[78-L] The Public Enemy & Brighten the Corner Where You Are

[victrola78s at aol.com]

Just started watching "The Public Enemy", the 1931 James?Cagney film, on TCM. In the beginning of the film there is a 'flashback sequence' to 1909, in which there is stock footage of NYC showing many vintage autos in the streets, as well as streetcars & horse-drawn wagons. Were there really that many cars on the streets in 1909, or is the stock footage more likely nearer the WWI period?

Also at the start of the film (still in 1909) there is a moving pan shot of a guy carrying 6 beer buckets on a pole(just gotten from a brewery)?across the street to a saloon. Just after he goes through the door?a brass band passes the saloon playing the hymn?"Brighten the Corner Where You Are". I have this song?on an acoustic?Victor 78 with Homer Rodeheaver, recorded in 1915. A quick check on the Cyberhymn.org site says it was written by Ina D. Ogdon(lyrics) & Charles H. Gabriel(music), in 1913. So is this a case of Warner Bros. fudging?on historical accuracy or was there an earlier?form of the song before Ogdon & Gabriel published their version? This wouldn't be unheard of; think of many traditional Negro spirituals & gospel tunes that were passed along aurally years before a published format was issued. 

Dennis "Far from harbor" Forkel