Indeed. Coal was used for almost everything except cars. And they had no emission rules. So yeah, air quality was poor in most urban environments back then.
By the way...thanks for posting these over the years. I enjoy them immensely, and watching them evokes a variety of emotions for me.
It is an odd sensation to watch and realize that every single person in the earlier ones was born, lived their entire lives, rich or poor, famous or obscure, and in the end died and are all dust and we view them through this short window into their lives.
From a historical perspective (I am a history buff) I find them absolutely fascinating to watch. The clothes. The mannerisms. The haircuts. The makeup. Everything is like being able to open a window and look into their time.
The technological perspective. Many of the people are very suspicious of the filming. Some are fascinated with it...there was one scene where a burly older gentleman with a beard and glasses walked by, was turning and looking as he passed off one side...then you saw him come back and you could tell he was going to talk to the guy filming. And there are people who grin like pumpkins just like many people do today when they see someone filming.
Fascinating.
So...thank you again.
My mother said that when she was growing up in Birmingham, "The Pittsburgh of the South", in the 1930's she would walk out the front door and taste the air. My Grandparents lived in Eastlake which was 20 miles away from Bessemer where the iron and steel was smelted and forged.