Green City, the Reforestation of Seattle (1983)

[@islandbee]

Seattle in the early 80s was incredibly awesome. In 1983, I was only 8 years old. But, I remember how easy going it was. Nobody really knew much about Seattle in the rest of America. It was all about NYC or LA. I was so proud that part of the movie War Games with Matthew Broderick took place in Seattle.

[@Kazilikaya]

We’re lucky world events turned in our favor that year or we’d both be dead.

[@islandbee]

3:38 Does anybody remember Pay n Save? Loved that store. Use to get cheap video rentals back then. They are now what is known as Rite Aid today.

[@oceans.and.deserts]

Yes, and I noticed the store! I used to buy makeup and whatnot at the one in Bellevue off Main Street in the late '80s-early '90s when I was in high school.

[@loge10]

I lived in Seattle from 1976 to 1985, arriving only to visit right after college - and then staying nine years. For my last 6 years there I drove a bookmobile for Seattle Public Library which covered the entire city every month. I still visit friends there on occasion but feel deep sadness (and sometimes sickness) for what Seattle has become.

[@valeriependelton5819]

This was the Seattle I remember. I was about 8 years old. Look how clean everything looked. I would not hesitate for one second to go back in time to how it was.

[@jamosh1967]

I was 16 years old in 1983.

[@fluffycritter]

I moved to Seattle in 2005 and while it's changed a lot since then, and 2005 was hugely different than 1983, it's still amazing how many places in this film are still recognizable today.

[@leadersuccess3761]

Love you Seattle always.

[@candasmith]

You still do? It's awful what it has become. Disgusting.

[@oceans.and.deserts]

I had to leave in January of 2003 and have only seen the sad videos of what has become of my Emerald City since then. I'll stick to the memories of what it once was. Seattle will always be my hometown and I love it, too. It was a great place to grow up and its uniqueness is undeniable. After 20 years in the drab and dusty desert, I really miss all the water and greenery.

[@joejackson9546]

JC Pennys in Ballard, those were the days.

[@jamesjohnson6309]

joe jackson I wish I was around then. Ballard born in 98’. Now it’s just a bunch of bums sleeping in door ways all up and down market st.

[@paulhorn27]

Wow, Seattle seems almost quaint in this movie!

[@goredongoredon]

The "fine old chestnut tree" at the Thomas St Park on Cap Hill and was struck by lightning and replaced some years ago. It is neat to see old footage of the park because it showed a glimpse of the house next door that no longer exists.

[@stanburdick9708]

so sad to see a beautiful city gone bad

[@candasmith]

Those kids sitting in the grass at Freeway Park would be stabbed by needles today. Seattle is now a cesspool. It's very sad.

[@lucidparalysis2794]

That was the first thing I thought when I saw that. Its honestly such a shame

[@betamax-vhs-super8978]

I want the current city council and mayor to be forced to watch this video. Just look at what you have done to our beautiful Seattle.

[@globalvideoexpert9447]

They would view it through a racial lens as they do everything now, and declare 1980s Seattle to be too White and therefor unworthy of positive sentiment.

[@d.martin6847]

And now, in 2017, due to skyrocketing housing prices, investors and developers, the pressure to develop every square inch of the city is bringing another deforestation of Seattle and environs.

[@Drew206619]

This was the year I was born, so sad to see what a nightmare Seattle has became to the working middle class, thanks to tech boom and amazon

[@dannydubya9410]

name me a major city that's good for the working middle class. It's not just Seattle, the whole country pushed blue collar workers out of the city and into the boondocks.

[@candasmith]

@@dannydubya9410 you'll have to stop on by though. I travel the US frequently. Seattle is getting worse every year. SF still beats it though with their acceptance of human feces on the streets. Seattle has major crazy issues. Syringes all over their formerly pristine parks.

[@andremaines]

Christopher Smith new york city in the 70s, 80s, and 90s was also dirty, super sketchy and filled with junkies, gangsters, and pimps. You couldn’t ride the train at night without getting mugged. Then they brought giulianni in and he basically threw everyone in prison and cleaned up the city. If Seattle wants to fix the problem all the liberals that live here and complain about everything need to elect a mayor that’s going to start actually getting aggressive with these homeless people and junkies. Seattle is a destination city for the homeless because of all the benefits. They will stay as long as they feel welcome. Stop being inclusive and start being aggressive. Give the police some batons, look the other way, and send them out blockbusting 👊🏻

[@BaronSaturday66]

Andre..... try Texas. You'd love it.

[@scottg3110]

Amazon didn't ruin the city....liberal policies did.

[@davidemmet7343]

Now if we can just rid ourselves of the Amazonification of Seattle.

[@gli7utubeo]

The videos look to be from the fall of 1981. At 11:35 Continental Divide is playing.

[@SeattleArchives]

Thank you!

[@SeattleArchives]

The footage could have been shot then but the video was produced in 1983, according to the credits. But good to know!

[@gli7utubeo]

@@SeattleArchives Thanks, great video. Seattle was a nice peaceful place in the early 1980s. Again. excellent videos that capture the easygoing look and feel of the city and region back then.

[@TomMcRand]

i don't really think Chief Seattle would like what we did to his little settlement.

[@candasmith]

Especially now in 2018. Everyday I lament having to go to work there. Screaming crazies on the street. Public urination is almost normal. Piles, actual piles, of used needles along some streets. I can't recommend Seattle as a good place to visit anymore.

[@kobesarausad3225]

If you hate it so much here now why don't you move out?

[@sempervirens2064]

some people are stuck here with responsibilities like family or job. unfort not always easy to move quickly. its true Seattle has degenerated into a drug den with street vagrants run amok, human waste and needles in the streets. Vagrants drug addict bums living in the parks and greenbelts and destroying the reforestation efforts and trampling the soil, leaving needles and feces behind with their other trash.

[@kobesarausad3225]

Suck it up or shut up. There's plenty of places that are way cheaper than Seattle you can move to and I'm sure you can find a job there.

[@Focusyn]

Woe to the vanquished

[@dougphillips6919]

I WAS there in the 1980s miss it so much shout out to carrie sona jane robin john o misty mercer ill go seahawks

[@MrWolfTickets]

was the sound track a little dated by 1983?

[@candasmith]

Yeah music is a bit like early 70s

[@clayperdue1798]

It has it's ups and downs.

[@MrWolfTickets]

is this Mike James from KING tv narrating?

[@SeattleArchives]

The credits do say Mike James for narration.

[@MrWolfTickets]

Thanks :-) I looked in the description but I didn't think to look at the actual end credits. Thanks for these great videos.

[@onlyinyaks]

I walk around Seattle today and wonder why certain parts are so ugly. But nobody ever bothers me & everyone is super nice compared to Eastern Washington where I’m from. Even the BAD parts of Seattle are better than Yakima or Wapato. So I have no reason to feel negatively towards Sea Town.

[@billybats6922]

Lol I feel ya, I’m from Wapato but I live in Tacoma now

[@billybats6922]

Lol I feel ya, I’m from Wapato but I live in Tacoma now

[@mjt2231]

Some of the worst traffic in the nation now too. Just pitiful.

[@southbechmiamibeach7812]

I like Seatle because it's the home of Bruce Lee and the home of jcvd when he made Thier movies in Seatle Washington and it's Beautiful too.

[@BaronSaturday66]

3:27 Back when English Bobbies roamed the streets of Seattle.

[@ccnomad]

My uncle was one of those, clopping around Pioneer Square on a horse :)

[@southbechmiamibeach7812]

I like it so much it's vert green

[@clayperdue1798]

So who was the intended audience for this?

[@globalvideoexpert9447]

Made by gov't bureaucrats for gov't bureaucrats, paid for by taxpayers.

[@David-ho7nt]

What happened to these democrats that cared about Seattle.

[@lorenzojantociii7394]

I miss home so much ! Been living in Hawai'i for the last ten years, and it SUCKS ! When it's time to retire, I'll be back!

[@dwaynethorstein4095]

Seattle in the days before Chazistan.

[@81hotboy8]

More trees and less condos please

[@ThatkidfromSeattle]

Omg look at pioneer square