Great Video Profile of a Cable Car Operator, Carpenter, and Mechanic
The fantastic footage (with ambient-only sound) and trivia, combined with an infusion of pride for San Francisco's past and present, make this segment, called simply, "Cable Cars," a great way to spend 5 minutes of computer time. Along the way, you'll meet: Ken Lunardi, operator; Norm Feyling, mechanic; and Bob Harris, carpenter.
Produced by Greg Burk for SFGTV's award-wining magazine series "City In Focus."
Related book: Historic Photos of San Francisco
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1962: SAVE the BAY AREA from CHOKING to DEATH (with BART)!
My favorite bit from this scan of an original flyer in support of Proposition "A": "All statements in this leaflet are accurate and factual." That reassuring disclaimer apparently made this passage adequately persuasive:
Who endorsed Proposition "A"? Taxpayer's groups... labor... doctors, lawyers, merchants, housewives, educators, Republicans, Democrats - everybody who wants a prosperous Bay Area. Opposition? Scattered, local, self-interested.
Indeeeed. The proposition required a district-wide 60% "yes" to pass; it got 61.2%, with the help of folks who cynically voted for it even though they wanted, and expected, it to fail. More after the jump...
Simply Hilarious (and Infuriating): BART Imaginings, 1957
That's right, the original plans recommended "first stage" service past Palo Alto to the south, and across the Bay to San Rafael to the north! I wonder how many stages ago that was?
Maybe they should have drafted up some counterfeit money with which to pay for this pipe dream. (Even a tiny fraction of this fantastical scheme is itself worth much higher fares year after year, it seems.)
(via)
Film of Steam Locomotives on the Embarcadero, San Francisco, circa 1920s-30s
Came across this file randomly while browsing the Prelinger Archive, which I haven't done in a while. The footage of longshoremen jockeying cargo on and off ships is a swift check on romanticism and a concrete reminder that, even long ago, industry on a mass scale was what drove almost all of our activity.
I logged a few of the bits that really stood out to me:
- 3:00 - Steam locomotives
navigating Market Street, andcruising along the Embarcardero. - 5:00 - Cool aerial footage; Ferry Building with street cars on a circular track in front and a heavy rail locomotive waiting (loading?) on the left; Golden Gate Ferries.
- 6:50 - I believe this is a quick shot of Dolores Street.
- 7:40 - Funky, animated relief maps of the area and trade routes, points of interest.
- 8:55 - Aerial footage of downtown, City Hall and Golden Gate Park.
- 10:45 - Aerial of the western side of the city; Golden Gate Park, including the bandshell area.
Related book: Historic Photos of San Francisco
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