Awesome film. Very rare that someone documented their road trip for the obvious reasons. I also take it was before the stock market crash. Next few years would be tough to travel for the average American.
My dad was also 5 years old then. He was living in Springfield, MA back then. Unfortunately, he passed away back in 2013 at age 88. I wish you and your mom well!
My mother was born in April of 1929; she is 95 and still kicking as I leave this comment. Today, August 19, 2024, would have been Mom and Dad’s 74th wedding anniversary.
This is great! They are driving a 1929 Franklin 135 Sedan. They started somewhere east of Mansfield, OH, and are headed more or less west. They seem to be filming each hotel where they stay. So far, I've got Mansfield (Hotel Ohio), Valparaiso IN (Hotel Lembke), Chicago (Palmer House, still there), Freeport IL (Hotel Freeport), Dubuque IA (Hotel Julien Dubuque, still there), and Emmetsburg IA (Hotel Kermoore), before they turn north into South Dakota. Can't wait to see the rest of this video, I'm only 1/3 through it.
Interesting that you mentioned Ohio. I lived central Ohio in Franklin county and traveled all over the state. I thought that scenery east of Mansfield looked a bit familiar. It was a bit like deja vu but from a perspective in the future. Lol
The father's name was Ellwood F. Hoffman, of Philadelphia, born 1885, died 1965. His wife was Edith, and their daughter was Lucy, who was not yet eight years old when these were taken. She passed away in 2008 at the age of 86.
I love how we record what we find interesting And sometimes with the thought of future generations in mind. Luckily for anyone who did do this- gen Z is obsessed with the past.
This is right when the great depression started.Alot of the people were just like this wonderfull family. The stock market soon crashed and millions of people were hit hard. I don't know how this family faired when Black Monday hit but having a Movie camera would have been almost unimaginable in the upcoming depression. Seeing very large family picnics would have been a rarity.
It looks like them old cars is flying lol to bad we couldn't go back life looked so simple and alot more calm and peaceful whats crazyis all these ppl have long since passed on.
Image what travelling by car across state lines must've been like? It must've been arduous and time consuming travelling long distances prior to the interstate system. That explains why travelling by rail was so popular and necessary. We had a coast to coast railway system long before we had a safe and practical coast to coast highway (interstate) system. Then only the coast to coast auto route that existed was the Lincoln Highway (built in 1916). It ran a northerly route from in NYC and ended in SF. It took roughly one month to travel that distance averaging a speed of 18 mph.
Here are the places I was able to match where they went. Seems they went as far west as Idaho going by signage alone, and then went back towards SD. Guessing there was a second reel at some point for the rest of the journey. All of these locations are based only on the signage, not landmarks they may have visited that didn't have noticeable signage: Youngstown, OH Mansfield, OH Valparaiso, IN Chicago, IL Freeport, IL Dubuque, IW Rapid City, SD Boise, ID Silver City, ID Hidden Springs, ID Badlands National Park SD East Custer, SD Custer State Park, SD
"In 1929, 60% of American families owned a car, making the United States the first country to achieve common mass ownership of automobiles. This was a significant increase from 1920, when only 20% of people owned cars."
![[Home Movies HOFF070 Alaska 1930 Reel1]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vAyITIlOz3I/mqdefault.jpg)
Awesome film. Very rare that someone documented their road trip for the obvious reasons. I also take it was before the stock market crash. Next few years would be tough to travel for the average American.
My mother was 5 years old then, she's now 95, and still going strong.
She's seen some things.
Ditto
My dad was also 5 years old then. He was living in Springfield, MA back then. Unfortunately, he passed away back in 2013 at age 88. I wish you and your mom well!
my great grandma was about the same age then, but she passed away in 2019.
My mother was born in April of 1929; she is 95 and still kicking as I leave this comment. Today, August 19, 2024, would have been Mom and Dad’s 74th wedding anniversary.
This is great! They are driving a 1929 Franklin 135 Sedan. They started somewhere east of Mansfield, OH, and are headed more or less west. They seem to be filming each hotel where they stay. So far, I've got Mansfield (Hotel Ohio), Valparaiso IN (Hotel Lembke), Chicago (Palmer House, still there), Freeport IL (Hotel Freeport), Dubuque IA (Hotel Julien Dubuque, still there), and Emmetsburg IA (Hotel Kermoore), before they turn north into South Dakota. Can't wait to see the rest of this video, I'm only 1/3 through it.
Interesting that you mentioned Ohio. I lived central Ohio in Franklin county and traveled all over the state. I thought that scenery east of Mansfield looked a bit familiar. It was a bit like deja vu but from a perspective in the future. Lol
Thank you for the info!
Those drivers at the start were insane! What stop sign? What yield? Yea, yield to this!
It's cross your fingers! We're coming up on an intersection!
Paw was fascinated by geology and nature:) what a great video. Such a beautiful, carefree little girl.
You're right. She was a delightful little girl!
That is a gift. Thank you.
1929 dashcam footage.
Fantastic vintage movie clips. I really enjoyed this.
How did anyone survive driving on that road? Total maniacs. Must have been the inspiration for “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, World”
18:05 I love this!
The little girl was about my Mom and Dad ages who were in Kentucky living an impoverished life. She certainly was fortunate.
Would be interesting to duplicate the same route today, then show it side by side.
Keep thinking I’m going to see Buster Keeton driving up the wrong way.
The landscape looks like the region from southern Indiana, Ohio, or Pennsylvania. Also, an Amish horse carriage appears on the left side of the road.
Time as my granny who turning 97 was a little girl
Great great films. Thank you kindly.
I love this so much!!!
This is the greatest home movie. Hopefully someone will colorize it one day. I wonder who the family was who filmed it.
The father's name was Ellwood F. Hoffman, of Philadelphia, born 1885, died 1965. His wife was Edith, and their daughter was Lucy, who was not yet eight years old when these were taken. She passed away in 2008 at the age of 86.
I was surprised at how fast people were driving. The roads were pretty good to make good time. My mom was born the next year.
I love how we record what we find interesting
And sometimes with the thought of future generations in mind. Luckily for anyone who did do this- gen Z is obsessed with the past.
This is right when the great depression started.Alot of the people were just like this wonderfull family. The stock market soon crashed and millions of people were hit hard. I don't know how this family faired when Black Monday hit but having a Movie camera would have been almost unimaginable in the upcoming depression. Seeing very large family picnics would have been a rarity.
Great trip. In many ways a much better world, though two years from Pearl Harbor. Then everything changed forever.
She is quite a little flapper.
My mistake. 2 years from depression and then WW2. But everything changed forever.
I never watch horror movies anymore since the world has changed.
It looks like them old cars is flying lol to bad we couldn't go back life looked so simple and alot more calm and peaceful whats crazyis all these ppl have long since passed on.
Thank you for sharing
Image what travelling by car across state lines must've been like? It must've been arduous and time consuming travelling long distances prior to the interstate system. That explains why travelling by rail was so popular and necessary. We had a coast to coast railway system long before we had a safe and practical coast to coast highway (interstate) system. Then only the coast to coast auto route that existed was the Lincoln Highway (built in 1916). It ran a northerly route from in NYC and ended in SF. It took roughly one month to travel that distance averaging a speed of 18 mph.
I collect and film on old cameras from this era. I'd love to know what camera was used.
Just drive right onto the street, don't stop or yield lol
Folks were hellions on wheels back then. I wonder if they even looked for cross traffic as they flew on to main road from side streets? 👀😳😱
Like warching a real "Paper Moon" movie. Caoght a bit of leg-art there.
That girl was probably my mom's age. My mom was born in 1920.
It's interesting to note that even small towns had streetcar lines.
Who knows what the cars will look like when someone is gonna come across in a home movie from.2023 in 2118?
Here are the places I was able to match where they went. Seems they went as far west as Idaho going by signage alone, and then went back towards SD. Guessing there was a second reel at some point for the rest of the journey. All of these locations are based only on the signage, not landmarks they may have visited that didn't have noticeable signage:
Youngstown, OH
Mansfield, OH
Valparaiso, IN
Chicago, IL
Freeport, IL
Dubuque, IW
Rapid City, SD
Boise, ID
Silver City, ID
Hidden Springs, ID
Badlands National Park SD
East Custer, SD
Custer State Park, SD
In one of the scenes they were at Custer State Park in South Dakota. There's a scene of Needle Eye Rock.
These folks had money. Driving a big new Franklin and staying in hotels was out of reach for most.
If that little girl is alive today she would be in her 90's.
She'd be getting close to 100.
"In 1929, 60% of American families owned a car, making the United States the first country to achieve common mass ownership of automobiles. This was a significant increase from 1920, when only 20% of people owned cars."
Wow ... and next year is the start of the Great Depression ...
A real "Road Trip".
Not sure if the champion of this time was Dempsey or Louis.
Is there a reel 2?
LA drivers terrible since the Model-T.
Brand new car for a long road trip