What I wouldn’t give for Hobo Hank to show up at the Bay Lights opening tonight.
“Hobo Hank” became a bit swell-headed when he learned he was to participate in the dazzling night parade of November 14. He was glad to emerge from his favorite haunts beneath railroad bridges in order to celebrate, with San Francisco and her guests, the opening of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, November 12, 13, and 14.”
An Haiku Review of the 3rd Annual SF History Expo
People dig old stuff.
That guy has a big mustache!
More role play this year.
“…appearing to be here one moment and completely disappearing the next.”
24 November, 1953
“UP GOES THE SIGN at The Guardsmen Christmas Tree lot, California at Laurel. The Guardsmen had the assistance of some lovely members of the Ice Capes show to lighten their chores. Here (l to r) are Sharon Holmes, Jack Seligman, Guardsmen tree purchaser, Joe Cooper, tree chairman, Dr. Philip Westdahl, Guardsman president, Ellen Brandewie and Valerie Sleeman. The big lot at California and Laurel opens next Sunday, November 29, with a Children’s Christmas parade, starting at 1:30 pm. from Steiner and California streets. All proceeds from the sale of trees helps send children to summer camps.”
—SFPL History Center
“Late last November, Mr. Fixit of The News visited Duboce-av and Market-st and reported condition of the excavation left when work was abandoned on Winterland Corp.’s proposed sports palace. It was six feet deep with water then. Yesterday Mr. Fixit’s cameraman went back again and here’s what he found - kids playing on makeshift rafts in water still some feet deep and a potential death trap. Holes in the surrounding fence provide entry to the excavation and teachers at nearby John Muir School report youngsters come to school sopping wet from their play in the shadow of the U. S. Mint. Mr. Fixit’s wondering whether the owners, or the Department of Public Works, shouldn’t pump the place dry before it’s necessary to start a search for the body of some unfortunate youngster.”
—SFPL History Center
“The Winterland Corporation has abandoned Its plans for building a multi-million dollar Golden Gate Gardens, 12.000 seat indoor sports palace. The proposed site at Market Street and Duboce Street has been taken over by The Rexall Co. which plans to build a super-drugstore, super-market on the property.”
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Volume 7
28 November, 1952
“MR. PEANUT KING OF ALL HE SURVEYS—Mr. Peanut, that top-hatted Beau Brummel of the goober world, surveys the area adjacent to the future office and factory location of Planters Nut & Chocolate Company’s new San Francisco headquarters. He is 31 feet tall and completely outlined by a tube of tangerine neon. When the sign is lighted at night, Mr. Peanut winks his right eye and the arrows pointing to him flash on and off. Two buildings now are on the site at Paul avenue and Bayshore boulevard and third is under construction. Planters expects to move in about the middle of 1953. Plant expansion investment on West Coast is about $2,500,000.”
—SFPL History Center
“AND WE DO MEAN HOME say these cooks assigned to the Fort McDowell mess, where Pacific war veterans arriving at the San Francisco Port of Embarkation later in the month will eat their Thanksgiving dinner. The men in white, just a few of the 136 who operate the mess, carried turkeys, fresh vegetables, oranges, milk and butter (photographed in that order) to the Welcome Home sign that greets veterans at the ferry landing, and posed with them to let prospective guests know the Port has plenty of the victuals they’ve been longing for overseas.”
—SFPL History Center
“‘When do we eat?’ chorus the three youngsters, Sally Harbison and her two Edgewood visitors, Harold and Judy. Because their own mothers will be working on the holiday, the two children have been invited for Thanksgiving dinner. With two others in the family, Susan and Sandra Harbison, it promises to be a merry party.”
—SFPL History Center
“Carlo (Pat) Panattoni, president of the American Poultry Co., 322 Davis-st, eyes part of 250,000-pound shipment Thanksgivingturkeys received here over the weekend. American is the largest turkey wholesaling concern in San Francisco.”
—SFPL History Center
November 28, 1957, Father Boeddeker carves a turkey at the (old) St. Anthony Dining Room.
“TOO MANY COOKS, GOVERNOR—Gov. Edmund G. Brown has trouble holding onto his assistant cook’s hat as he and his grandgchildren look over the Thanksgiving turkey. Mrs. Brown looks on in amusement. The Governor managed to retrieve his hat and get the 30-pound bird into the oven. The grandchildren, Joey Kelly Jr., 4, and his sister Patricia, 1, helped observe the Thanksgiving holiday at the gubernatorial mansion in Sacramento.”
—SFPL History Center
“LOSING HER WRINKLES—The square-rigged Pacific Queen, at 68 years of age, is being prepared for a new life at Moore Drydock Co., Oakland. Here, a Moore crane sends down a yard arm for inspection and repair. The ship, now owned by the Maritime Museum, will be refurnished and placed on public exhibition in November.”
—SFPL History Center
“SAN FRANCISCO WILL HONOR ITS WORLD-FAMOUS FISHERMAN’S WHARF AND THE OPENING OF THE CRAB SEASON AT THE FIRST ANNUAL FISHERMAN’S FIESTA NOVEMBER 14-16. BLESSING OF THE FLEET, DEPARTURE OF THE VESSELS AND THEIR RETURN, STREET DANCING AND ENTERTAINMENT WILL BE FEATURES OF THE EVENT, TO WHICH THE PUBLIC OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA IS CORDIALLY INVITED.”
—SFPL History Center
“HELP BUILD GRANDSTANDS: A number of fair carpenters yesterday added that feminine touch to the grandstands being built at the Civic Center for the accommodation of the crowd which will review the dazzling day and night parades of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Celebration, November 12, 13, and 14. Left to right—Ruth Finn, Olga Catechi, Florence Richard, Madelon McNeil, Ila Markel, Mae Evans.”
—SFPL History Center
“Realistic battle section which is the highlight of ‘San Francisco Attacks,’ spectacular Army-Navy War Show to be given in Seals Stadium the nights of November 9, 10 and 11. The dramatic battle spectacle, the largest military presentation ever staged in San Francisco, will be free to the public.”
—SFPL History Center
