Thomas Edison Captured Paris's 1900 Moving Sidewalk Innovation on Film
By
rbanffy
Toasted golden, schmeared with insight. Top of the rack.
Summary
The article explores the history of moving sidewalks, focusing on the innovative moving walkway demonstrated at the 1900 Paris Exposition. It discusses how this technology, now commonplace in airports and transit hubs, was once a marvel that astonished even cosmopolitan Parisians. The piece highlights Thomas Edison's film footage of the moving sidewalk and examines the historical context of this early transportation innovation.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledIt's fair to say that few of us now marvel at moving walkways, those standard infrastructural elements of such utilitarian spaces as airport terminals, subway stations, and big-box stores.
But there was a time when they astounded even residents of one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.
The innovation of the moving sidewalk demonstrated at the Paris Exposition of 1900
previously seen here on Open Culture when we featured Lumière Brothers footage of that period
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