San francisco in the 1950's , were you there ?

Nice Find, Holly. I didn't get to SF until 1968 (to perform at the Filmore), but I drove the streets a good bit in the early '90s. When one drives up one of those radically steep streets, one is almost afraid to crest the top, not knowing what's on the other side-- almost like a roller coaster.

Fascinating video of Market St. and the slow moving trolleys-- especially in contrast to an old film that's available online taken in 1902. Every time I see footage of SF street travel it puts me in mind of Hitchcock's great film, Vertigo (1958).
 
ChiroDoc said:
Nice Find, Holly. I didn't get to SF until 1968 (to perform at the Filmore), but I drove the streets a good bit in the early '90s. When one drives up one of those radically steep streets, one is almost afraid to crest the top, not knowing what's on the other side-- almost like a roller coaster.

Fascinating video of Market St. and the slow moving trolleys-- especially in contrast to an old film that's available online taken in 1902. Every time I see footage of SF street travel it puts me in mind of Hitchcock's great film, Vertigo (1958).
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I was thinking that very thing about the huge steep hills, and watching the struggle of one woman as she tried to walk UP the hill...

I definitely wouldn't want to live anywhere that was as hilly as that..definitely not a place for people to have a gentle stroll :ROFLMAO:
 

Oh yeah. I was 8 in 1960. Grew up just south of SF in Sunnyvale. We visited SF to go to the zoo, China town, Golden Gate park, the warf....I left California in 1973.

@ChiroDoc You have mentioned a couple times that you are/were a musician. Did you play the Filmore with Zappa? :) I was a guitarist, and made a decent living at it.
 
Paco Dennis said:
Oh yeah. I was 8 in 1960. Grew up just south of SF in Sunnyvale. We visited SF to go to the zoo, China town, Golden Gate park, the warf....I left California in 1973.

@ChiroDoc You have mentioned a couple times that you are/were a musician. Did you play the Filmore with Zappa? :) I was a guitarist, and made a decent living at it.
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Hi there, fellow musician!-- although I haven't played in 40 years. Did you play in SF?

Yes, I played Filmore East and Filmore West (twice with Zappa, once with Beefheart). Also Winterland.
 
I did play in SF but it was a couple of "special" events. I was in a show band featuring a female dancer singer. We did shows like in the Playboy Clubs. I dressed in a white Tux, with NY spats and Derby. We had a couple people working the light show.

You must have some great memories of those chapters of your life. I heard that Frank was a little difficult to work with...a perfectionist, which is a bit odd because his creations were often "wild".
 
Paco Dennis said:
I did play in SF but it was a couple of "special" events. I was in a show band featuring a female dancer singer. We did shows like in the Playboy Clubs. I dressed in a white Tux, with NY spats and Derby. We had a couple people working the light show.

You must have some great memories of those chapters of your life. I heard that Frank was a little difficult to work with...a perfectionist, which is a bit odd because his creations were often "wild".
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Yeah, Frank was a perfectionist, but much of the music demanded that. I never had a bit of trouble working with him, and I thought he was easy to get along with. I have heard from members of his later bands that he pretty much stayed away from the guys except on stage. Early on we had loads of fun as a unit.

If you're interested, here is an article I wrote for the music mags called, "Zappa vs. Beefheart: What Were They Really Like?" Zappa vs. Beefheart: What Were They Really Like? by Art Tripp – Captain Beefheart Radar Station It's fairly long.
 
Yes. Last stop after traveling from west coast by car (military transfer for my dad.) l was around eight years old and we continued to Taiwan.
 
I passed through San Francisco in the early 1970's. Stayed there for several days. It was 40° in July, so I got on a bus and went to L.A. (Los Angeles).
You have to admire the drivers back then with the trolley cars, buses, trucks and cars all sharing the same road. I got a kick out of how the men would have to swivel the car around at the end of the street.
 
hollydolly said:
...do you remember it ?.. do you miss it ?

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Yes on rare visits to see my mother's siblings and parents. We lived in San Diego at the time but would drive up on special occasions like weddings. I remember visiting Playland at the beach one time which was pretty fun for a kid in elementary school. Some of the slides and opportunities in the fun house go beyond the risks kids are allowed to take these days.
 
Summer in San Francisco is too cold....night time in the 40-50's and day time 50-60's, not summer at all.
 
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ahhhh, back in the day San Francisco was sure something!!! I visited about 20 years ago, and it was still very nice! I hear it's not so great anymore, very very sad.
 
MarkD said:
Yes on rare visits to see my mother's siblings and parents. We lived in San Diego at the time but would drive up on special occasions like weddings. I remember visiting Playland at the beach one time which was pretty fun for a kid in elementary school. Some of the slides and opportunities in the fun house go beyond the risks kids are allowed to take these days.
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Wow, that's a long haul from San Diego to Frisco!
 
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