Time to pay one more visit to the City By The Bay. We’ll start with the almost obligatory cable car shot, climbing up the typically steep San Francisco hill. Plus, the cars of the period that range from the new to those about 6-10 years old.
Downtown, stuffed with American iron. Shot is a bit high above the ground, maybe taken from a cable car?
Coit Tower parking, as seen from the tower.
Pier 43 with tourists by the bay.
The streets of Chinatown.
Cliff House.
Union Square.
Reaching Fisherman’s Wharf.
Now Fisherman’s Grotto.
More Chinatown action.
A few views around Civic Center, here with City Hall…
The Earl Warren Building (and courts)…
And the (then-called) San Francisco Civic Auditorium.
And the usual SF street with the then-obligatory neighborhood Beetle.
Sorry Rich, but that opening shot shows a cable car, not a streetcar. SF streetcars looked like the attached picture. The linguistic distinction is critical to not sound like a tourist. Or just to make sure locals understand what you’re talking about.
A slight clarification for dman and Rich: the streetcar seen here DID run in San Francisco, built for The City in 1948, as part of a 10-car order. There were both older and newer variants of this car active in San Francisco in this period, the newest built for The City in 1951-52, along with used cars from St. Louis, MO built in 1946, and leased in 1957 and 1961, later being bought outright.
Michael : I assume you’re talking about the streetcar in the picture I attached. When you say DID are you emphasizing the past tense? I just found the picture online, saw the J Church route info and assumed it was a real Muni streetcar … was I wrong? I haven’t ridden Muni for 50 years but I can still remember a lot of the car lines: J Church, K Ingleside, L Taraval, N Judah.
Don’t forget F Market
Yes, cable car, thank you. It sounded funny when I wrote it and forgot to go over it. It’s updated now.
And don’t even think about calling the cable car a “trolley”.
Surprised by the dearth of foreign cars. Yes, one or two token VW’s, a MB, and the 240Z. Being SF was soooo progressive, was expecting an avalanche of Euro iron on the streets; especially since SF is a coastal town were most foreign brands made their inroads.
By the 70’s, I’m sure the streets were flooded with VW’s, Audis, MB’s, and the such.
This is the reason I like to rewatch Bullitt from time to time. The entire movie was shot on location and it’s both great and quite sad at the same time to see San Francisco as it once was.
Looking through these shots I half expected to see that green Beetle that kept showing up in the movie.
Don’t call the cable cars “streetcars” or “trolleys,” And don’t call the city “Frisco!”
Born there. Lived there, 1949 to 1974.
Why is the term Frisco offensive? Many cities have nicknames – Bean-town, Chi-town, Motor City, Fire City, Van city, Nawlins, Indy, etc. Aren’t these just polite jabs as alternate names, not meant to offend or insult?
It’s not offensive, I think it’s just not used by locals (though maybe the other names aren’t either). It’s San Francisco, SF, or The City. On the other hand, language and usage do evolve. As a 68 year old native of the Bay Area I was surprised to hear VP Harris (born in the same hospital as me) refer to it as “The Bay”. But then no one of my generation ever says NorCal (ie Northern California) or Cali. But younger people do, and that’s OK.
In the fifth photo, on the left side of the sidewalk, the car that appears is a Peugeot 403?.
Lovely pictures .
I used to visit S.F. in the early to mid 1970’s and it was largely the same ~ old iron everywhere and not nearly as crowded as it is now .
The last time I visited was in the 2000’s and I doubt I’ll ever go back .
-Nate
I spent a week in SF. Rode the cable cars, checked out the architecture. Saw the Cliff House which no longer looks anything like it did then. There was a overhead tram that took you to the adjacent Sutro’s Baths, until it was destroyed by arsonists. Spent time in Fisherman’s Wharf. Ate at good restaurants along those steep hills but cant remember which. Distinctive place for sure.
Photo # 10 guy carrying in a dead goat, no thanks I think I’ll eat somewhere else!
Got to disagree, Goat Curry, Rice & Peas, Jonny Cakes. Mmmmmmm….
We actually raised goats and sold goat meat, always told people to use their best venison receipt. I have no complaints with the meat just the way it’s handled in this case.
1. It’s interesting to see how few cars and people there were on the streets back then.
2. Cliff House looked like more of a tourist trap back then.
3. Nob Hill has barely changed (except for the cars).
4. Man, San Francisco is a beautiful city!
Cliff House has been closed for awhile. Last time I was in there was 1990 for an afternoon happy hour drink with a girlfriend while we looked out over the Pacific. Afterwards would see it but from a great breakfast place just up the street.
Yeah, the Cliff House closed during the pandemic and didn’t reopen due to the 20 year lease being up for the previous management team. It’s on federal land so the feds have to approve of whoever takes over. It’s supposed to reopen in 2025
Every time I see pictures of “The City By the Bay”, images of Steve McQueen and a 1967 dark Green Mustang Fastback chasing a 1969 black Dodge Charger pop into my head! Either that, or Karl Malden in a trench coat and grey fedora, with a hatless Michael Douglas in a suitably ’70’s mod wide tie and matching suit with wide lapels, chasing bad guys in a 1972 Ford Custom 500 Sedan with “dog dish” hubcaps and steel wheels!
You’re right. Lived there 1983-86. Not crowded, still charming, and even a poor 22-year-old could find a place he could afford to live. The police policed, things worked, the place was pretty clean. My favorite City to drive around in. Have no desire to visit it now.
# 10 sorry that’s pork not goat
My history with The City. Moved to the East Bay in 1972 from San Diego while I was at SDSU. Whenever up on vacation I would either wander the City during the day and drive around it late at night. Up permanently for grad school at UC Berkeley from 77-82. Had a girlfriend who lived in the Richmond District at 24th Avenue between Anza and Balboa. I eventually moved to the Richmond at 21st and Clement from 1988-2000. Now even though in the East Bay I am in The City, with family, once a month since.
That first picture is of the Powell-Hyde Cable line running up Jackson to Hyde.
Rich, those pictures labeled Pier 39 are all of Fisherman’s Wharf. Pier 39 did not open until 1979. In shot below you see Aquatic Park at the top, Fisherman’s Wharf in the middle and Pier 39 at the bottom.
Thanks. Another term I jumbled in my head. Pier 39 was later, yes.
Chinatown shot now obviously different except the building on Grant. A good friend was Chinese, who grew up in The City, so I got well versed.
Went looking for that Chinatown shot on Grant and missed by a block the first time looking north. When I rotated around to the correct direction south, I saw this front and center by chance.
Someday someone will research the ins and outs of Google Street View—a boon to architecture buffs, among others. A history will show the period when they decided that Satellite View images should have fake trees rather than what’s really there. That passed, thank goodness !
I have been to SF a couple of times, the last was in 1970. It is a very charming city and many old movies were shot there. It is sad to read of all the changes that have taken place this century. I always thought it would be a good place to have a brake and clutch shop.
#1 Left side heading up the hill a two tone ’56 Dodge 4 door sedan or wagon, ’63 Impala Sport Sedan, ’63 Dodge Dart GT hardtop, ’52-’54 Ford Country Sedan, black post ’57 VW Type 1. Right side Chevrolet Corvan panel, V8 powered ’55 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe, ’55 Buick Super 2 door Riviera, weathered ’52-’54 Ford Mainline Tudor, looks like a ’62-’64 Chevy II 4 door, ’59 Ford, ’59 Oldsmobile, post ’57 VW Type 1, ’57 Mercury, ’57 Chevrolet. I would say a ’63 or ’64 photo.
#2 Heading down hill two ’55 Plymouth Plaza cabs, two tone ’58 Chevrolet Delray cab, yellow ’57-’60 Ford F-series Styleside, ’54 Cadillac, blue ’55 Plymouth. Cross street left side a white and blue ’55 Buick 2 door Riviera looks like a Roadmaster, right side a blue ’58 or ’59 Chevrolet or GMC Suburban Carryall. First car in each row left side ’58 Oldsmobile, center either a Ford or Mercury wagon, light green ’57-’60 Ford Panel. A late fifties photo.
#3 Coit Tower, this one is going to make me dizzy. Lower right corner not sure of black car, grey one may be a ’49 or ’40 Mercury, dark green ’49 or ’50 Chevrolet Fleetline, white over blue ’55 Oldsmobile, another Olds about the same vintage, white over dark green ’51 or ’52 Oldsmobile 88, white over light green ’56 Buick Estate Wagon, V8 powered ’57 Chevrolet 4 door sedan, black over white ’52-’54 Ford may be a Victoria, ’51 or ’52 Chevrolet Styleline, black over blue ’49 Buick convertible, brown/tan ’58 Ford Country Sedan, black over white ’58 Buick 2 door, perhaps a black Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet, blue over white ’55 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan, dark blue ’52-’54 Ford Crestline Sunliner, white over grey ’56 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe, grey ’49-’52 Chevrolet Styleline 4 door, two tone blue ’57 Oldsmobile Holiday Coupe. In the center looks like a grey ’46-’48 Chevrolet 4 door, white over blue ’53 or ’54 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe, and I am not sure about the white car with a continental kit. Probably a ’58 photo.
#4 Pier 43. Front and center a white over green ’57 Ford Fairlane Club Victoria with a little door damage. First parking row I see a white ’62 full size Pontiac and a black ’63 Ford Country Squire. Everything else is too blurry. An early to mid sixties photo.
#5 Chinatown. Left side a nice clean ’54 Chevrolet Bel Air 4 door sedan, ’63 Impala wagon, Peugeot 403. Right side a ’58 DeSoto, ’50 Buick Super Riviera, ’55-’59 Chevrolet or GMC Task Force pickup with a pipe rack, perhaps a white ’57 Thunderbird, ’58 Buick. Mid-sixties photo.
#6 Cliff House. Lower edge a dark blue over white ’53 or ’54 Plymouth 4 door sedan, dark blue or grey ’56 Plymouth Plaza or Savoy 4 door sedan, ’57 Chevrolet One-Fifty 4 door sedan, ’54 Cadillac coupe, white over blue ’52 or ’53 Ford Customline Club Coupe, dark blue over white ’54 Buick Super or Roadmaster 4 door sedan, ’55 Plymouth Plaza cab, and a black ’56 Ford F-series. A late fifties shot.
#7 Union Square. A ’59 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Sedan, ’50-’52 Cadillac, perhaps a ’60 Oldsmobile peaking out between two people. Early sixties.
#8 Left lane lower edge not sure of wagon, white ’65 Thunderbird. Right lane looks like a ’52 or ’53 Mercury 4 door sedan driving out of the photo, Mercedes 220SE sedan, sunburned ’56 Chevrolet wagon, ’66 Mercury 4 door, ’66 Buick Sport Wagon. Other side of the crosswalk first car on left looks like a ’67 full size Ford with a ’62-’64 Dodge D series bus on the right. In the foreground parking lot a blue ’66 Pontiac Tempest Custom Hardtop Coupe with the Sprint package, white ’65 Impala Sport Coupe to the right. In the background lot all I can make out is a white ’63 Imperial 4 door. Mid-sixties photo.
#9 Fisherman’s Grotto. Left to right a black ’64 Impala, white VW Type 1, white ’60-’63 Ford Falcon wagon, tan ’63 Cadillac Six Window Sedan. Right side are too fuzzy. Mid-sixties.
#10 Chinatown. A blue ’61 or ’62 Buick Special and a white ’62 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Convertible Coupe. Going by the black plate issued in ’63 with at least one sticker I would say a mid-sixties photo.
#11 City Hall. Left lower corner a tan VW Karmann Ghia, blue ’70-’74 Datsun 240Z, and a tan ’68 or ’69 VW Type one. Early seventies photo.
#12 Earl Warren Building. Right lower corner a white ’61 Chevrolet 4 door sedan, blue ’62 Cadillac 4 door, green ’60 Chevrolet Biscayne or Bel Air 4 door sedan, white ’63 or ’64 Buick Riviera, white ’62 Ford Galaxie or Galaxie 500 Town Sedan, black over white ’59 Ford 4 door wagon, man is blocking the black car, looks like a white ’62 Plymouth 4 door sedan, not sure of grey car. Across the street right to left a ’61 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan, white ’64 Impala Sport Coupe, white ’62 Buick LeSabre or Invicta 4 door hardtop, and a ’56 Ford Customline Fordor Sedan in front of the converted bus. Another mid-sixties shot.
#13 Civic Auditorium. Lower edge left to right a V8 powered ’63 Ford Fairlane 500 2 door sedan, black with red interior ’60 Mercury Monterey 2 door sedan, that white coupe may be a ’64 or ’65 GM A body. Across the street from the left the black quarter panel looks like a ’65 Plymouth Fury I, beige ’65 Dodge Dart 4 door sedan, green ’65 Rambler Classic 550 4 door sedan with a sign on the door, ’65 Chevrolet C10 or C20 Fleetside long bed, VW Karmann Ghia convertible, gold ’64 Pontiac Bonneville Safari, and a green VW Type 1. Mid-sixties.
#14 A white ’62 Ford Galaxie 500 Club Victoria, tan ’55 Pontiac 860 or 870 4 door wagon, and a red ’63-’66 VW Type 1. And the photo date is self explanatory.
Thanks for the tour!
Hey Patrick, see you’re still doing the second shift.HA! I’m back and forth with JoAnn all the time, haven’t heard from anyone else till now. Jim R
Good to hear from you Jim! I think of you and JoAnn every time I see a truck or some piece of equipment. There were a few in this selection.
The good ole days when Christopher Columbus still stood tall at Coit Tower.
The second picture is on Powell Street, looking down toward Union Square. The Chancellor Hotel is still there. If you’re a baseball fan, the hotel has Giants season tickets along the third base line on the lower level, and they offer room and baseball ticket packages. It’s a fun weekend getaway my wife (a former San Franciscan) and I have taken more than once.
Either way. It’s still the most beautiful city in the world. Stay blue no trumpers