Doheny Memorial Library, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189 Public Domain. Release under the CC BY Attribution license--http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/--Credit both “University of Southern California. Libraries” and “California Historical Society” as the source. Digitally reproduced by the USC Digital Library; From the California Historical Society Collection at the University of Southern California Send requests to address or e-mail given USC Libraries Special Collections specol@usc.edu
Description
Photograph of "Fawkes' Folly", an aerial trolley designed by J.W. Fawkes in Burbank and adorned with flags and decorations, 1907-1910(?). The cigar-shaped trolley is displayed in front of a large crowd. It is attached to an overhead track, which is supported by wooden beams. There are a handful of passengers onboard, including a man playing the double bass. In the rear of the trolley is an American flag. The spectators are well dressed and a majority of them are wearing hats. Several ladies are carrying umbrellas to block the sun. Caption reads: "Aerial Trolley Car Co. Inc., Burbank, Cal., J.W. & E.C. Fawkes, Patentees". "The population of the town [Burbank] was 500 when the voters approved incorporation in 1911. That same year, civic boosters began a campaign to have the Pacific Electric Streetcar line extended from Glendale into Burbank. The citizens of Burbank had to put up a $48,000 subsidy to get the reluctant P.E. officials to agree. The first Red Car rolled into Burbank on September 6, 1911. Leading the opposition to the public fundraising was J.W. Fawkes, who had patented the first monorail car in the United States. He built a prototype on his Burbank ranch, running a line between Lake and Flower Streets. Fawkes called his invention the 'Aerial Swallow.' City officials, however, called it 'Fawkes' Folly' and the proposed monorail system never materialized." -- unknown author.
Type
image
Format
2 photographs : glass photonegative, photoprint, b&w 21 x 26 cm. glass plate negatives photographic prints photographs
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