Gold Rush Scenes in the Klondike

1899 Documentary 1 minute Directed by Thomas Crahan

This film is not available to watch here yet.

About Gold Rush Scenes in the Klondike

A newspaper page lists the hardships of the Klondike. The reel then shows a mining town, a raft in river rapids, and men working a claim.

Cast & crew

More about Gold Rush Scenes in the Klondike

Thomas Crahan planned the scenes for his Klondike Exposition Company and sent Edison cameraman Robert K. Bonine to the Yukon. When the exposition ran short of money, Crahan turned the negatives over to Edison, which sold prints.

Themes

Making

Crahan wanted exhibition films of the rush. Edison ended up with the negatives and put them on the market as a short.

Look

Robert K. Bonine cranked the Yukon views: a town street, a raft in white water, and men at a claim.

Preservation

A print of about one minute survives and has been copied for public-domain circulation.

Notes

  • The newspaper insert complains about prices, drownings, and hunger on the trail.
  • One shot is a raft in rapids. Another is men at a claim.
  • Bonine was the cameraman. Crahan was the exhibitor who commissioned the trip.
  • The rush the pictures show followed the 1896 find on Bonanza Creek and was still drawing crowds in 1899.

Scenes

  • A newspaper page is held up to the lens.
  • A raft goes through rapids.
  • Men work a claim.