A Then and Now Tour and History of San Francisco Through Films and Photography
Many San Francisco tour companies mistakenly take visitors to a location on Lombard Street, and point out that the Mel’s Drive-In scene in the 1967 film ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’ was filmed there. It wasn’t, it was located at a spot in the Crocker Amazon District at the southern end of San Francisco now occupied by the Crocker Amazon Senior Center. Notice the Bank of America signs. Bank of America changed their color from black to pink in 2008 to show awareness to breast cancer.
How can you go wrong with a title like that! Piers 37 and 35 seen left to right from Telegraph Hill in the 1934 film ‘Fog Over Frisco’. Pier 37 is gone but pier 35 remains, and is used by Passenger Liners now. That’s Angel Island in the background.
Charlie Chan’s China Clipper lands at Treasure Island in the 1939 film ‘Charlie Chan at Treasure Island’ Construction on the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge scheduled to open in September 2013 can be seen in the middle photograph.
Lee Remick parks at Fisherman’s Wharf to await instructions on where to deliver ransom money for the release of her kidnapped sister Stefanie Powers in the 1962 film ‘Experiment in Terror’. The pier in the background now houses all of the arcade attractions from the Musée Mécanique, relocated from the Cliff House.
“Gable’s back, and Garson’s got him!” That was the promo for Clark Gable’s first movie after his World War ll service, ‘Adventure’ from 1945. The “King” on Broadway, Gable is shown above the eastern entrance to the Broadway Tunnel, although the tunnel had not been constructed at the time of the film.
Asta running around the Nick and Nora Charles back yard in the 1936 film ‘After the Thin Man’ This is actually Pioneer Park behind Coit Tower.
The Ferry Building being destroyed by Ray Harryhausen’s giant octopus in the 1955 film ‘It Came From Beneath the Sea’. This might have been special effects, and, probably, didn’t happen, the girl on the left looks like she’s laughing! Ray Harryhausen just died in May of this year.
The ferry boat carrying Frank Sinatra approaches the Ferry Building in the 1957 film ‘Pal Joey’ The Southern Pacific Building can still be seen in today’s view.
San Francisco Film Locations Then & Now 