[QUOTE=ethereal_reality;7067579]"This remarkable photograph from a Keystone Cops silent film made around 1918 shows Los Angeles Railway "Maggies" nos. 1 and 7." -
Ralph Cantos
http://www.pacificelectric.org/los-a...y-nos-1-and-7/
Looking south on Douglas Street from just above Ridge Way.
If one could find a copy of the Kops and Maggies movie, finding that scene is highly unlikely.
Because it's too sharp to be from a movie frame.
'Stills" of movie scenes were made for tacking in the window boxes at theatres to promote Now Playing and Coming Attractions. They were made on a set, with all the players neatly combed, brushed etc, posed VERY STILL onnacounta the shots were made on 8x10 [black&white, slow] film, at small apertures for maximum sharpness. Once a successful negative [s] was selected it could be rapidly contact printed for distribution. At some point I don't know in time, negatives could be duplicated and each contact printed rapidly.
I wonder if there are still bookstores in Hollywood that sell old stills- it's been decades since I looked
And why Maggies? . Those folks that have kept up with LARy streetcar pictures will note the classic 'five window front' exhibited by hundreds of Mr. Huntington's cars.
The Maggies were substantially shorter however, small in number and are most remembered, or photographed on, the Bonnie Brae line, which was rather steep. Some of the cars were fitted with magnetic track brakes for maximum stopping power in addition to shoes on the wheel treads.
The number of such cars varied with the times. They were rebuilt from older 'odd' cars and in turn were 'rebuilt' into other types, a stretch of the word as lengths did change greatly- as in 'jack up the trolley pole and roll a new car under it'.