"Fawkes' Folly", an experimental monorail car built by J.W. Fawkes in Burbank, ca.1910 (CHS-5028)

"Fawkes' Folly", an experimental monorail car built by J.W. Fawkes in Burbank, ca.1910
Photograph of "Fawkes' Folly", an experimental monorail car built by J.W. Fawkes, adorned with flags and decorations, in Burbank, ca.1910. The cigar-shaped trolley is attached to an overhead track, which is supported by wooden beams. It appears to be in motion with its propeller spinning. Several spectators stand at right stand at a safe distance to watch the trolley as it passes them. A man runs ahead of the trolley towards the trees in the distance. To the left of the trolley and its supporting rails is a fence. Beyond the fence are more trees, shrubbery and bushes. Caption reads: "Aerial Trolley Car Co. Inc., J.W. & E.C. Fawkes, Patentees., Burbank, Cal.", "Burbank, Ca, Aerial Trolley (Built by Joseph Fawkes), ca.1910".; "The population of the town [Burbank] was 500 when the voters approved incorporation in 1911. That same year, civic boosters began a campaign to have the Pacific Electric Streetcar line extended from Glendale into Burbank. The citizens of Burbank had to put up a $48,000 subsidy to get the reluctant P.E. officials to agree. The first Red Car rolled into Burbank on September 6, 1911. Leading the opposition to the public fundraising was J.W. Fawkes, who had patented the first monorail car in the United States. He built a prototype on his Burbank ranch, running a line between Lake and Flower Streets. Fawkes called his invention the "Aerial Swallow." City officials, however, called it "Fawkes' Folly" and the proposed monorail system never materialized." -- unknown author.
Call number: CHS-5028
Legacy record ID: chs-m12600; USC-1-1-1-12755
Photographer:


C. C. Pierce
 (1861–1946)  


Alternative names

Charles C.

Description
American photographer

Date of birth/death

22 November 1861 
7 November 1946 

Authority control

: Q61995887
VIAF: 68114291
LCCN: n91108254
WorldCat



creator QS:P170,Q61995887
Filename: CHS-5028
Coverage date: circa 1910
Part of collection: California Historical Society Collection, 1860-1960
Type: images
Geographic subject (city or populated place): Burbank
Repository name: USC Libraries Special Collections
Accession number: 5028
Microfiche number: 1-120-18
Archival file: chs_Volume79/CHS-5028.tiff
Part of subcollection: Title Insurance and Trust, and C.C. Pierce Photography Collection, 1860-1960
Repository address: Doheny Memorial Library, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189
Geographic subject (country): USA
Format (aacr2): 3 photographs : glass photonegative, photonegative, photoprint, b&w ; 21 x 26 cm., 17 x 26 cm.
Rights: Digitally reproduced by the USC Digital Library; From the California Historical Society Collection at the University of Southern California
Subject (adlf): transportation features
Project: USC
Repository email: [email protected]
Contributing entity: California Historical Society
Date created: circa 1910
Publisher (of the digital version): University of Southern California. Libraries
Format (aat): negatives (photographic); photographic prints; photographs
Geographic subject (state): California
Subject (file heading): Transportation -- Street Railroads -- General
Format: glass plate negatives
Access conditions: Send requests to address or e-mail given. Phone (213) 821-2366; fax (213) 740-2343.
Geographic subject (county): Los Angeles
Subject (lcsh): Street-railroads; Flags
Subject: Fawkes, J.W.