“If they asked me, I could write a book.”

“About the way you walk and whisper and look.”

In 1957, Hollywood took over Telegraph Hill for awhile to film scenes for the movie ‘Pal Joey’, starring Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak. Herb Caen devoted one of his columns to the filming that was reprinted in his 1960 book ‘Only in San Francisco’. Here are some of his comments in brackets from that column, titled ‘Stars on Telegraph Hill’ (great title for a chapter) plus some then and nows I’ve enjoyed doing on ‘Pal Joey’.  (Thumbnail images)

{I scaled Telegraph Hill Thursday afternoon to see how they make movies, and I must say it was all pretty impressive. Frank Sinatra showed up a little late, the wind blew Rita Hayworth’s hair every which way, and they had to put up a rope to hold back the gawkers, but even so, a few seconds of an epic called Pal Joey was shot and the movie makers considered it a day well spent. Along with about $15,000.}

{Around the circle in front of Coit Tower, all was magnificent confusion. When Hollywood takes over, man how it takes over. There were wardrobe trucks. And sound trucks. And light trucks, and heavy trucks. And a long dressing-room trailer, from which Miss Hayworth presently emerged, wearing a cashmere sweater, camel’s-hair skirt, beige leather shoes and a piece of gauze around her wavy titian tresses. Her face was heavily made up and she looked younger than springtime.}

{Even Coit Tower was made up for the occasion. For one thing, a new entrance had to be built. On the lawn behind the tower, a vast terrace had been built, of wood painted gray to simulate stone. “This is Rita’s mansion on Telegraph Hill, see?” said Galanter.” (Ted Galanter, a press agent) She’s a very rich woman who’s in love with Sinatra, but it isn’t mutual.}

{At 5:15 PM. Sinatra strolled gracefully onto the set, wearing make-up and a gray suit and sipping a coke out of a paper cup. “Good morning!” he greeted. “I think I’m gonna make it.” He walked out onto the terrace, shook his fist at the skyline, and intoned with laughs, “San Francisco, I’ll lick you yet!”}

{The bells of SS. Peter and Paul, in the valley below, began ringing. “Stop that infernal clanging,” roared Sinatra. “Bells and sirens – that’s all you hear in this town. Sounds like one big jail break!” “Hey,” he called to director Sidney, “what are we waiting for – more wind?”}

{“All right, let’s do it,” suggested Sidney. “And don’t worry if the wind blows you away,” he said to Sinatra. “We’ve got an anti-aircraft crew alerted to shoot you down over the Golden Gate Bridge.” Everybody yelled, “Quiet!” and the cameras rolled.}

{And that’s how movies are made. Somehow.}

  

Here’s a picture of a scene from the make believe terrace behind Coit Tower that I think was left out of the film, and the spot where Rita’s back yard was today. You can vaguely see a Bay Bridge tower and the Ferry Building in the film print, just above Sinatra.

 

Sinatra arrives in San Francisco by a ferryboat from Oakland during the opening credits. You can just see a part of the Southern Pacific Building today, minus its enormous SP sign.

  

Sinatra and the classic Sinatra look, as he leaves through the south wing of the Ferry Building.

  

The first place Joey heads for on arriving in San Francisco is the International Settlement on Pacific Avenue between Columbus Avenue and Montgomery Street. This was the nightclub and bawdy entertainment capital of San Francisco back then, and probably the best look you’ll ever see of it on film in this movie.

  

Back up on Telegraph Hill where a lovesick Kim Novak leaves what is supposed to be Rita Haworth’s mansion, but is actually the entrance to Coit Tower.

  

But Kim Novak wins out at the film’s end, as she and Sinatra wander off behind the St. Francis Yacht Club Building into a Hollywood sunset.

Another shot from the opening credits scene of Joey coming in by ferryboat, and a great look at the 1957 skyline of San Francisco: What the heck, I don’t get to pose with a star often. “Never mind the dames, Frank, just enjoy the view.”