. . . as their fire department takes another day off to pose for Thomas Edison's cameras. Many New York City area landmarks (including the Durland Academy) bit the dust as soon as Edison began monopolizing the time of the local Hosemen to "fight" fake fires in his film studios, and to stage miles-long bogus fire runs into the middle of nowhere so old Tom could still have his "film at 11," as the expression goes. Though only four sworn protectors of the public appear in camera frame during FIRE RESCUE SCENE, their uniforms indicate that these guys are from FOUR DIFFERENT FIRE DEPARTMENTS, the remainders of which are no doubt watching Nero--oops, I mean Edison--fiddle as Rome, NY, along with the rest of the southeastern Empire State, plus probably parts of Jersey and Connecticut, burn.
Review of Fire Rescue Scene
