Why Providence? (1921)

Promotional film encouraging businesses to come to Providence, Rhode Island. Made by Providence-based studio Coronet Film Corporation in 1921.
Call No: 1974.129.10
Original Title: Why Providence?
Date: 1921
Collection: Russell S. Searles
Creator: Coronet Film Corporation
Format: 16mm, b&w, silent
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[@zorkwork3841]

I lived in Providence for 22 years ...Was a wonderful place..strange how life seems somewhat diminished now...Was good to see what Providence looked like way back when...so vibrant.

[@fleurtalbot7596]

How elegantly people dressed while shopping & conducting business downtown! And there was so much industry!

[@Stopvotingdemocrat]

Right! No swearing or crime out of control. What happened?

[@dylanlee1001]

Someone should put this video out again only with 1920s Rhode Island Jazz music. There was plenty of RI Jazz musicians. In one shot you can clearly see and advertisement for Crown hotel, that was a popular Jazz spot in the twenties.

[@ALKAHESTBOY]

A 1921 film showing the 1922 Biltmore Hotel!

[@TammyWhelan]

Wow, I have never so Providence look so busy.

[@JHogue]

Look at those crowded sidewalks on Westminster Street… nice

[@Stopvotingdemocrat]

Somehow it changed to drug dealers now

[@FranksWorld1]

That’s before the suburbs emerged… then most people lived in the city…loved going backing in time thru this film… thank you for making it available for all.

[@paolaabarca3389]

Tal vez alguno de esos transeúntes sea H.P. Lovercraf

[@davidharris7235]

The roaring 20's

[@karibou6308]

Wow, very interesting, I didn't imagine Providence like that!

[@kellybadl6771]

damn

[@Sanglierification]

lovecraft

[@vcoaster]

The construction of the Scituate Reservoir, which buried at least 4 towns underwater, began in 1921. Interesting to see the line of mule carts hauling off the tons of dirt. 05:09

[@panagiotisexplorer213]

Charles Dexter Ward sent me here

[@Whoisotp]

Horses wow now we’re using electric car & busses

[@louporreca3795]

Let me tell the streets and side walks were in much better shape and much cleaner & beautiful than they are 100 years later ..shows the decline of society

[@TheJamesenoch]

Lame!

[@javiervegalopez5313]

Who could imagine that in 2020 Black Lives Matter destroyed a lot of important buildings in downtown 😡

[@shinyelectrode417]

Oh really?...can you name ONE? I'm not disagreeing that some people took advantage of "protesting" to throw some bricks at windows but "destroyed" is a tad bit of a overstatement...

[@leekhat]

I agree. I went downtown after the protests and saw broken windows and facade damage. Not exactly destruction.

[@Sounds.of.St.Elsewhere]

7 years before this was filmed, in 1914, an event occurred called the Macaroni Riots. Italian working class immigrants rioted and tore up Fed Hill and other parts of the city because the price of macaroni sharply increased. Black people didn't destroy buildings in Downtown. They're just following in the tradition of urban riots and protest set by European immigrants. Take your rose tinted glasses off. Source: smallstatebighistory.com/providence-macaroni-riots-1914/

[@ariel2305]

​@@Sounds.of.St.Elsewhere I wonder how the Asians, Spanish, Jews, Native Americans and Black folks stayed alive in the 20's ?

[@Stopvotingdemocrat]

I agree with destroyed. Do you remember how much it cost to repair everything? Blm and antifa are a bunch of lying. Real scam artist