In 1899 and 1919, the city of New York constructed grand, if temporary, victory arches at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, off Madison Square. Built of plaster and wood, they were built quickly and not intended to last. They must have been impressive to see, and they were filmed and photographed a great deal in the brief periods that they stood. And when it came time to demolish the 1919 arch, cameramen filmed that, too.
