San Francisco Film Locations Then & Now

Of course, it wasn’t all fun and games. In 1946 there was “The Battle of Alcatraz” where inmates rioted and took over much of the cellblocks, and the island was surrounded by the Marines. Two guards and three inmates were killed, and two of the rioters were later executed. This photo taken during the battle shows an explosion from a mortar fired at the prisoners and police officers in the circle at the left. (Thumbnail image)

Robert Stroud, the “Birdman of Alcatraz” in his comfy cozy hospital cell, and the same cell today. Don’t let the sentimental treatment of this creep in the old movie fool you; there’s evidence that he was a pedophile, he was an anti social monster, and he didn’t look like Burt Lancaster. (Thumbnail image)

Inmates unloading food supplies in 1954. (Thumbnail image)

Clint Eastwood as Frank Morris plans his escape in the prison exercise yard in the 1979 film ‘Escape from Alcatraz’. It was said that on a clear day the inmates could actually smell the food cooking in Fisherman’s Wharf from here. That had to be irritating! (Thumbnail image)

Two Rob and Laurie Petrie wannabe’s on the California Street Cable Car Line in the 1960’s: (Thumbnail image)

Pope John Paul ll blesses the Golden Gate Bridge in 1987. (Thumbnail image)

Boy this baby’s a beauty; sleek, classy, sporty, and an adventure to drive around San Francisco with. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore! The 1953 Chevy Corvette is nice too! The lady was parked on El Camino Del Mar in Lincoln Park, one of the prettiest drives in San Francisco.

Powell and Sutter in the 1950’s: That little Nash on the left is as antiquated looking as the cable car!

Jones and California Streets on Nob Hill: Look at the behemoth! Where the heck would you park that tugboat today! That’s Grace Cathedral on the right on both pictures.

Montgomery Street, the “Wall Street of the West” in the 1940’s; still just as busy today.

The old Flood Building at Powell and Market in the 1950’s when Woolworth’s occupied the bottom floors.

Let’s see, Bush at Montgomery, 1905; there’s probably ten cars in all of San Francisco, and that jerk still can’t park straight! That’s the old Mills Building on the left, one of the few downtown buildings that survived the earthquake and fire the following year.

The following collection are crime scenes, both real and from the movies at San Francisco locations. In this remarkable photo from Hannah Clayborn’s ‘Historic Photos of San Francisco Crime’ Roman Rodriguez (sitting on the lawn between the police) reenacts the murder of 16 year old Hilda Pagan on March 25, 1952 at Dolores Park. As Pagan passed by him, he called her up to sit with him on top of the ledge at the left. Later, they climbed down to the lawn below to “embrace” where he beat and strangled her. The lady with her hands to her face may be Hilda’s mother. A top addition has been added to where the two sat, and it’s now the Dolores Park restroom.   Update, November 22, 2015: Since I took the top picture of the Hilde Pagan murder spot, the building where Roman Rodriguez murdered her has been demolished due to the Dolores Park renovations.

Joe Tanko, burglar, armed robber, and cop killer, was the most notorious San Francisco bad boy of his day. Caught and sentenced to jail in Los Angeles, he escaped and, stupidly, came back to San Francisco to resume his crime career where every policeman knew him. In a police raid in November, 1926 at upstairs 1378 McAllister, he was shot five times by a police officer he wounded, and died. It was said that the shots were so close to him his clothes caught fire. Over 10,000 citizens lined up to view his body. The next image is the location of the police raid on McAllister.

1378 McAllister after the gunfight, and today.  (Thumbnail image)