PBS documentary - San Francisco: The Way It Was

This hidden gem is no longer available from any source I know about. For those of us old enough to still remember some of these places, to those of us who'd love to discover them, I upload this for you!

[@ketchyshubby]

The worst thing that could have happened to America is the death of its elegance. There was a self respect and respect towards others that no longer exists. That's probably the most nostalgic aspect for me when I watch these documentaries, it's hearing "we used to dress up to go to...", nowadays you go to a high end restaurant and there are people in shorts wearing backwards baseball hats.

[@m0xiemarlinspike]

I blame it on jeans

[@user-uo7fw5bo1o]

I blame it on the automobile, television, and mass suburbanization. People started letting themselves go even then, and spoiling rotten their kids who became baby boomers.

[@violetgruner754]

It broke my heart. I remember it well. It was a small town that called itself a city. We were elegant, friendly, hard working. Now it is high tech, worth billions, but we have never been so poor... Times have changed..

[@mikemaples7236]

Beautifully said. I was born there as was my mother. I remember her saying "One never went to the city without the women wearing gloves and the men wearing hats." So thankful I knew the SF of old.

[@rogeeeferrari]

Small town ? Hardly. Maybe 200 years ago, even 100 years ago it had a huge population...

[@DevilDogDen1775]

VIOLET: Ain't it the truth.... Even though Herb Cain was from Sacramento, he LOVED SF.... But if he was still around, something tells me that even he would move away.... Even the late Stanton Deleplane would have left....

[@matthewmuziani1961]

It odd because I feel the same way about Seattle. Not that long ago it was a sleepy blue collar super safe and affordable town that called itself a city. When Silicon Valley got to expensive, google Facebook and others have locations a here as well with Amazon really being the driving force gobbling up whole city block at a time.. Completely ruined this place

[@death2pc]

So true. It was a small, (simple) town that called itself a city. Over time anything changes but SFO became a repository for a majority of anti-social types - liberals - who progressively destroyed it as they do everything. No reverence. No respect. No dignity. No probity.

[@renatoalcides5104]

Has anyone noticed how calm this documentary is? Every voice in it talks without any hurry... Yes, cell phones and social media had not took hold of everyones brains and crippled everyone's life.

[@watermelon520b]

>using technology on a social media platform to complain about technology and social media. the irony. lol

[@cc1k435]

Every is retired, and there's a pandemic on. They've got time to talk. 🤔

[@Skynet_the_AI]

Good observation

[@TiburcioVasquez213]

If you think this documentary was made a year ago. You are hilarious. This documentary was made in the 90s right before internet social media crap. And these ppl are from a different era to top it off lmao. So no social media would never get to there brains because they didn't have it growing up and it wasn't around when they made this documentary lol

[@-oiiio-3993]

Rather like the nostalgic bits that Ralph Story did for KNXT News from 1964 to 70 called Ralph Story's Los Angeles.

[@bee45rpm]

I grew up in the 50's here--North Beach and Russian Hill. The best part was playing in the streets freely without worry of crime...and, getting dressed up to go shopping downtown, and Playland!

[@allisonmcdonough1]

I'm born and raised in San Francisco and seeing it in its current state breaks me I was 4 when this documentary was made

[@teller121]

when was this made?

[@gillroygarlic3616]

I was born and raised here to and was 4 when this came out. They should make a part 2 of this. The 90s,00s and 10s. There were nice things in each of those decade but they’re overshadowed by the tech boom and homelessness, unfortunately.

[@FeatnikSF]

This documentary was produced in 1995 by KQED, San Francisco's PBS (Public Broadcasting Station), where I worked for 32 years and retired. When the credits rolled I was surprised by how many names I recognized (and knew). This film was originally released on VHS and I don't believe it was ever reissued on DVD. (Note: This is not part of the PBS series of the 1970's called 'The Way It Was'.)

[@WOWDOWN]

Awesome I was wondering when it was made, such a beautiful documentary.

[@renatoalcides5104]

Write, write, write what you remember of all of this! So precious... Never underestimate what people can learn and enjoy from what you lived and learned.

[@howardkerr8174]

FeatnikSF: KQED produced many excellent documentaries during this time period, you were lucky to be part of an august group, situated in California, at a very pivotal moment of the 20th century.

[@911nica]

Please enjoy my musical love affair with San Francisco. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5Swh6KNgtN8iZI

[@WarEagleTimeMachine]

Thanks for the info. I was guessing by the ages of the participants that it must have been made in the late 80s or early 90s. I think every city has a "what were we thinking?" moment, and for San Fran, tearing down the Fox Theater has to be one of them.

[@BradThePitts]

Tony Bennett, one of the greatest New Yorker's that ever lived - loved San Francisco so much he "left his heart" there!

[@-oiiio-3993]

I left my harp at Sam Frank's disco.

[@DevilDogDen1775]

Oh, man..... I'm a fifth generation San Franciscan...I was born at French Hospital in 1960.... This brought back so many memories for me..... Here I am watching this with a smile on my face, and a tear in my eye.... Thanks so very much for posting this...

[@fishypictures]

I was born at French hospital in 1959, hope you are doing good brother. Love the redhead , she has the stuff I like.

[@-oiiio-3993]

I was born under the 49 star flag, but in Van Nuys.

[@h.p.oliver8666]

This was "The City" of the swells, not the average Joe on the street. I grew up in San Francisco, too, and the only time we went to Market Street was at Christmas time to look at the wonderful displays in the department store windows. Nostalgia is one thing, history is another.

[@davidwelch5186]

Being a 70 year old native I really appreciated this documentary production. I remember fox, city of Paris. The park. And zoo. Many things.. dad actually was a streetcar operator., until he got a job with PG&E and was sent to help build the power plant in moss landing, Monterey bay. After moving I spent many summers at grandmas on Fredrick st. Haight Ashbury, the old family home. She and her mom rented rooms and flats.. they finally moved out in 72 to Monterey Bay..

[@chrisallen7911]

What a wonderful tribute to San Francisco. I don't know how the people of S F could allow that Fox Theater to be destroyed. It was one of the most beautiful buildings in the USA. Such a crime. Same with Nieman Marcus tearing down the City of Paris. Sickening.

[@StevenTorrey]

The City of Paris building was NOT torn down; Neiman Marcus occupies the space.

[@user-pe2yx9kt4e]

Yes, thank you

[@janetmarletto6667]

@@StevenTorrey Indeed! I enjoy going to Neiman's and remembering going to the City of Paris as a small child ( dressed appropriately) with my mother and having lunch at the City of Paris restaurant located downstairs at that time. Lovely memories. Very sad about the losses of I. Magnin and Blum's!

[@gingerriviera3654]

@@StevenTorrey yes I was a bit confused myself when the narrator said the City of Paris building was demolished...but the boat still sails above..? Thank you for clarifying.

[@howardkerr8174]

@@janetmarletto6667 In the late 70s my sister and I brought my mother, who had spent a large part of her life in a small Pennsylvania town, to SF for a few days. I think if we had let her she would have spent the better part of a week, maybe two, exploring the department stores she had only heard of. As it was, we spent 2 days visiting just 4 stores...and we nearly had to drag her back to the hotel.

[@Skynet_the_AI]

I was born at Kaiser S.F. March 23, 1981. I'm still here and it's 2022 as of this post.

[@yesic7196]

Kaiser '82

[@alphonsostarr9900]

As a native San Franciscan (and still live here) I say THANK YOU!

[@williamzavlaris4054]

Thank you so much for uploading! This is so nostalgic for a 71-year-old native who no longer lives in Northern California but misses San Francisco every day and most especially the city of my youth. Time flies by incredibly fast, changes are inevitable but of course Herb Caen expressed it perfectly when he notes that a great part of what we really miss is our own lost youth. But I sure can taste a Blum's wonderfully rich chocolate shake right now and still marvel at the City of Paris Christmas tree and my Mom shopping at I. Magnin. Thanks again for rekindling such wonderful memories.

[@berthachavez7911]

It’s nostalgic for this 32 year old as well. Seems like such a lovely time to have been alive

[@Yowzoe]

As a 62 year-old who grew up on Scott Street on the edge of the Duboce park, I remember also the tree at City of Paris, shopping at I. Magnin’s (and J.) with my mom who was decked out in hat and gloves. Christmastime was pretty magical downtown. In order to get her full Social Security, she had to go back to work and became secretary of to the president of the Emporium for a few quarters. I remember Blum’s and the thrill of the glass elevators at the Fairmont. Union Square, Maiden Lane, Grant Ave., and I sure rode the cable cars any chance I could. My friend who is in the city for the silent film festival just today sent me a text of a photo of the front of Mission Dolores basilica, where I was an altar boy and in the choir. I sent back a video of the graveyard at the Old Mission where a scene in Vertigo was shot a few years before I went to school there. I knew just about every corner of San Francisco from walking and Muni, but mostly from bicycling. I recall high-speed riding on warm early Sunday summertime mornings across the city from Mount Davidson, skirting Twin Peaks, through Golden Gate Park all the way up to the Aquatic Pier to fish. The streets were empty, they were ours, almost no traffic! This raw footage could be taken from my early childhood: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iX3aiZl3i5aUgNE I am now up north in Washington, and I have a friend of 10 years here who spent decades in San Francisco. Whenever we meet we spend at least half our time reminiscing about where we left our hearts. That and our youth. Not to be melodramatic, but it’s true. Your own short reminiscence sent me far down memory lane :-)

[@lucianomezzetta4332]

I no longer live in the City and I no longer live in the USA. But I too think about the City every day. Erskine Caldwell when asked where lived, he answered, "outside of San Francisco, and that is not exactly the United States." He lived for almost 20 years in the Twin Peaks area. San Francisco was not and is not really part of the United States. It is the great vermillion orange city of bridges, of vortices, of dialectics, of fogs, of cool air, of beautiful winds.

[@georgesenda1952]

I knew Herb Caen & spent time in his house and also knew Melvin Belli & used to sit in his law office. We moved to SF in 1964 and loved the city, now sadly a crime invested hell hole. RIP. HERB, MELVIN & DAVE & BLUMS.

[@joandarrah478]

How nostalgic! In 1958 i turned 21 and moved to San Francisco. Some of these things were still there and some were gone but still spoken of. I loved it and i loved this program.

[@Wayinsworld]

I moved to SF from Toronto in 1984. The City was like a classy gal in my mind with tons of wealth and history unlike any place in Canada. It also had a moderate year round climate that was perfect for me after growing up in snow. After that first year I accepted a job in Honolulu and moved to the islands for seven years. Eventually i understood real money was only made in The City so I moved back in 1992 just in time for the tech boom signing on to do color production for PC World magazine. After four years there I moved on to be a manager in prepress at the SF Chronicle just in time to say farewell to Herb Caen as he retired. Still living in the Bay area today and I will never regret my choice of The City as my adopted home. It still has the most diverse mix of cultures of any place in North America and leads the world in technology. My favorite spots to visit are Oracle park for a Giants game, the Saloon for live blues bands in North Beach, Golden Boy pizza, the top of Coit tower, Grant street in the heart of Chinatown, Golden Gate park, the ferry to Tiburon and the newest landmark, Sales Force tower. Mahalos for all you are SF.

[@pwp8737]

I also moved here from Toronto and fell in love with San Francisco. My longest running love affair. Still here till the undertaker comes.

[@davidsmith6151]

Forty-nine minutes for the birthplace of the 49ers. Born in 1938, I grew up having experiences at each of the venues covered in the wonderful film. From my mother donning her hat and white gloves going "downtown" shopping at the City of Paris to baseball at Seals' ballpark and three years undefeated at Fleishakers swimming for Washington, I know the pool intimately. Cold. After Winterland closed, I played ice hockey at Sutro's and dipped in the milk-white cool pool. The filmmaker couldn't cover everything, but the Peace Treaty was signed at the War Memorial, Winterland housed the Ice Follies and the SF Shamrock ice hockey team, the Japanese Tea Garden, the Golden Gate Park, and the Golden Gate Bridge are standouts along with the Presidio.

[@maximegrossman2146]

Thank you for these great memories.

[@ChristineBeatty1]

There's so much more material for another one of these, especially now that Candlestick is gone, most of the iconic signs, other theaters, the Embarcadero and central city on/offramps, the whole character of SOMA and lower Market, the Presidio, and entire blocks of Victorians. What I love about movies is they preserve the past if they're shot well. You can visit 1966-76 SF watching Bullitt, Harold & Maude, Dirty Harry 1-3, Play It Again Sam and The Conversation to name a few. I miss that SF I grew up in and around.

[@youfuckmywife6719]

@@ChristineBeatty1 You should also binge watch as many episodes of The Streets of San Francisco.

[@sonjageorge6224]

As an army brat I lived up on Lincoln, 3 houses up from the nurses barracks,, and always went down under the bridge walk around the outside of the fort, it wasn't fenced around the sides in the 1950's Marina Jr High was the best school. My best friend lived at the corner of Buchanan and Union,. Where are you 'Diaper' We bought Mad comics before they became magazines. Oh and I saw Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio in Kazar Stadium.

[@plimsoul89]

City of Paris! So great to see that name. My mom used to tell about going there from Palo Alto on the train with her mother during the 30s when she was a little girl. Such a beautiful place.

[@francesfarmer736]

Santa Cruz beach and boardwalk Funhouse mimicked SF Playhouse, I grew up in the 60s and did all those rides, record player, barrel the slide, we slid down on gunny sacks, and the wave,, you would have to walk on rolling platforms……..great memories, fun times!

[@steverische804]

Just want to add one to your Funhouse memories. The air jets in the floor that were strategically weaponized to blow the skirts of the ladies/girls above their heads and to startle everyone else.

[@francesfarmer736]

@@steverische804 yes, I remember those air jets, I always wore shorts, but mom had her skirt blown up a time or two!

[@bartonpercival3216]

Well the old Historic 1906 built Charles I.D.Looff merry go round that ran at Playland from 1913-1972 was restored in 1998 and currently operates at Yerba Buena Park at 4th & Howard street in San Francisco

[@teller121]

I had a close, older relative who just passed at age 97. He once told me about returning from the Pacific War in 1945 to Ft. Mason. When I lived there 01-06, I'd occasionally go down to Ft. Mason (long after the army had relinquished control to the city) and study the four large docks still there. Above the docks there was this walking path that had a plaque saying that 1.1 mil soldiers left and returned from those docks. Being into the history of WWII since youth, I couldn't help but be amazed at that. And all he remembered about SF was that when he came home, he went to a place that had a big ferris (or roller coaster) wheel and staying in a soldier's hotel where he found a dead man in the communal bathroom one morning.

[@apo18llo]

Such a neat documentary. My great-great aunt owned a candy store on Geary Street in SF back in the 1920's and 1930's called Fogalsang's Pru-Nut Creams.

[@JosephKulik2016]

When I moved to SF at age 19 in 1969, I thought that San Franciscans were arrogant to call SF "The City". But as I discovered the whole Bay Area and Northern CA, I realized that SF was called The City because it was literally the only REAL city in Northern CA. Growing up in New England, I saw even small cities with a "downtown" but out here SF was, and still is, the only city in CA with an East Coast type "downtown" with all the hustle and bustle that goes with it. This unique urban trait of SF made it a magnet for culture and style. Back then, people in the Bay Are called the cities in the Central Valley "cow towns" and with good reason. SF was, and still is the only place in CA with a REAL East Coast downtown, and all that was ever special about The City seems to have come from that.

[@StevenTorrey]

You really have to see the City at Marin Headlands to appreciate that it is The City.

[@youfuckmywife6719]

The Last Cosmopolitan City in America .

[@williamstevens1001]

Welcome to the smash and grab world. This is today.

[@youfuckmywife6719]

@@williamstevens1001 this is what radical liberal policies and reform lead us too .

[@me67226]

I called it " the city" since I can remember , moving to N.Cal when I was 9 yrs old. And we came from L.A. area.

[@tomaguilar7974]

What a wonderful Documentary. Yes, this must have been the most beautiful place in the world and I envy the little kids fishing on the doc. I'm glad people remember SF for what it used to be.

[@Baysk8er24]

This is nice, my grandma use to take me to the Emporium slides on the roof in the 70's

[@deborahamen1079]

My Dad loved Playland and he used to take me there all the time. The one thing I absolutely hated there and he loved was that dangerous, rickety rollercoaster. I would scream and cry in fear every time he would make me go on it. Then, he would get mad at me for being afraid. After watching your video and hearing the discussion about how unsafe that thing was finally confirmed my fears. I do miss a few things though. I loved the fun house. I also loved to go to the zoo. I miss Fleischacker pool. And I also liked to visit the wharf before it was all built up and commercialized to be a tourist attraction. I remember people fishing off the pier there. I remember one of them giving me a starfish to take home with me. The wax museum and the ice rink were fun too. I miss those days.

[@mbruno64]

Me too! Where did you grow up?

[@-oiiio-3993]

After reading that, I think I'll have an It's-It. I generally keep a few in my freezer this time of year.

[@sidneyrasmussen4634]

My friend and I were there with a very limited budget. A sailor had to get back to his ship and had a roll of tickets which he gave to us. We used them all to stay on the BIG DIPPER roller coaster - for a couple of hours. Funny thing is that it got less scary on each round.

[@LizbethPlenty]

Grew up in Bay Area 60s - 70s. Went to SF often. So much fun! Pre internet days, much less deluge of information. Read Herb Caen column in the Chronicle. Armistead Maupin, Tales of the City books still exist, 1970s. The Zoo, Golden Gate Park. Walking all over city without fear but careful near the freeway areas. Preserve your historical places everyone! Not just real estate. We love you great dear San Francisco! Care for the homeless. Xoxo

[@LizbethPlenty]

Not finished with this but a lot of the people speaking were "society" people and also people who had long time roots in San Francisco. If you search many of their names you will find lots of other historical facts. There are places in Bay Area that are named after some of them. RIP good people.

[@LizbethPlenty]

Also...There is a Laughing Sal and a Great Dipper roller coaster at the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz. For when it opens, support.

[@ladybug5859]

The homeless are not San Franciscans. THEY came from cities all across America because of the good weather and the easy attitudes of the people where they can get FREE food and FREE everything and they along with a high-tech--the 2 extremes on the economic rainbow,shall we say, have ruined the city.

[@Tbikeland]

What a shame they destroyed those wonderful buildings. Thank you for this wonderful documentary.

[@Jeff-uj8xi]

The first of my San Francisco visits was in the mid-1960's. I went to see, ride and film the wonderful transit system. Besides the cable cars, I filmed the street car, trolley coach and bus lines. I filmed the construction of BART under Market Street. I was at the ribbon cutting ceremony for BART. I stood a few feet away from Mayor Joseph Alioto when he cut the ribbon. Afterwards, I rode on and filmed the inaugural VIP first train and the first day operations. I fell in love with San Francisco's transit system. There was a time when I wanted to leave New Jersey and move to San Francisco. But frankly, I never had the guts to leave home and do it. Now, an almost eighty year old home bound, ill invalid,, it was a sad missed opportunity. What a pity that they tore down the beautiful FOX theater in 1963. It was gone before my first trip to San Francisco.

[@pacz8114]

One notable difference between then (essentially pre-1965) and now (post-2000) SF is that the middle class and their typically politically moderate households have vanished.

[@user-or6yn8pm3c]

You would be surprised to find out regular people lived there up until the 90s. The reason its not so good are the Silicon Valley billionaires raised the cost of living. 21st century SF sucks.

[@user-or6yn8pm3c]

You could say that about any major US city. Chicago and NYC were nice too. New York would shock most people if they saw it in the 1930s to 1950s. Yeah Great Depression WW2 Cold War era NYC was quite a wonderland.

[@Punisher2all]

Anyone else quickly scroll to the comments to read about how grand and marvelous and great things were? And to juxtapose it to today.

[@markharmon4963]

Oh fuss off!

[@stevyd]

Great documentary on some of the past greats of San Francisco, and they didn't even mention either of the 2 fairs. The Panama-Pacific International Exposition, from February 20 to December 4, 1915, and then the Golden Gate International Exposition, 1939 to 1940, held on Treasure Island.

[@weareorigin]

Nowadays, shopping means wearing pajamas to go to Walmart for items that may not last. Not dressing up for downtown shopping

[@plimsoul89]

Sad but true

[@mariekatherine5238]

Cities were livable, once upon a time. Imagine allowing your children to go anywhere in SF without an adult and a scheduled, structured activity.

[@bee45rpm]

We just jumped on Muni and rode all over the place, even in elementary school.

[@willywonka8730]

...and rubber boots and a rain coat.

[@buradley1733]

I loved the Ferry Bldg., it was fascinating to me as a child!

[@gonavy5607]

I’ve raised five kids in North Beach and it’s still pretty great. These are the good old days, people.

[@sfreddy]

I agree. I love nostalgia, but, Those of old timers still here understand that it is our attitude that makes the city alive. Thank you.

[@crlguitar1]

Christmas time in the 'City' was special to me as a child. The 'Big 'E' had a bunch of carnival rides on the roof top. Macy's, was all decorated windows. It seemed like magic. Stopping to see the tree at the City Of Paris rotunda was special.

[@janetmarletto6667]

I agree completely! Plus taking the Powell Street cable car and passing by houses and apartments with colorful Christmas trees in the windows. Also beautiful in the Spring.

[@quicklykay]

Wow, I’d forgotten all about those rides on the roof of The Big E!”

[@sallyward3791]

Incredible! I try to tell my granddaughters, who have been raised there, how elegant it was. This shows it in a magnificent way.

[@anie4157]

I was born and raised in San Francisco, proud to say. After watching this documentary, I learned more about my city. I loved every moment of this! Still living in San Francisco, there's nothing to do in this city. The people who now live here, have destroyed it, making it boring and super expensive on top of that. San Francisco needs a face lift and more things to do.

[@ingebird3380]

I lived on Polk street 1991 - 2005. I loved it. It makes me sad to see how it is now.

[@spb7883]

Manhattan is the same way

[@jgee4073]

There’s plenty to do. Talk continuously about how much your house has appreciated. How much it’s worth. How Joe Blow down the street got $100K on the house he flipped in 24 hours. Jeeze. Get a life and give it a rest.

[@youfuckmywife6719]

@@ingebird3380 I was back in SF a few years ago . Polk St. was one of the few neighborhoods not gentrified. However, no more theaters, See’s candies . Bob’s Donuts and Hahn’s Hibachi still there. Gay bars moved. Most of their owners died.

[@davidjames666]

it is a cesspool today. Thanks Liberal Democrats

[@nancychace8619]

Being a San Jose native with roots all over the Bay Area, I truly enjoyed this documentary. So many great memories of special visits to the City. My mom used to take me to see the Christmas tree at City of Paris. Going up on the train was a special treat. And it's true, the ladies would get dressed to go to downtown. So sad to see the icons go. The same has happened in SJ, and still is. One may have to dig through a few more layers these days, but San Francisco is still a wonderful city -This video brought many smiles. Thank you for sharing.

[@sfreddy]

I totally love this! I have lived in SF for 45 years. I have seen changes. It is a place of change. Thank you so much for your research and presentation!

[@malvolio01]

It’s changed into something unrecognizable now.

[@phmwu7368]

@@malvolio01 Unfortunately in something shitty !

[@ronjohnson3621]

I went recently. I’d say it’s beautiful! What makes it shitty?

[@markrossow6303]

for Christmas I just received the book, "Upper Left Cities: A Cultural Atlas of San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle"

[@karenglovka8693]

My grandmother, visiting from Washington State, bought me the most beautiful purple plaid material at City of Paris to make me a jumper for school. I word that jumper as long as I could before it was too small for me. Wonderful documentary!

[@lucianomezzetta4332]

In the years 1915 to 1980 this was the greatest city in the world. Great music, great art, great poetry, great universities, great everything. It is the great vermillion orange city of bridges, of cool air , of beautiful wind.

[@CharlesCoderre-yv1cu]

the rot began in the mid-60s

[@mikecesa4444]

So many things of the city that was not discussed here. But, overall a nice doc. I knew many people born and raised in the city from 1900's through the 1980's. Notice some of the accents? The only west coast city to have a unique accent. And, I am 3rd generation SF Bay Area!

[@raysousa955]

I was born and raised in the city. I miss my hometown. It pains me when I go back and see how it has changed.

[@plimsoul89]

Dave McElhatton! My parents' favorite news anchor (KPIX Channel 5) growing up in the 70s and 80s in the Bay Area. He felt like a real friend in our home.

[@susanaltman5134]

A life long New Yorker, but I enjoyed this very much. Some of the sights were very unique, but what was familiar is that the 1960s was the time when many treasures were destroyed without much thought. Ditto for NYC.

[@youfuckmywife6719]

So good to see Herb Caen again . I used to bump into him , bar hopping home in the afternoon. He still wore a hat with his suit.

[@MarinCipollina]

Yeah.. I remember seeing him at the North Beach hangouts, The Saloon, Caffe Trieste, Vesuvios, WashBAG.. some others

[@youfuckmywife6719]

@@MarinCipollina As I commented in another San Francisco Video about the better days ; I was born at Mary’s Help on Guerrero and Clinton Park . I lived at California near Fillmore. My Mom pushed me in the stroller to Falletti Brothers Market . My Father went from being an entertainment union rep to a full time student at U.C. Berkeley . My Mom later got her Masters degree at SJSU . We moved down the peninsula when SF turned into a freak show . After a 6 year Army career and a year of trade school, I returned to that city by the bay . It was right after Loma Prieta and in between the World Series and a Super Bowl victory . Civic pride was off of the charts ! I found an over-priced studio at Grant & Green . Upstairs from The North End Cafe . The owners were Dave and the cute blonde girl . I was surrounded by bars and Italian Restaurants . What could be better ? I worked at Post & Kearney . I walked to work. 6 blocks . Grabbed coffee at Spinelli, a croissant at Boudin. Read Herb Caen in the break room. Grabbed lunch at Lefty O’Doul’s. Bar hopped home every night with my co workers via cable car The Gold Spike, Tosca, Vesuvios, The Saloon, The Lost & Found, Grant & Green . I remember the night the owner shot and killed his bartender because he was screwing his wife. He hired Melvin Belli from down the street and won ! We used to have dinner at the greatest restaurant in North Beach, Broadway Joe’s . Spaghetti & Meatballs. T- Bone Steak. Crab Chiopino . Life was good . It was the place to be . I was so happy to be part of that. I later moved to Haight/Ashbury . That was the place to be in the 1990’s. Best of times .

[@MarinCipollina]

@@youfuckmywife6719 Once a San Franciscan always a San Franciscan. Back in the 1980s I had a apartment that overlooks Broadway and Columbus. City Lights Books across the street was always worth a visit anytime. Miss Keiko’s Chi Chi club on Broadway had great music weekends, John Cipollina & Nick Gravenites Thunder & Lightning band were frequent guests. Freddy Hererra and Bobby Corona’s club, The Stone also had some great national rock acts. Remember Petrini’s Supermarket at Masonic & Fulton/McAllister ? Best meats and fish to be found in The City. Those were some great great times, but there’s no going back, sadly.

[@youfuckmywife6719]

@@MarinCipollina Petrini’s is still there. They got older and needed some security so they had that massive property developed around the old market. Now you can’t park and shop anymore. My Mom used to know the Faletti brothers. I heard until recent years they sat upstairs at their Noe Valley location playing cards all day. Fucking Whole Foods took over. I used to live at Stanyan & Page . Shopped at Cala for 10 years. I moved back to SF in 2013 went home to the Haight and I got sick ! Whole Foods ! NO ! I was driving for Uber back then. I made around 3 stops a night to whole food on Haight. I would take a nice, long, warm, 3peet’s coffee piss under their picnic tables 3 times a night . I hate Whole Foods and their customers.

[@youfuckmywife6719]

@@MarinCipollina Petrini’s is still at Masonic & Fulton, just smaller. Faletti’s re opened as a smaller, gourmet/Italian Specialty Market on Broderick & Oak st. Next to Peet’s Coffee across from the DMV .

[@mangadolo]

I absolutely love San Francisco! Obviously it needs to be cleaned up - but I still have hope.

[@yalzy1414]

Thank You for your hope. We all really need that.

[@kuhnhan]

My dad grew up in the projects on Potrero Hill in the 1930s and 40s. He would have enjoyed this.

[@youfuckmywife6719]

So did OJ Simpson .

[@yalzy1414]

@@youfuckmywife6719 Everyone of your comments have been negative and or vulgar, ( including your name) please consider others, and say something complimentary, or don't say anything at all.

[@someguy1559]

loved the cheese rolling bit at 750

[@GarthGoldberg]

My grandmother lived in Pacific Heights and shopped in Union Square. Today, she'd have to step over human feces, walk past boarded up store fronts and tent encampments, and worry about smash and grab robbers. I wonder what Herb Caen would be saying today.

[@jgee4073]

The same thing I’d say…I spent all of the 70’s in San Francisco. It is a city obsessed with itself. I have wonderful memories of wonderful people in that era in San Francisco.

[@CharlesCoderre-yv1cu]

he would only have rattled on about his wealthy yet worthless friends

[@yalzy1414]

@@CharlesCoderre-yv1cu There were a lot of people he knew and wrote about who weren't worthless. The City certainly wasn't worthless at that time. Most of us really cared and worked to make this a nice place.

[@CharlesCoderre-yv1cu]

@@yalzy1414 never said the city was worthless, just many of SF high society (many of whom must have scanned Caen's column to see if they were mentioned) The long holiday poem was particularly revolting, bordering on idolatry. Mybe some tried to make it a nice plave, they failed, making it vastly worse-roughly beginning with the hippie era

[@karinlearned7150]

Thank you for up loading this gem. San Francisco lost some of its flavour when the city cemented in Union Square (because of the homeless using it as a base I believe)? Irregardless, of all the cities I've lived in or seen around the world, San Francisco is where I've left my heart.

[@chriscaughey1103]

I loved this history and what the city was! I'm from the Midwest and never saw it so this was a thrill for me to see.

[@justinjayankura8676]

I wish I could have experienced those places.

[@rayvilla1]

Lived in the Tenderloin mid-80s...Rent then for a studio was $350. I had a blast! Bought my coffee at Freed, Teller and Freed on Polk St! I worked in retail. And how little I earned then, I had money left for other things. How I missed all of it. Now retired and living overseas. SF will always be my home!

[@isuzu008]

RIP Herb Caen, RIP Dave McElhatton.

[@mangadolo]

I grew up in San Jose but spent many, many days and nights up in The City. Still has a romanticism rivaled by no other city including Paris.

[@roywhiteo5]

The last time i was in the city i saw two bums share a crack pipe. Sharing is caring. I also grew up in san jose

[@mangadolo]

@@roywhiteo5 😂😭🤦🏽‍♂️

[@sharonthompson2333]

Thank you Christine, so very nice of you to make this available to those of us that missed it before.

[@crispiemo81]

I'm a native Born San Francisco & even t'ho I have been living in Italy x over 50 yrs, I Remember a lot in the video tho some things are before my time, being Born in 1945. However, most touched by I.Magnin's,Blums,City of Paris & xmas tree but most of all: Playland at the Beach! All made me feel very sad x the things that are no more. At least they still exist in everyone's memories, especially mine.

[@areguapiri]

though

[@tombesson7293]

This video brought back the memory of watching Captain Fortune on Saturday mornings and seeing the kids get off the trolly and running into the building where the show was filmed.

[@geewillikers5342]

I remember market street back when it had a Del Taco, Burger King and a Hardee’s. Vanishing SF.

[@bobc5730]

In memory of the great Russ Coughlan, a native born son and one who really loved his city and more importantly it’s citizens.

[@CharlesCoderre-yv1cu]

unlike that bastard Caen

[@unclemayhem6696]

There were a number of those “Laughing Sals” (seen @16:37). There’s still one operating at Sant Cruz Beach and there was one at the old Jantzen Beach Amusement Park in Portland, Oregon.

[@danielcarroll3358]

When we knew they were going to close Playland two of us from KUSF went to record Laughing Sal. She was moving - but no sound? We were told it was broken and were directed to the maintenance shop. It used a tape cart just like in our studios. So I fixed it and we made our recording. That was a long time ago.

[@vanzarockin]

I believe Laughing Sal is still at Musee Mecanique in Fisherman's Wharf. She was in their collection while they were located by the camera obscura near The Cliff House. I can't imagine they got rid of her when they moved.

[@bartonpercival3216]

The original head of laughing Sal was stolen, but the body remained, they made or had a back up head of laughing Sal. She is now up at the Santa Cruz Beach boardwalk at Neptune castle on the boardwalk. Also the whirlitzer 165 band organ that ran on the Playland Looff merry go round is now operating on the Looff SCBB merry go round

[@thomasrobinson182]

I was stationed in the bay area in the late 70s. The city proper was pricier than I was used to but there were so many things to do. We saw the debut of Star Wars downtown (5 hour wait). The Days On The Green, Raiders and 49ers games. Dinner at Brennan's in Berkeley. Winterland and other live music sites. KSAN, KFAT, KMEL and other great radio stations. Sightseeing in the city. We had a nighttime barbeque on the beach with the Golden Gate nearby. Most of what I remeber is gone, including my base. But the memories are still there. Sad that the city as become what it is. Sadder still that no one seems to care.

[@FeatnikSF]

KSAN-FM ownership changed in 1979 and by 1980 the format was all country and no longer the free-form radio that made it unique and famous. KMEL appeared after KSAN went down.

[@thomasrobinson182]

@@FeatnikSF I remember. A lot of unhappy Deadheads (and others)

[@delwynberrett3280]

I remember going to play land and the roller coaster and dressing up to go to the city. The whole Bay Area is in a sad sorry state today. Fisherman’s Wharf the Top of the Mark. Golden Gate Park and many more memories

[@davidshamiri1448]

How charming and delightful

[@talldude5841]

The first time for me to go to San Fran was in 1971 on vacation with my parents when I was about 15 years old. My brother has lived there now for over 35 years and about every few years I would go out and see him. Every year it got worse and worse. My last visit was two years ago and could not believe how bad it is. Homeless people, tents and human waste all over the sidewalks. I told my brother that this would be the last time for me in California and San Francisco. He will be moving back to beautiful safe central Ohio where I live next spring.

[@vision-gc4hy]

You're exaggerating.

[@talldude5841]

Oh no I am not. Just ask my brother who can hardly wait to get out of there.

[@ladybug5859]

It's even worst. The squalor is throughout the city --all its neighborhoods. THAT'S what a tech invasion DOES to a city

[@MrDude826]

@@vision-gc4hyol! He isn't. It's abandoned and full of shit. It relied too much on the tech industry.

[@vision-gc4hy]

@@MrDude826 I don’t work in tech but I’ve worked downtown SF for the past 24 years. It’s not abandoned. You’re negative. You need to adjust your frame of mind.

[@Sonormuseum]

Loved hearing the woman tell the story of trying to get Seals autographs when she was a little girl, but getting knocked out - by a foul ball I assume. They signed her baseball and got it to her. The one they showed in this video had my grandfather’s signature on it. Al Lyons. Played for the Seals in 1953 and 54. Wish I’d been alive then.

[@rouxbea2]

Thanks so much for posting! Loved this! Such fabulous footage of Playland- I never thought I'd get to see that spectacular wooden slide again so that was an especially sweet surprise. Some amazing Fleishacker and Sutro bath shots too. So much nostalgic swooning.

[@MaggieLawlor]

Thank you so much for saving and sharing this wonderful documentary!

[@pinokodayo]

Where can we go today to experience a sense of elegance in San Francisco? Where would older folks spend time today, the ones that have been here for decades? The Symphony ? Zuni?

[@janetmarletto6667]

To the St. Francis to dine. To Neiman-Marcus for lunch under the exquisite dome. To the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park: to visit the lovely garden followed by tea and cookies in the pavillion. Enjoy!

[@blueroom694]

Thank You and a Toast for Ms. Beatty......." To Better Times "

[@neatpaws]

Brilliant!! Sad. Nostalgic. Incredibly interesting. Brilliant!!

[@kathleenwells4495]

Excellent presentation!

[@joro8604]

Been here a long, long time but didn't know alot of this stuff.

[@tachyon2357]

I love the old San Francisco way of talking so few talk like that anymore. My grandparents had that way of talking. sounds almost mid-atlantic from the old movies.

[@Sovereign_Citizen_LEO]

Back when everyone wore their Sunday Finest, wherever they went, on any day of the week. Back when men were men, and women were women. There was no radical neo-Marxist liberalism/ leftist unpatriotic nonsense. IMagnin, Joseph Magnin, Emporium Capwell, Playland at the Beach, an actual working Port of San Francisco, Hunters Point Naval Shipyard (an actual working shipyard), Schlage Lock Company Headquarters (where I worked for several years until transferring to the "Santa Clara Knob Company" [Division] in San Jose), the Pan Pacific Exposition, etc. etc. etc.

[@barbracrumley9988]

We went to Playland in the 60s and loved it.

[@bartonpercival3216]

Yes me too. Loved the Charles Looff carousel and all the good eating places out at Playland especially The Hot House 👍

[@joekulik999]

09:55 I moved to SF from the East in 1969 and this video even blows my mind. It REALLY Hurts to see what has become of that Bagdad by The Bay. I must stop watching for awhile now or I'll just keep on crying. 😢

[@beachdog67]

Thank you SO much. It's a different world now.

[@skyrocketcoast219]

Grew up in the City! Love this video! Thanks

[@slobama]

Born (1944) and raised in The City. Went to grammar and high school there, left when I was about 18. Went back once since then and took BART (something new) from the peninsula to Market Street. Came up out of the tunnel, looked around and didn't recognize it at all, it was like landing on another planet. I would not return again, for one I never did like the fog and second I could not afford to live there today. But had some good times as a kid. Never bored, always played outside and could ride the street cars and buses (Muni) with a card ticket good to go anywhere in the city for 5 cents. Card ticket cost 50 cents and was good for 10 rides. Ah well time marches on!!!

[@Truthseeker1515]

The City of Paris building reminds me of the Galerie Lafayette store in Paris, very stylish....I cannot believe it was demolished. In France, we do not do that. Note that the store is named after the Ville de Paris ship which brought the Verdier brothers, the French founders, to SF, not after the City itself...

[@janetmarletto6667]

It WAS NOT demolished! Neiman-Marcus occupies it....beautifully! Je l'adore!

[@albertdowning2142]

I was born in 1957 I lived on 19th n York I have a vague memory of Seals Stadium . When we moved down 2 blocks on Bryant. We would watch the beer sign fill up over and over at night. Still here and sadly the city has gotten dirty

[@mjgabor1528]

I had a chance to live there for a year around 1994 took a pass; looking back probably should have taken that one year job

[@alisakmoore]

I was part of this world in th 60's.

[@jntj3007]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS!!! Much appreciated!

[@marc639]

I arrived in 1963. I missed that city. I was 22. nothing lasts in California, it gets removed and a museum takes it's place 😊

[@milart12]

The Sutro Baths look fantastic!!!!

[@erickahamburg9503]

thanks so much for posting.

[@safeatthird6060]

This is so damn great to bad so many great things are gone the city is nothing like it was 50, 60 years ago. wow

[@sfreddy]

So interesting. My family is from New York and my mother told me about the skirt lifting air ride on Coney Island.

[@BradThePitts]

One of the things that gives San Francisco its charm is that it is architecturally a very "East Coast" looking West Coast city.

[@LizinLouie]

Thank you for This, Christine !!

[@mdimita]

Thank so much! I am sending this to young friends who will now appreciate what a great city SF was. These are my memories. I recorded the show on VHS years ago when it aired and am happy that now I can share this, thank you so much

[@marktwain5232]

Wow! This was just terrific! JUST WOW!

[@hadlee189]

My father, born in 1929 (may he rip) always use to talk about this San Francisco. And how the men went downtown back in the day with a hat on, & the women always had a hat & gloves on. But as we all know, nothing remains the same, people, & places evolve.

[@BigOscarMan]

Great video. Thanks for posting it

[@rrbbb1180]

Thank you for posting this! I remember watching it back in the 90's on KQED. The VHS copy I bought got damaged and I haven't been able to find it anywhere else until now.

[@McIntyreBible]

I was born and grew up in SF. I agree with the theme of this video: SF was a great city to live in until the 'mid 60's!

[@thewkovacs316]

city was fine right up to the 90s

[@bigdickblack1505]

From what I see it's still great.