curtislong1987]

Where are all the homeless and littered up tents?

[@storytime6728]

And not one accident 😂

[@GUITARTIME2024]

In the first clip, that building on the right with the mexican-looking tiled roofline looks like its still there, as of 2020.

[@jmarks544]

Back in the old days before anti-lock brakes, seatbelts, safety glasses when they believed the bigger the car is the safer it was

[@SkinE-Vadee-Veechee]

I 💝 Portland

[@miapdx503]

So do I 💝

[@metaltera86]

No Portland sucks ass

[@tvine1]

What were this films a part of initially?

[@FerretJohn]

Look at 33rd and Sandy now and you'll find a Standard TV & Appliance store, a Jiffy Lube, Full Life disability and support center, and a Plaid Pantry

[@design_and_decor]

Well I'll be damned. No one in portland knew how to drive then either.......

[@davidshaw5126]

What happened to all those cool cars?

[@paulross9287]

Love how fast people are driving in those old relatively unsafe cars. Not like nowadays where everyone is afraid of everything. Shows how fast a person could get around before bike lanes, traffic calmers,and curb extensions, etc.

[@dougscustomcargarage3434]

Well traffic hasn't changed much in Portland

[@jimhall9624]

I Guess the red light had not been invented yet ! just one big yellow caution light- seems like everyone is being cautious, no hits during filming !

[@haley7571]

😳wow! Just watched the other old Portland restoration videos! This is insane! I have live just outside Portland my whole life and that Portland looks like a safer reality than the current one! Drug homicides, riots, graffiti, mass homelessness, human trafficking...

[@zarmindrow5831]

Citizen's Photo still there!

[@NowAndThenEH89JW]

Can't help wondering when the driving test came in. My pop was so old (in the UK) that there were no tests when he got his licence back in 1926 ish. His covered him to drive a bulldozer, bus and truck as well as car and motorcycle. You just went in and bought one. LoL. No tests. He'd have to do all the tests I guess, before they'd let him back in a truck etc. Also I see no cycles and only one motorcycle.