This film is part of Free
Drill of the Kansas City Fire Department
Incredible scenes at Crystal Palace highlight cutting edge firefighting 1900 style
Overview
The boys of the Kansas City Fire Department demonstrate their rapid harnessing techniques in an impressive dash along the Italian Terrace at Crystal Palace, in this superior example of an early film staple. In record time, the horses are uncoupled from the engine and the boys follow up with a dramatic display of releasing the hoses. If only the boys had been there in 1936 when the Palace burned to the ground...
The 'fire brigade turn out' was a popular spectacle in the Victorian example, and survives in numerous films, with no doubt many more lost.
Related
RT Buses in SE London RT Buses in SE London
Industry sponsored film 1978 4 mins Silent Location: Crystal Palace
Take a trip down memory lane to a time when a fleet of the popular RT buses serves the capital and congestion is still a thing of the future.
Opening of Crystal Palace Track inc. 100 yards & Long Jump Opening of Crystal Palace Track inc. 100 yards & Long Jump
Amateur film 1968 2 mins Silent Location: Crystal Palace
On your marks, get set, go! Athletes grace the new running track at Crystal Palace with a series of thrilling athletics events and races.
Tartan Laying at Crystal Palace Tartan Laying at Crystal Palace
Amateur film 1967 4 mins Silent Location: Crystal Palace
Detailed recording of the many process involved in laying the Tartan track at the Crystal Palace Athletics Stadium ahead of the 1968 Olympics.
Racing at Brooklands Racing at Brooklands
Amateur film 1930 7 mins Silent Location: Brooklands
The Kings of Speed - 30s style - thrill the crowds at Brooklands - the world's first purpose built motor racing circuit
Greatest Football Game of 1911 Greatest Football Game of 1911
Sport 1911 0 mins Silent Location: Crystal Palace
It’s the 40th FA Cup final and Bradford City face Newcastle United.
Tall Ships at Erith Tall Ships at Erith
Amateur film 1975 5 mins Silent Location: Erith
Lose all sense of time as Tall ships, dinosaurs and Spitfires make for a temporally confusing trip through South London.
New Perspectives: La Haine New Perspectives: La Haine
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Charlie Hammersley, a student from Northumbria University, explains how Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film holds up a mirror to society.
Dreamers Q&A Dreamers Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
The film-makers behind a haunting tale of love and community within a UK immigration detention centre visited the BFI Southbank to discuss their film.
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 50 mins
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation at BFI Southbank, discussing the making of One Battle After Another.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.