Golden Gate City: San Francisco (ca. 1939)

[Music] historic Golden Gate is the entrance from the Pacific Ocean to the San Francisco Bay it is now spanned by the longest suspension bridge in the world here in one of the the world's largest landlocked harbers dock the ships of the Seven Seas pleasure boats too break out their white sails and run down the wind Alcatraz a grim federal prison is built on a rock jutting up from the center of the [Music] bay KO Memorial Tower historic Telegraph Hill where for years the arrivals and sailings of ships were watched and reported the Seven Hills of the city look down on the bay and Beyond is a gigantic new bridge over 8 m long that joins San Francisco with the East Bay Cities a monument to the vision and skill of man this colossal structure tunnels through yab bua Island and crosses the largest navigable body of water yet span [Music] to the West lies a center of the great City rich in history but Progressive and modern today a dominant financial and Commercial Metropolis of the [Music] West at the foot of Market Street is a big Ferry Terminal its tall tower long a famous landmark that can be seen for miles around from high on Twin Peaks the beautiful view of the city gives one an idea of its expanse and its many tall buildings on high [Music] hills Market Street is a main business thoroughfare so wide that it has four car tracks it extends diagonally across the city from the ferry terminal out to the Twin Peaks with its smart shops and theaters it is a great white way all about the city there are many sidewalk flower stands attractively displaying their colorful and fragrant blooms Garden spots as lovely as the flower markets of the old world and everyone buys cut flowers and Bouquet a year round the center of downtown San Francisco is at Market Carney and Gary streets here stands the fountain presented to the city in 1875 by lot of craftree beloved actress of the sieras facing Union Square where Uptown and downtown merge is the St Francis Hotel and in the lovely palm-shaded Square the jwy Memorial monument some of the streets are so steep that the cars must be run on cables they're revolved about by the motorman and conductor at the Avenue terminal on a turntable a quaint sight [Music] indeed yes sir in San Francisco hills are Hills and motorists and their brakes must both be good for safe driving as up and down they go the Magnificent new Civic Center includes the exposition auditor the War Memorial Opera House and the Veterans building the massive City Hall is an impressive building it's Dome is nearly as high as that of the capital at Washington because of The Nearness to the sea gulls not pigeons are the pets of the plaza grounds the exposition Auditorium and many other great buildings form an inspiring group about a flower studded [Music] Plaza the new United States me is a building of modernistic lines a distinctive structure appropriate for its purpose in its well-guarded vaults has stored millions in gold bullion and silver bars frequently the passes by stopped to watch the careful transfer of precious metal great quantities are received and Uncle Sam takes no chances it is handled with military discipline here are mitted the copper nickel gold and silver coins for the Pacific coast the adjoining western states and the Philippines ingenious machines stamp weigh and count coins of all denominations tons of them in a [Music] year Chinatown the largest Oriental City in the ocient in its little Park stands the new steel statue of sunat sen the father of New China the streets aligned with pagodas Jos houses ancient shrines bazaars Anda here are silks and incense Teakwood and ivory and a soft spoken people slowly move about their work and play Still maintaining all the traditions of the Far East frequent fantastic ceremonies celebrate holidays of old China in the traditional manner [Music] on New Year's Day all debts are paid and offerings made at the temple by young and old and rich and poor as they file by the altar of Buddha and generously [Music] give there is news from across the Pacific posted every day on the bulletin of the Chinese journals not good news today with Native mannequins a modern fashion show displays the latest Styles as well as the on eight ancient costumes won for centuries in Old Cafe these young ladies dress as well as their sisters of the western world and sometimes more [Music] picturesquely colorful Fisherman's WF is like the Ducks at Old Naples a fish dinner on the WF is long remembered as an unusual treat swathy fishermen mend their Nets and prepare to sail out to sea they will bring back a big catch luscious Seafoods of the deep pacific cracked crabs are but one of the many famous Delicacies served here on the sight of the Panama Pacific Exposition of 1915 there are still standing and used some of the most beautiful buildings monuments of the Good Taste of the last [Music] generation San Francisco's most historic building is Mission Dolores founded by Spanish monks in 1776 many unusual relics are seen here from the days when California was ruled by Spain and [Music] Mexico Golden Gate Park is the largest man-made park in the world the dang Memorial Museum houses many precious exhibits of paintings and statuary beautiful buildings and monuments set in a garden spot of over a th000 Acres winding drives run from the city center to the Sea a singing waterfall in the heart of the park makes the city seem far away it is easily reached by smooth picturesque roadways that lead from many entrances Bridal paths lure the horsemen and horse women too rolling sheep pastures suggest rest and [Music] quiet exotic Blooms of every land grow well in the botanical gardens Buffalo graze peacefully reminiscent of the great herds that roam the Prairies and plains of the early West these drives seem far away from the city's well golf is played almost in the shadow of the Golden Gate and some of the finest courses at gol is Noah are within the boundaries of the city and easily reach directly overlooking the Golden Gate is the impressive California Palace of the Legion of Honor high on the Pacific Shore stands The Cliff House a noted Landmark since before the Civil War the the broad Windows look out on the rolling ocean the harbor fors and the famous seal rocks there are hundreds of seals here and they play in the foamy spray and breaking [Music] waves the Esplanade skirts the wide beaches of the sparkling Pacific Shore a Charming drive along the sea leading to the coast highways Beyond and the Old Dutch windmill waves its big arm in welcome or a d to ships in the great Harbor San Francisco by the Golden Gate City of bond memories and visions of progress for tomorrow