The vast majority of street lights in the "days of yore" operated on a series circuit...just like a string of today's miniature Christmas lights. These systems had provision for voltage regulation and fixture design so that all lamps remained lit if any in the "loop" failed. If you look closely you will see a "strain" or "breaker" insulator separating each end of the two series street lamp wires leading to the fixture.

Presented is a photo of a Chicago neighborhood c.1910 with an enclosed arc light in the foreground. Pintype insulators were employed as they were here with many thousands of other installations like this one throughout the US around a century ago.