Third Avenue El

Produced: 1950s

Length: 10 Minutes

This lovingly made film contains rare footage of the Third Avenue Elevated Railway in Manhattan, which was torn down fifty years ago and replaced by the modern subway system. The harpsichord score is the perfect accompaniment to the whimsical story of this film, which revolves around a coin stuck to the floor of the car. There are so many great shots of 1950s New York here, including Bowery Street, the Bronx, old trains, and many shots of landmarks and buildings. We ride on the train as it winds its way through apartment buildings, past webs of clotheslines, and around factories. We get a taste of what it must have been like to ride the old el through the eyes of different passengers, including a bum, a little girl, and a young man. This charming ode to a bygone era is a must see for anyone interested in vintage film of New York City, or vintage train cars and stations.