While people record videos of whatever they're doing constantly nowadays, 95 years ago it was pretty uncommon.
But not unheard of.
In 1926, Samuel Magoffin, the owner of an earthmoving company working with railways, shot a variety of clips around Vancouver. The 6:44 long film reel is now in the hands of the City of Vancouver Archives and has all the shaky, random shots that are a hallmark of a home video.
While there are a number of professionally shot film reels from this early period of time, this may be the earliest shot amateur film and it gives a different glimpse of the city nearly a century ago.
Specific events and identities aren't known, but the short film still gives an idea of what real life looked like for a moderately wealthy person in Vancouver during the roaring 20s.
Among the highlights are shots of the city's streets from a window several stories above; at one point a parade through the downtown is shown, including a horse-drawn float with barnyard animals along for the ride.
The footage shows what the Archives call the Georgian Hotel (possibly the Hotel Georgia) and what is now the Vancouver Art Gallery (at the time it was the courthouse).
There are also shots of what looks like a party, people showing off their cars, and a trip to a more rural location, though the exact location is unclear. A sign gives a clue, as it notes there's a trail to "the springs" where one might be remedied of "disorders of the digestive tract."
